My tour of Audio Research

[theduker]

The MN Audiophile society sent a few members to tour Audio Research recently. We saw lots of goodies, including the new Ref 10 2 chassis preamp based on the Ref Anniversary, the new Ref 250, the new Ref 750, and got to listen for QUITE a while!

I will post photos of the new stuff, as well as our foray into their museum.

Here is Jon Valin's review sample Ref 10 preamp.

Note the acrylic top, its said that those make them sound better. certainly they're nice to look at!
The box on the left with the post it note is the power supply.

Don't worry, Jon, it sounds just fine! I listened for an hour or more... Very nice!

Notice the logo is no longer centered on the box... This is due to a minor, subtle styling change which is the influence of Italians on Minnesotans, as ARC has been purchased by an Italian conglomerate.

 

[theduker]

The new Ref 750 and 250 Amplifiers

Here are the new Ref 250 and 750 amplifiers. Paired with Sonus Faber speakers, owned by the Italian conglomerate who bought ARC _and_ Mcintosh.

When queried, management confirmed that, indeed, these amplifiers go to 11.

 

[theduker]

Warren's testing room...

The testing room at Audio Research. All pieces that ship are listened to by Warren. Î had met Warren previously at Lunds grocery store in NE Minneapolis, he had come up to me because I was wearing an audio research t-shirt, and started a conversation, asked what ARC products I owned, and told me he had heard my amps and preamps, and they sounded fine... Then I knew who I was talking to... Warren is one of my audio greats.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Wonder how many have set up their systems to allow 10 feet behind their speakers? I can't do that and still be in the room listening. Must need a much bigger room

Nice gear there. Did you see any of the upgrades being performed? That is where my ARC gear would go.