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• PLUS 18 paes o music reviews eatures • VINYL RE-RELEASE owlin Wols 2nd on 180 UK £4.50 US $12.99 Aus $10.99 • OPINION 12 paes o letters comment • VINTAGE REVIEW As 3030 interated amp rom 79 • SHOW BLOG We report rom The ii Show Live • READERS’ CLASSIFIEDS ii barains alore Valve power amplifier. Rated at 150W/8ohm Made by: Audio Research Corp, Minnesota, USA Supplied by: Absolute Sounds Ltd Telephone: 0208 971 3909 Web: www.audioresearch.com; www.absolutesounds.com POWER AMPLIFIER Price: £12,998 Audio Research REF 150 SE

Audio Research revives its tradition of upgrading existing models, this time changing to KT150 valves in its Reference range. KK listens to the REF 150 SE and is amazed Review: Ken Kessler Lab: Paul Miller

hen I met Audio Research’s valve, which I delight in, the KT120, which most closely resembles sonically, the KT150 new president, after the ARC adopted in 2010. As ARC explains, imparts a greater sense of foundation, retirement of my old friend ‘The KT120 was a new design, and offered solidity and authority from the midrange and the company’s most better current delivery and sonics.’ Until on down. Wdevoted champion Terry Dorn, I was the KT150 arrived, it was the basis for all ‘There is a sense of ease and headroom instantly reassured. Mike Tsecouras oozed current Audio Research amplifier designs. handling of the music that brings out such enthusiasm that I thought I was being Only released in the second half of very low-level dynamic nuances as well as introduced to ARC’s most loyal customer. 2013, the KT150 is still ‘new’, but has newfound intensity on high level climaxes Without saying a word, his manner been embraced by manufacturers because which build more dramatically.’ To my implied that the spirit of the brand would it delivers higher plate dissipation and mind, Warren has nailed the sound of the be respected, but that there would be current capability, greater power output KT150, based on the evidence of what I surprises in store. and – it is optimistically surmised – ‘a heard with the REF 150 SE. While the G Series [HFN Jan ’15] must longer lifespan than previously available surely have been under way before Mike power output tubes’. BALANCED-ONLY DESIGN arrived, it’s safe to say that the new SE Icon Audio launched the first KT150- What he doesn’t say is that it delivers what versions of the Reference models have equipped amps some two years ago [the may be the widest soundstage you’ll ever appeared under his aegis, with the design MB90 MkIIm – see HFN Mar ’14] and the hear from a single-chassis stereo amp. team headed by 20-year ARC veteran, power-hungry high-end tube community There seems to be power in abundance, Warren Gehl. Three models – the stereo REF hasn’t really looked back. ARC began too, even when driving Wilson Alexias [HFN 75 [HFN Nov ’12] and REF 150 [HFN Feb testing for both sound and reliability in Mar ’13] – beyond what one expects of an ’12], and monoblock REF 250 are subject late 2013 and were impressed enough to amp rated at 150W per channel. The only to this change – the revised middle model, use it as their new power tube. In Warren’s downside is cost: a KT150’s price is double the £13k REF 150 SE, being tested here. words, ‘Versus the KT120 tube, which it that of a KT120. And its raison d’être is the KT150 valve.

THE GO-TO TUBE This new valve is already well-established as the go-to tube for most progressive amp manufacturers looking to design rugged, high output models. Audio Research is no exception and the KT150 now appears throughout its catalogue. However, if you look at a ’150 SE, the only external indication of its presence within is the ‘SE’ badge on the top and rear panels. The KT150 power output valve, as found here, is the latest Tung-Sol branded design from New Sensor. When you consider that Tung-Sol was the inventor of the 6550 exactly 60 years ago, a tube created specifically for the audio market, the provenance is impeccable. Manufactured in Russia, the KT150 is effectively the 21st century default in place of the 6550. It has taken over in a remarkably short time from another new

RIGHT: In addition to the huge PSU and output coupling transformers, this top shot clearly shows the four matched-pair KT150 pentodes and pairs of 6H30P double-triode driver tubes

