As for the Ref3 (5 and 40) the unit(s) are quieter when the intensity of the viewing screen is turned off completely
As for the Ref3 (5 and 40) the unit(s) are quieter when the intensity of the viewing screen is turned off completely
wonder why though, motors can be off/on'd, so when it's on maybe (noise), but why when it's off? Or even if you can't fully 'off it' for some reason, seems some simple shielding would do the trick.
There used to be little external IR boxes you could buy with a motor and wheel -- could attach it to a volume knob. Anyway, I'm pretty adamant about remote volume (or IOW, getting up ) so I'd struggle with that.
Maybe the noise he's talking about is from the IR receptor and circuit, not the motor moving...
Maybe the noise he's talking about is from the IR receptor and circuit, not the motor moving...
it is the explanation given to me
It is possible nowadays to design a an IR trigger circuit that will introduce less noise in you system than the cellphone you have in your pocket ...
I have listen to the Lamm one box pre in direct comparison with ref 3 driving VT110. Both exellent sounding but Lamm even little bit better. Sorry for the lack of remote. i will not buy a pre without a remote.
Sometimes it's good to get off your butt and shuffle across the floor and turn your preamp up or down.
There is no comparison Stefan. Get the Ref40 if you can and you will be eternally happy
All, I've owned the REF3 and now the Anniversary. I've heard the REF5 and REF5SE and LS17SE in my system so I thought I would jump in here. I agree with several of the comments that I've read. The REF3 was reveletory when it came out. It sounded much better than most tube preamps of the time: quiet, great bass control, sweet midrange, open airy highs. I bought one. When the REF5 came out I felt that there was not enough improvement to warrant the price difference with trade-in. The REF 5 was a little more open on top (in my system) but $12k minus $5k trade did not make sense. My dealer agreed. Along comes the REF40. Another league entirely; much deeper well defined bass, much more open on treble, more three dimensional overall, bigger soundstage. No contest. I bought one. The REF5 SE gets closer to the Ref40 and betters the REF5. I guess if I had passed on the REF40 I probably would have upgraded the REF3 to a REF5SE. A used REF 40 at about $15K would be where I would recommend anyone looking at a REF5SE should investigate.
Final note: I've never felt that turning off the display on the REF40 made any difference in noise floor.
For what its worth, having owned the Ref 3 and 5, I thought the Ref 3 was actually, in many ways, the better sounding pre-amp. (...)
One thing the Ref3 has going for it is that - as far as I know - it is the last design of Bill Johnson - and that alone makes me covet it - it will be my next upgrade
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