Love ARC gear.

I like the design of the AR mono-block towers.

@TheSourceAVDesignGroup

9 ай бұрын

Thanks, Michael! They are beauties

The rs232. What is it used for.

I have audition this and its sibling the 160S numerous times. I do love how they sound, but if you are looking for that classic tube amp sonics of yesteryear? I do not think ARC is the right brand for you. I find their current stable to be a class unto themselves, containing many benefits of SS and Valves. Yet I am hesitant to purchase one. What make me really nervous about their amps is the soldering of the tube sockets onto their mainboard. I prefer something that bolts that big old KT-150 to its chassis. Yes, there are pros to ARC approach and solder joints do fail. However, resoldering a wire to its tube socket seems to me a lot easier fix than repairing a cracked trace.

@davidgordon6374

9 ай бұрын

We are glad you love how they sound, and you are correct, the sound has advanced far beyond the classic tube amp sound of yesteryear. Audio Research's sound today represents both "truth and beauty" without a rose-colored filter or the sound of solid-state that lacks full tonal color. Your hesitancy regarding the tube sockets is misguided, however, as the tube socket that Audio Research uses now absolutely locks the KT150 in place. Those sockets were first used when the VT100 amplifer mounted its output and driver tubes horizontally. Audio Research discovered what separated the best tube sockets from the rest. The 3 oz. copper traces that Audio Research uses on its boards are not going to crack. This company can still repair a 50 year-old tube amp, so they design for long-term use and reliability in addition to their great sound.

@TheSourceAVDesignGroup

9 ай бұрын

Thank you @davidgordon6374 you rock! ***Marcello

@ridirefain6606

9 ай бұрын

@@davidgordon6374Thanks for taking the time to reply. I currently own an ARC pre and phono so to be clear I am not posing these questions because I am interested in dishing the brand. This concern arises because I want to upgrade to the 160M. I have been burned before by notable tube brands and want to make sure my $36K is going towards something that will hold up. This concern does not come out of left field. A number of posts I have seen from folks who report themselves to be techs have mentioned repairing traces on Audio Research amps. I do not have the specific models, age, or history. So, this criticism about their reliability is a bit dubious. I suspect such repairs were done on older pieces that do not share the same manufacturing process of the current models. So, setting aside the company promotion of special materials and parts. I would be interested in knowing what the actual repair history of reference 160 and 80 series has been. MKI products specifically since that model has been out long enough to need maintenance. I do not think ARC products are as problematic as its detractors are making it out to be. My Ref 6 and Ref 3 are a generation old now, never had an issue with either. However, the stress and heat from one 6550 and half a dozen 6H30's is not the same as a four KT-150's that are under load to produce 140 watts. Again, many thanks.

@davidgordon6374

9 ай бұрын

The reliability of the the 160M, 160S and 80S has been truly outstanding. Audio Research's amplifiers have continued to improve in performance and reliability over the decades, and the current generation of Audio Research amplifiers has much more than evolutionary improvements. Four layer circuit boards allow separate ground planes, which shorten signal paths, reduce wiring, and make them as quiet as the best solid state counterparts. They all have new, proprietary auto-bias circuits that monitor and adjust the tube's bias in real time. And, every tube is internally fused, so if there is a problem a fuse will blow--that's all. No surprises. Since the original 160M was released in 2018 there have been no circuit failures, only a few owners who thought there was a problem after a fuse blew. (And the transparent meter panel is now completely made in-house so it looks and works better.) As for heat, air circulation is important, which is why there is an adjustable fan built into the perforated top cover. Ventilation is fine when if the cover is removed, which is how many owners run them. Lastly, the price of the 160M MkII is $38K/pr. in the US, up from the previous 160M being $34K/pr. @@ridirefain6606