REPRODUCED FROM HI-FI NEWS | www.hifinews.co.uk The REF150SE looks almost exactly like p43] and all-new interstage coupling ABOVE: Unlike the REF 75, the REF 150 SE the non-SE predecessor, with the back capacitors, a trickle-down from the much is meter-less, a simple metal slab with on/off containing two fan apertures, speaker admired Anniversary Edition preamplifier, rocker and green LED. The build is exceptional, terminals for 4, 8 and 16 ohm loads, 12V to ‘effortlessly link input stage to output and you will be grateful for the handles trigger inputs for switch-on and – because stage, which is powered by two matched the amp is fully-balanced quads of KT150 output ’09] with 12in Series V arm, Clearaudio throughout – balanced- tubes driven by 6H30 Goldfinger MC [HFN Jan ’15] and EAT E-Glo only inputs using XLRs. ‘A wee voice was twin triodes’. phono amplifier. (At this level, balanced telling me that I The REF 150 SE Even without finding my copy of via XLR is now the norm.) also uses multistage Marlene Dietrich’s hits, I couldn’t help but Mains is connected with was renewing my solid-state regulation, hear ‘Falling In Love Again’ – despite the a 20A IEC plug with while the output fact that my turntable was playing Mose three horizontal pins. vows with ARC’ stage configuration Allison’s Takes To The Hills [Pure Pleasure Aesthetically, there’s is a combination of BA17031]. Thus, while the speakers issued a minor update in colour schemes, with ultralinear and Audio Research’s patented forth some of the most sly jazz singing ever silver units having silver handles and silver ‘partially cathode-coupled’ topology. heard, with a richness and warmth that top covers, and black units with black could only come from valves, a wee voice handles and a black cover. ARC will mix the STAGGERING REALISM in the back of my head was telling me I was colours to match older models. Whatever I used the REF 5 SE preamp with renewing my vows with Audio Research. details may have changed, the look oozes Transparent cable, and Wilson Alexias with Not that I had ever forsaken the brand. unmistakable, classic ARC-ness. Crystal. Sources included the new Musical It’s just that the Wilson Alexias want a bit Beyond the KT150s, ARC’s latest recipe Fidelity Nu-Vista CD [p44] and Marantz more power than can be mustered by my claims doubled PSU energy storage to CD-12/DA-12 CD players, while analogue REF 75 (an amp I want to hear in SE form some 1040 joules [see PM’s Lab Report, was handled by an SME 30/12 [HFN Mar before I trade it in toward a REF 150 SE). Trust me: the immediate impression UPGRADES – AN ARC TRADITION! you will get, once the ’150 SE has reached operating temperature, is of staggering When ARC’s all-new ‘Galileo’ GS150 [HFN Jan ’15] was the first to feature the realism. Three areas of gain are utterly big KT150 valve, the company was immediately inundated with queries asking blatant: bass quality and extension, stage whether this output tube would be incorporated into its Reference models. As width and midband naturalness. has been the case with Audio Research since 1970, there is now a retrofit for Mose was right there in the room. His owners of Reference 75, 150, and 250 amplifiers, but the upgrade is more than ‘Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m just a tube swap. ARC decided ‘to include substantial performance upgrades Gone’ is a jaunty, swinging affair, with in the Reference amplifiers to coincide with the changeover to the KT150’. In subtle brushwork from the drummer, addition to moving from KT120 to KT150, SE versions feature active and passive wondrously clanky and a close-miked parts changes for ‘dramatic sonic improvements’. While online reports suggest voice that lets you hear his breathing. tube swaps are OK, this will not convert the 75, 150 or 250 to full SE status. For Alas, it’s over in 1m 27s sec, but wow! £2500 for the REF 75, £4500 for the REF 150 and £4500 (each) for the REF 250 It was enough to make this listener play monoblocks, legacy units can be fully upgraded to include all the SE gains. the track three more times. Realising this was cruel to the LP, I dug out The

