Ref 6SE
 

Thought about upgrading my 5SE to a 6. Dealer said the 6 is going to become 6SE. Evidently significant upgrade, also $17K.

Should be a great opportunity to grab a used Ref6 at a lower price since they are no longer current.

I am already in the queue for the upgrade on mine! $3k, still waiting for detailed info on what is involved.

Thought this was news! Dealer didn’t have much info on details either, but said ARC told him it was major upgrade.

Yes, it's pretty new, I talked with my dealer about it last week but didn't get very much info, either. He did call ARC and get a little info, but still fuzzy.
He claimed they won't start upgrades until january. Been scouring the internet for more information, to no avail.

I'd heard rumblings this might be coming. Being a relative ARC newbie, I'm curious as to what more experienced ARC'ers would expect for the upgrade cost from a 6 to 6SE? E.g. 5K? And is there any difference as to whether you're the original owner or a 2nd hand purchaser?

Any notable improvement - especially a "significant" one - would be extremely impressive. But I wonder if potential voicing changes and resultant system matching could come into play enough to make the upgrade more (or less) effective for some?

Welcome to the team!

it's $3k. I doubt there is any difference about 1st/2nd hand.

At 3k, that would be fantastic, if its effect is as advertised! Then the main cost would be going without the REF 6 during the upgrade process...
I've grown increasingly fond of this preamp in the 2+ years I've had it.

+1

It really is a terrific preamp. I've had my share of goosebumps courtesy of the Ref6!

I am looking forward to seeing how ARC can improve it (hard to believe it can be!) :music:

Come to think of it, it's very surprising to me that they would come out with this before the Ref10 successor. I've heard people say the Ref6 was close to the Ref10, and the Ref10 is older. If the Ref6SE is *that close* to the Ref10, it just makes no sense that they would do this upgrade first. :scratch2::scratch2::scratch2:

I have auditioned both before jumping in and buying the Ref 10. I owned the Ref 5SE and the dealer was bugging me to buy a Ref 6. He had all three units at the time of my decision. For me personally it was not that "close"! Others may disagree. Think about it, It's almost impossible when you factor in the separate power supply that the Ref 10 possesses. Don't get me wrong the Ref 6 is sonically better than the Ref 5SE. The Ref 6SE will definitely be a step forward. I believe some Ref 6 owners are already lining up for the upgrade? :thumbsup: