Wasn’t that @hifinutt ? I recall him having a right saga with KJ West One over an ARC amp.
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That was all primarily a people problem, not so much a really bad pre.
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I imported a Ref 3 LE, from the states, and Audio Research were very helpful with parts list and schematics. Never had a problem, and it is still going strong.
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I did meet the chap who was running the store at the time. He was certainly “interesting” indeed.
Ricardo sorted things out, once he was made aware of what was happening.
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Good - at one point it looked like Phil was going to end up spending a lot out through no fault of his own which really wasn’t on.
Yes that was the one.
Stop dicking about with amps.
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I had tremendous results from an AR LS25 paired with @Jim’s old Alephs which I bought from @thebiglebowski . I imagine a REF 5, 5SE or REF 6 could be extraordinarily good.
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Preamps, the new watches…
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I would have thought more folks here would have gone back to integrateds. I can’t be arsed with separates.
I think people like having more things! Can’t actually remember how many had what from the system thread actually but I seem to think you’re right and it’s more separates.
If there’s an integrated that sounds exactly the way you want it to then an integrated absolutely makes sense, certainly from an economic perspective. If however there isn’t, fucking around with separates allows you to get much closer to the desired profile. Obviously you then tend to pay for it in terms of the costs of extra casework etc.
There is also something very aesthetically pleasing about a multi box setups. Those high end systems with mono blocks on their own floor stands etc - live all of that for the visuals.
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I can only speak for myself in that over many years dealing with KJ and Abb Sounds I have only experienced a couple of problems, a simple phone call and they were resolved PDQ…
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Have run a REF5 upgraded to REF5SE, REF40 Anniversary and REF10, all delivered a superbly musical performance I would have another REF40 back in a heart beat were I looking for a second system valve pre
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As Im likely to need a phono in another box too then a two box preamp is likely off the cards.
The Ref 5SE seems to be the sweet spot in that range but I’d be interested in your experience.
Very positive , never a problem in the time I ran mine ( Que The Audio God Of Doom)
Nice open soundstage, nice depth of TTT without sounding as tho much if anything was being over laid due to valve topology , replacing the stock Sovtek 6550 with an NOS 1970’s GE 6550A takes the amp up another notch especially if you can source 1970-mid 1980’s Reflector plant 6h39P-DR to replace the stock Sovtek 6h30P but beware of many sellers passing off post 1990 later production as real DR’s
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Keep an eye out for an nice one careful lady driver CARY AUDIO SLP-05… excellent valve pre for the money and you can roll 6SN7’s until your head drops off…
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If the preamp is going to have a tube in it, it’s going to have to be quiet given the sensitivity of my speakers.