www.hifinews.co.uk| REPRODUCED FROM HI-FI NEWS LAB REPORT AUDIO RESEARCH REF 150 SE Ken deals with ARC’s description of the updates to its REF 150 amplifier in his review but the £13k-question is – new KT150 tubes notwithstanding – ‘what are the measurable differences in performance?’ Referring back to my lab data for the original REF 150 [HFN Feb ’12] reveals very little difference in power output or speaker load tolerance between the two models as both offer ~165W into 8/4ohm loads through their 8/4ohm taps and 176W, 175W, 180W and 150W under dynamic conditions into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm [see Graph 1, below]. Distortion follows the same trends versus output and frequency but is very slightly higher at low levels in the new 150 SE (0.038–0.123% versus 0.010–0.090% from 1-10W/8ohm), although this may well be within production tolerances. Versus frequency, the REF 150 SE shows the same mild increase from 0.07% (1kHz) to 0.22% (20kHz) at 10W while the substantial output transformers ensure low distortion – 0.26% – is also maintained down to 20Hz bass frequencies [see Graph 2]. ABOVE: Balanced XLR inputs are joined by 4, 8 and 16ohm speaker connections that As before, the REF 150 SE shows a slightly ‘warm’ character suit both spades and 4mm plugs. Near-silent fans keep the interior cool with an enhanced (+0.1dB) bass and shelved (–0.2dB) presence region. Its high treble response remains more obviously Complete Recordings 1957-1962 back a few decades. Every once influenced by loading as its output impedance rises from in a while, one enjoys a déjà vu so 0.63ohm at 20Hz to 0.74ohm at 1kHz to 1.08ohm at 20kHz, [Enlightenment EN5CD9036] to leading to a 20kHz roll-off of –0.13dB into 8ohm (via 8ohm tap) listen to it again and again. unmistakably accurate and intense and –0.9dB/–1.75dB into 4/2ohm (via 4ohm tap). Noise is now What most impressed as that it makes long-forgotten events slightly lower, its 94dB A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW) besting many much, though, was the surprise seem like yesterday. solid-state models. Readers are invited to view a comprehensive imparted by the lower registers This amplifier, with its feature- QC Suite test report for the Audio Research Reference 150 SE tube amplifier by navigating to www.hifinews.com and clicking on a recording that I could have less front panel, boxy form and on the red ‘download’ button. PM sworn was mastered for 7in singles functional demeanour, became a and AM radio – in other words, time machine, recalling the chilling thin-sounding. Shame on me: my sensations of my early exposure to recently-acquired copy of Dino, Desi classics like the Audio Research D70 & Billy’s Our Time’s Coming [Reprise power amp [HFN Feb ’84 & Mar ’15], RS-6194] features audiophile deity the original full-range Apogee and Don Randi, guitar genius James Infinity IRS loudspeakers. Burton, super-drummer Hal Blaine Sometimes, you just feel when and other members of the Wrecking a piece is right. I experienced that Crew; production was by Lee with the REF 75 so forcefully that I Hazlewood with Bones Howe among bought it. All it took for the REF 150 the engineers. SE to do this was 20 seconds’ worth of the extended version of ‘Assassin ABOVE: Dynamic power output versus distortion into LIKE A TIME MACHINE Of Love’: among DeVille’s finest 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and Where to start? Every instrument moments and a recording to savour, 1ohm (green) speaker loads via 8/4ohm taps had true-to-life presence, the attack a performance in which to wallow. of the percussion perfectly crisp, but So comprehensive was the with that airy decay which separates amplifier’s authority that my system the best analogue playback from was completely transformed, even the best of digital. Comparing revealing aspects of the Alexias’ it to the CD, it still sounded delivery I had never taxed. It is no fabulous, but such is the resolution coincidence that the first track on and transparency of the REF 150 SE the disc is ‘Miracle’. that it operates like a forensic tool. So vivid and revealing are its HI-FI NEWS VERDICT capabilities that one might be I’ve loved the REF 75 since first forgiven for thinking that it’s some hearing it but the REF 150 SE is ABOVE: THD vs. ext. frequency from 5Hz-40kHz at solid-state powerhouse engineered a level beyond. The first REF 150 10W/8ohm (black, left channel; red, right) for vanishingly low noise levels. This blew me away, yet the SE shows baby breathes music. gains, especially in the bass, HI-FI NEWS SPECIFICATIONS Back on my Willy DeVille kick I midband and stage width, one Power output (<1% THD, 8/4ohm) 165W / 162W was bowled over by the crispness could not have anticipated. How Dynamic power (<2% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm) 176W / 175W / 180W / 150W of ‘Beating Like A Tom-Tom’ on much is due to KT150s and how Collected 1976-2009 [Universal 535 much to new parts I cannot say. Output impedance (20Hz–20kHz) 0.63–1.08ohm (8ohm tap) 759-8], the beat of the percussion Regardless, the upgrade borders Frequency response (20Hz–100kHz) +0.1dB to –1.72dB timed perfectly with each key tap on the supernatural. With both Input sensitivity (for 0dBW/150W) 171mV / 2135mV (balanced) of the piano. The separation of the small and large ‘R’s, this is my A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW/150W) 93.6dB / 115.4dB instruments was so precise, so clear, new reference. that the only word one can apply to Distortion (20Hz-20kHz, 10W/8ohm) 0.028–0.25% the relationship is ‘complementary’. Sound Quality: 88% Power consumption (Idle/Rated o/p) 450W/760W There is a wholeness to the sound 0 ------Dimensions - 100 (WHD) / Weight 483x222x495mm / 34kg of the REF 150 SE which threw me

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