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* Item full name and model etc. Audio Research Reference 110 * Location Macedon Ranges,Victoria. I work in the Melbourne CBD so could arrange pickup in the work loadng bay * Item condition description Will score it as 8/10 if only to avoid disappointment. No Scratches and very clean inside and out. Has a new set of KT120's with 58.1hrs on the clock. The KT120's push power up to ~135W. Has original box, Manual, and the US 20A power cable modified for use in OZ. Unit was originally USA version but has been properly converted to 240V and verified by Clarke Audio. * Price and price conditions $4900. * Reason for selling Incompatable with my current kit. * Payment Methods: Paypal, direct bank transfer, Cash - Pickup. Can arrange shipping if required. Buyer to pay the cost. Amp weighs 35kg + 4 kg's for the box

A few weeks ago an Audio Research Ref110 popped up on ebay. $5900. I thought about it for a few days before finally deciding that I just had to get my first ever tube amp. What choice did I have - no one else from stereo.net had bought it so I had to take one for the team! Also I had to buy it so that I could find out what all the fuss is about. So here is the story. The amp was a grey import. The seller had this to say: After I purchased it from the US it was converted to Australian voltage which involves no more than moving 2 wires and is no different to an Australian delivered unit in every respect. The amplifier has the natural faceplate with silver handles so is an example of the latest offerings from ARC .The condition is 9/10 . I have the original box , manual ect. I very recently fitted new KT120 tubes which increased power to 129 watts per channel and with this improved control and dynamics. So in theory I should have just been able to plug it in and make it go. However I wanted to make sure all was OK with the voltage conversion etc. Have heard a few stories about conversions and blue smoke so I took it to Clarke Audio to get it checked over. There I met Dallas (Clarke?) and we dragged the amp onto his test bench. For the next hour or so he checked it out while I looked over his shoulder and asked dumb questions. Great fun. If your gear is busted I recommend taking it there. Anyway there was some tutt-tutting about messy solder joints where the two wires had been moved (Apparently you need a very high temp soldering iron to do it right) and there was some of the insulation on one of the wires that had been melted buy a clumsy soldering iron. But all up the conversion was done correctly. The voltages were fine and the tube bias was spot on. Note: I also had to laugh at the instruction manual. It explains how to adjust the Bias by removing the cover and using a multimeter to measure at the bias points. However in the next section I says "Warning Never operate this amplifier with the cover removed - High Voltages could cause death! So If I am killed wile adjusting the bias as instructed - is AR responsible - or am I an idiot for operating it with the cover off which they explicitly told me not to do! The next issue was how to connect it up. The Ref 110 only has balanced inputs. I am currently without a balanced preamplifier. Fortunately my Meridian MS600 can be set to have a variable output and it has balanced outputs.(MD/MS600 Sooloos pair best component I ever bought, wife and daughter love them). So all I needed was a balanced interconnect. I did mess about on ebay looking for something but ultimately I just went and collected something from Carlton Audio (Chord Chameleon Plus). Finally I now have it set up - connected to my Focal Electra 1007's. I am listening to it now as I write this. The Result: good and bad. As soon as I turned it on I noticed a hum in the left speaker. It wasnt doing this on the test bench so I assume there is something not quite right in my setup. Solution anyone? Next. The midrange is WOW! Really impressive. I know why people like these things. And I just love the glowing glass. However the Focals have always been a little bright in the treble and the Ref110 seems to make it worse. Indeed John Atkinson in stereophile mentioned that this may be a problem. With amplifiers having a high source impedance, such as typical tubed designs, this will tend to tilt up the speaker's response at high frequencies. http://www.stereophile.com/content/focal-electra-1007-be-loudspeaker-measurements So he was right - who would have thunk it. Also the bass. Its good but at higher volumes (I like it loud) the bass starts to get very ragged. My Denon 4308 doesnt fall over here. So I now have a dilemma. Change the amp or change the speakers? Problem is I like both of them. If I play Jack Johnson the pair sounds fabulous. But its waay overbright with anything with electric gitars. Maybe the solution is to get a new amp for the Focals and new speakers for the 110's. Sounds like a good solution to me. I wonder if my wife will like this idea?...... Otherwise maybe I need a tube pre and a solid pwr amp... Whatever its been interesting. I think the electra's and the ref 110 are both good - just not together. I am dissapointed and pleased all at the same time. I guess I could have gone to a dealer and discovered this for free - but I have had my fun. I wonder what will show up next....