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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Research, Inc. Reference 3 Preamplifier (Tube) by saltyflies

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REVIEW: Audio Research, Inc. Reference 3 Preamplifier (Tube)

69.141.168.6


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Model: Reference 3
Category: Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $9900
Description: Hign-end tube preamplifier
Manufacturer URL: Audio Research, Inc.
Model Picture: View

Review by saltyflies ( A ) on March 09, 2007 at 13:09:25
IP Address: 69.141.168.6
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for the Reference 3


Really more my impressions rather than a review.

Preamble -
The ARC Ref3 has been touted to be a break through product and the best to come from ARC in many years…blah, blah, blah. In the past, had the two versions of the LS-25 as well as LS-16 and SP-16 side by side on separate occasions …intriguing, but not compelling. ARC is not known for having the lushness and warmth as other tube units (which is fine by me), but the “updated” versions (really didn’t float my boat). They sounded so much like solid state, questioned why one would not opt to simply go for a solid state unit that should provide the same effects w/o the tube maintenance. Tubes have a way of expressing the emotions of a performance that I’ve yet to hear a solid master, hearing a tube unit w/o the magical qualities …don’t quite seem right to me. Based on my less than ga-ga experiences was pretty skeptical and suspected the newer models would be a further evolution towards drier, more analytical effect.

Impressions -

The previous generation sounded too harmonically bleached for my taste and apparently ARC thought so as well. Within moments of playing the first song of Eva Cassidys’ SongBird album, immediately noticed something special… ARC gave the Ref 3 a soul! The REF 3 was not only telling me how, but why the music was made. Eva was absolutely stunning…doing that special thing that Eva does so well. Every note of every track on the entire album was done effortlessly (neither forced or restrained), in a natural (non mechanical) tone with the right proportions of warmth and harmonics…breathtaking!

OK, the Ref 3 can do passion, but can it Swing? I’ve heard other preamps do pretty before. Most have a very seductive way with certain types of musc, but don’t have the PRAT or sounds slow with faster paced music and / or tend to sugarcoat recording flaws at the expense of detail. Using my SOP recordings of diffent speeds…Basie bopped, Krall was S’wonderful and Norah was meloncholy (which is normal), so the Ref3 has PRAT.

Hmmm, beauty and the beast? Time for the brute force test…couldn’t detect any congestion, smearing during the most complex passages using "The Battle" from the Gladiator soundtrack. AFAIK, everything maintained it’s position and definition, including the super-low bass and delicate high frequencies. Throughout the afternoon, threw everything but the kitchen sink at it. Running the gamut of genre (rock, classical, jazz, etc.) and recording qualities and couldn’t ding it or find its’ flaws. I can’t describe its’ attributes as well as the Stereophile review, but agree with it 100%.

Conclusions -

In a nutshell, the Ref 3 does what a preamp should do…it simply gets out of the way. Whatever it’s doing or not doing or flaws that it may have exceeds my listening skills and is performing at a level by far better than any ARC pre I’ve heard . The Ref 3 is without a doubt, one of the better pres I've heard

Comparisons -

The Ref3, LS26 (and guessing the LS17) are similar, and a lot more organic sounding than the previous products. The REF 3 is more open, effortless with a bigger soundstage, a bit more liquidity, bloom, with a tighter butt than the LS-26. The LS-26 has a smaller presentation that didn’t quite stretch beyond the room boundaries, slightly less rich harmonic pallete and resolving power, but wouldn’t have noticed without listening to them side by side. Both are very well balanced (in terms of resolution, accuracy, sound staging, dynamics, and natural tone) and further obtains a higher level of transparency and detail than any of the previous models.

Based on what I remember when I had the two versions of the LS-25 side by side. Besides being cleaner, more detailed and precise, refined…the LS-26 has an organic quality or tonal rightness about it. The MKI (w/ 6922) was warmer with more liquidity, 3d-iness, and bloom, but slower, less transparent, dynamic and extended than the Mk2. The Mk2 (w/ 6h30)produces just enough liquidity, 3-d, bloom to differentiate them, but the dynamics, frequency extension, transient speed are more akin to a solid state pre. The mk1 was more engaging, where the mk2 more exciting, but had a distinct (leaner, edgier) sound. IMHO, the LS-26 is a significant step up from either version of the LS-25 and supposedly betters the REF2, but never heard the Ref2 myself.


Product Weakness: Whatever it’s doing or not doing or flaws that it may have exceeds my listening skills
Product Strengths: It simply gets out of the way and is performing at a level by far better than any ARC pre I’ve heard.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: ARC VT-100
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): ARC REF 3, LS-27
Sources (CDP/Turntable): ARC CD3
Speakers: B&W Nautilus 802 Diamonds
Cables/Interconnects: Dunno
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Everything
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 16 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: professionally treated
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 hrs
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Dunno
Type of Audition/Review: Dealer Demo




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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Research, Inc. Reference 3 Preamplifier (Tube) - saltyflies 13:09:25 03/9/07 ( 11)