Ref 6SE

[smodtactical47]

Anyone compare the ARC Ref6SE to other brands, VAC renissance mkV or maybe SS gear Ayre MXR / 20, Pass xp32 ?

[Banter]

Anyone compare the Ref. 6se with non Se? After reading the review it appears it might have been just moving components around with no so good result!

With pandemic and lockdowns I am not in a hurry to send my Ref.6 for Se modification. At present I am reluctant to call it an upgrade!

[Audio 1]

Originally Posted by Banter

Anyone compare the Ref. 6se with non Se? After reading the review it appears it might have been just moving components around with no so good result!

With pandemic and lockdowns I am not in a hurry to send my Ref.6 for Se modification. At present I am reluctant to call it an upgrade!

I would not use that review as a credible source of information to determine the performance of the Reference 6 SE. It was very poorly written and really did not communicate any meaningful insight relating to the sonics of the pre-amp.

I owned the Reference 6 for several years and upgraded to the SE model late last year. It is a definite improvement and closer in sonics to the Ref. 10. Improved image focus and a better defined soundstage with more air and refinement. There is improved tonality and definitely more powerful and accurate bass.

In my opinion the cost of the upgrade is worth the asking price.

[Elfielives]

Wanted to use ref 6se for ht but their ht bypass feature leaves all 8 tubes on. Grossly wasteful as family uses tv a lot.

So sadly did not buy. I now here they may upgrade so ht bypass mode keeps tubes off. Game changer for ht users. So when pre is not turned on it will allow signal to flow thru box, game changer.

Hope they do it.

[Banter]

Originally Posted by Audio 1

I would not use that review as a credible source of information to determine the performance of the Reference 6 SE. It was very poorly written and really did not communicate any meaningful insight relating to the sonics of the pre-amp.

I owned the Reference 6 for several years and upgraded to the SE model late last year. It is a definite improvement and closer in sonics to the Ref. 10. Improved image focus and a better defined soundstage with more air and refinement. There is improved tonality and definitely more powerful and accurate bass.

In my opinion the cost of the upgrade is worth the asking price.

Hi Buddy, like you I also have Ref.6 pre and Ref.3 phono. you sold me on the Se upgrade. Thank you.

[schuzants]

Thinking of upgrading my Mcintosh c2600 to Ref 6

1. have you had any experience of matching Ref 6 with Mcintosh MC452 and how does it sound?

2. position of my preamp is out of sight as i'm running a long xlr of 25ft. Am i getting any proper advice from ARC Customer Service in regards with placing Ref 6 (distance from mc452)??
"Summary: We would recommend that the length of the cabling be no more than 6 feet but it is possible to use longer cables and even up to 10 feet would be acceptable and we doubt you'd notice any sonic differences at the longer distance. We also suggest that if you use anything longer you may start to lose some signal strength."

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by schuzants

Thinking of upgrading my Mcintosh c2600 to Ref 6

1. have you had any experience of matching Ref 6 with Mcintosh MC452 and how does it sound?

2. position of my preamp is out of sight as i'm running a long xlr of 25ft. Am i getting any proper advice from ARC Customer Service in regards with placing Ref 6 (distance from mc452)??
"Summary: We would recommend that the length of the cabling be no more than 6 feet but it is possible to use longer cables and even up to 10 feet would be acceptable and we doubt you'd notice any sonic differences at the longer distance. We also suggest that if you use anything longer you may start to lose some signal strength."

In my experience, mixing and matching brands for preamps and amps isn't ideal. It will sound fine, but if you get an Audio Research amp to go with the Ref6, it will take it up a notch. I tried the Ref5SE back in the day with the MC452 and ended up selling all my McIntosh and going to ARC. So...you were warned

[djcxxx]

Agree. I had a Ref 5SE paired w/ 601s for Magnepan 3.7s and result was only passable. The impedance matching between the ARC and Mac is okay on paper, but not at the ear.

[Banter]

Originally Posted by schuzants

Thinking of upgrading my Mcintosh c2600 to Ref 6

1. have you had any experience of matching Ref 6 with Mcintosh MC452 and how does it sound?

2. position of my preamp is out of sight as i'm running a long xlr of 25ft. Am i getting any proper advice from ARC Customer Service in regards with placing Ref 6 (distance from mc452)??
"Summary: We would recommend that the length of the cabling be no more than 6 feet but it is possible to use longer cables and even up to 10 feet would be acceptable and we doubt you'd notice any sonic differences at the longer distance. We also suggest that if you use anything longer you may start to lose some signal strength."

I have C1100 Mac pre to MA611 Monoblocks. I also have AR Ref.6 that I had plans to use during cold winter months. But SQ difference is so small, I am just leaving C1100 hooked up. SQ is quite pleasing and esthetically it looks good too. C1100 also has phono amp as well as headphone jacks. Don't know if this matters to you. Also had MC452 before the MA611, and did not like it with Ref. 6.

[jpgr4blu]

I had a Mac C1000 and Mac 2102 amp years ago. I purchased a ARC Ref 5 and kept the Mac 2102. That combo was slightly "better" than the all Mac pairing to my ears but also different in character. In other words, the ARC pre provided a taste of a more transparent and involving sound. But I also felt that the Mac was holding the ARC back --- placing a scrim over the transparency, color and bloom that an all ARC system might provide.
When I decided to pair it with an ARC Ref 110 amp, the difference between Mac and ARC became extraordinary. I have since moved up in the ARC ranks to a Ref 40 preamp, Ref 160m monos and the Ref 2se phono. The only downside was the fact that the Mac had a phono stage built in so I had to purchase the ARC phono stage. But it so far surpassed the Mac that I have never regretted it.
My advise to anyone seeking and ARC/Mac combo is--if you like Mac, you will benefit from an ARC preamp but not nearly as much as a full ARC system. If you purchase an ARC preamp, you will probably hear what I did. Then you might proceed to a switch over time. Don't be afraid--it's all good.