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Anybody have direct comparisons of the Audio Reference 2 (or Ref2 Mk II) and the Cary? These seem to go for similar prices on the used market (however the ARC is older) and I'm curious if anybody has done a comparison. I've always heard that ARC's Reference series are the "true" ARCs, just wondering.
I have no plan to upgrade anytime soon, but I love comparisons and always enjoy "dreaming" of what an upgrade choice might look like.
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Brewmaster-
I have spent much time w/ both the ARC Ref3 & Ref5 SE. Clearly, the Ref5 SE is the best to my ears. What other gear rounds out your system?
The Ref5 would be super, but unfortunately out of my ballpark. You can take a look at my other gear by clicking on my username.
Hold/save your pennies and watch the used/demo action out there...
You haven't received any replies in a couple of days so I take a stab at an opinion - although I have not heard either unit.
I do know something about ARC preamps having owned several models over the past thirty years and currently use an SP20 in the main system. First of all, there were two REF2 models - one using 6922s while the MKII version was the first to move to the current hybrid practice of using 6H30 "Supertubes" and JFETs (like my SP20).
Based upon feedback here by other posters on Cary products, that will possess a more traditional "tubey" sound. Rich caramel. The ARC products, and the MKII in particular, will be more neutral in tonal balance and will likely provide better resolution at the top. Abe Collins found that the Cary tamed the potential brightness of Pass amps to his liking.
Thanks E-Stat,
I do have an LS-16mkII that uses 2 6H30 tubes. I'm especially curious about the original Ref2 which uses 8 (I think) 6922. I read great things about the Reference preamps, and they struck me as a good comparison vs the Cary.
for all things ARC is the ARC database found here .
The pictures confirm the notion the first version used eight 6922s along with a couple of rectifier tubes.
I have no experience with "Reference grade" ARC but I owned the Cary SLP-05 for a while. I loved it!
The Cary was one of the more dynamic and full-bodied (tubey?) sounding linestages that I've owned but it was also very good in the deep bass and up top. It had good 'bandwidth' that seems lacking in some tube designs.
The ARC I can compare to are the LS16, LS16mkII, and LS25mkII. If I had to pick a word to describe the ARC vs the Cary, I would call the ARC 'neutral'.
I do prefer a bit of 'tubiness' from a linestage especially when coupling it to a solid-state power amp.
Thanks Abe,
The enthusiasm you (and others) have had for the SLP-05 was what got me to thinking. I really like my SLP-98 so I imagine the 05 must be even better.
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