ARC Ref Phono 10 & Ref 10 in the Philippines

[jadis]

Visited my long time friend and ARC Philippine dealer and listened a bit to his new top line Ref Phono 2 and Ref 10, with a pair of Ref 210s driving the Duntech Sovereigns.



He also has on 'stand-by' ARC 610T, 600, VTM 200 and VT100, among others.









Oracle Delphi VI with SME IV and Koetsu Black:



Duntech Sovereign:



And a pair of Mark Levinson ML-2 on standy-by as well.



As I have not been in this room for years, I can only size up a general impression, which is a smooth, grainless overall sound with rich sumptuous bass. Overall, very musical to the ears.

 

[caesar]

Great looking room! And a lot of tubes!!!! Isn't it hot in the Philippines as is?

 

[jadis]

Great looking room! And a lot of tubes!!!! Isn't it hot in the Philippines as is?

Oh yes it's hot here. Even in December it is hot.

Owners of things like the 610T have big aircons to cool the room, and usually it takes 1-2 hours to cool down the room to moderately cold levels.

The the back of where we sat is a pair of Jadis Eurythmies. Like Roman guards standing behind you while you listen. Pardon the picture quality, taken from a phone camera.

 

[dafos]

Guys, you haven't seen nothing yet! His inventory of audio equipment reads like a Who's who of greatest components ever built, from the the fabled Marantz, Mcintosh, Jadis, krell, all the great ARC gear from the inception of the company, celestion, quad, Dahlquist, Rogers LS35a, Sonus Fabers, B&W, etc etc etc These are all spread out in his two stores and his house.

 

[jadis]

Guys, you haven't seen nothing yet! His inventory of audio equipment reads like a Who's who of greatest components ever built, from the the fabled Marantz, Mcintosh, Jadis, krell, all the great ARC gear from the inception of the company, celestion, quad, Dahlquist, Rogers LS35a, Sonus Fabers, B&W, etc etc etc These are all spread out in his two stores and his house.

True. The bigger store, which I regard as an 'audio warehouse' right in the heart of Manila, is very impressive, specially for lovers of vintage audio gears. It's like going into a labyrinth. Front of store has many gears in tall steel racks, then inside a small demo room of all sorts of audio toys. Above it is a mezzanine that house even more toys. Then turning left or right, whatever, one enters a room with little audio gears BUT there are at least 2 floor to ceiling cabinets full of Scott and Fisher gears. Then going down a short staircase, unravels a warehouse full of huge vintage speakers. Infinity 4.5s, double Quads, etc. There is even a speaker called The Great White Shark. I could not forget its name since I heard it in the early 80s. One day, I should take some pics of this 'warehouse'.

 

[JackD201]

In one of my architectural fantasies, I'll have a pair of Eurythmies in a mid-century modern house overlooking a valley.

 

[jadis]

In one of my architectural fantasies, I'll have a pair of Eurythmies in a mid-century modern house overlooking a valley.

Like a couple of 'French Gendarmes' manning your 'villa', Jack.

 

[JackD201]

You know Phil? I haven't actually heard them. I saw them a few times at JR's but they were never connected. Boy, they really would look great in a mid-century modern house with lots of wood, stone and glass. It would be darned awesome.

 

[jadis]

You know Phil? I haven't actually heard them. I saw them a few times at JR's but they were never connected. Boy, they really would look great in a mid-century modern house with lots of wood, stone and glass. It would be darned awesome.

I can imagine, Jack.

 

[JackD201]

So what's our buddy Senor bringing to the show? We're going budget/compact system this year. Might even go the integrated route. I don't think I'll have the energy to do a complicated display since Jim and I will be arriving from Tokyo only a few days before.

 

[jadis]

So what's our buddy Senor bringing to the show? We're going budget/compact system this year. Might even go the integrated route. I don't think I'll have the energy to do a complicated display since Jim and I will be arriving from Tokyo only a few days before.

I haven't asked him yet. But judging from past shows, he always bring multiple systems in, big and small speakers, vintage and current electronics. That Oracle VI is one lovely looking table. I hope he brings it to the show.It has always been in my dreams since I passed on the Delphi III and went VPI HW19. But alas, today, the Delphi VI is in the 5 figures range. It started at around $1000. Miss those times.

And I know the feeling of tiredness in show as an exhibitor. Really draining. Small is beautiful.