Post on 23-Apr-2018
Audio Research Reference 150
Stereo Amplifierby Dennis Davis, March 1, 2012
© www.theaudiobeat.com
udioResearchhasseensomedramaticchanges overthepastfewyears.In2008,Quadrivio SGR,aprivate-equityfirmthatalreadyownedSonusFaberthroughitssubsidiaryFineSoundsSPA,acquiredthevenerableelectronicscompany.FineSoundsthenpurchasedWadiaDigitalinlate2010,combiningunderonevirtualroofthespeakercompany,thedigitalmanufacturerandthevenerablemakeroftubedelectronics.Then,inDecember2011,companyfounderWilliamZaneJohnsonpassedaway.
AudioResearchisoneoftheoldesthigh-endaudiocompaniestosurviveintothe21stcentury.Foundedin1970,thecompany’stubeequipmentwasalreadyiconicbeforeDaveWilsonbuilthisfirstspeaker,whenHarryWeisfeldwasbestknownfortheVPIBrick,andwhenthenameKrellreferredonlytoanextinctraceofadvancedbeingsfrom
theplanetAltairIV.Yet,throughalltheseyears,AudioResearchhascontinuedtogrowandthrive,maintainingacoresetofemployeesandneverrestingonitslaurels.Ifanything,theacquisitionofthecompanybyFineSoundsseemstohaveenabledtheprocessofinnovationtocontinueatafasterpace.Likeanycompanythatcontinuestogrow,AudioResearchmustdealwiththetensionbetweendeliveringproductsthataconsumer
canbesatisfiedwithoverthelonghaulwhileatthesametimestrivingtolookforwaysofconstantlyimprovingitsbrand.
AudioResearch’scurrentwaveofnewofferings(anditis
averitabletidalwave)islargelyinspiredby
theinnovationsdeveloped foritsultra-expensiveReferenceAnniversarypreamplifier,alimited-editiontwo-chassisdesignthatcelebratedthecompany’s
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40thanniversary.Thecompanyhasextractedthoseelementsfromitssuperhigh-endpreamplifierthatcouldbeincorporatedintotherestofitsReferencelinewithoutbreakingnewpricebarriersforthoseproducts.Asaresult,AudioResearchisreplacingallofitsReferencemodels,excepttheCD8,withnewmodels,allincorporatingasimilarsetofupgrades.TheReference110stereoampwasreplacedwiththeReference150,theReference210monoblockswiththeReference250s,andtheReference610TswiththeReference750s.BoththeReferencePhono2andtheReference5havebeenreplacedwithnewmodelsdesignated“SE”for“SpecialEdition.”WhilenotalloftheReferenceAnniversary’sinnovationscouldbepackedintoeachoftheseproducts,it’sclearthataconsistentthemeisincreasingthepower-supplysectionsofeachnewunitandupgradingcriticalcomponents.
ThenewReference150hasexactlythesameexternaldimensionsastheReference110.Aesthetically,theonlyrealchangeisthedefaultshifttoauniformcolor.TheclassicAudioResearchlookincludedasilverfrontpanelwithablackframeandblackhandles.Thenewmodelshavefrontplate,frameandhandlesallinsilverorallinblack(althoughthecustomerretainstheoptiontomixandmatchcolorstoachieveamoreretrolookifthat’swhatheseeks).Nomatterhowyoumixcolors,however,AudioResearchisstickingtoitsclassic“rack-mountwithhandles”look,which,giventheweightofthepackage,isprobablyagoodthing.TheReference150weighsinat75pounds,about8morethantheReference110.
WhatwouldadesignerlikeDeiterRams(responsibleformuseum-gradeindustrialdesignsforBraunelectronics,whichlater
inspiredSteveJobsatApple)havewrappedarounda75-poundhunkofmetalfilledwith
hot,glowingtubes?RamsandJobsweredealingwithrelativelysmallandlightweightdevicesthatrequiredlittleheatdissipation,allowingtheuseofplasticsand
fluidcasementlines.Whilesomemoderndesigners(mostlyItalian)havetriedtobringthisaestheticto(usuallymuchlighterweight)tubedesigns,tomethesedesignsfeelforcedandinstantlydated.SleekPininfarinalinesandblocksofcarvedaluminumaretheterritoryofsolid-statedesigns.
Withlargetubeamplifiers,theneedforasturdyframereallyleavestwochoices:afullyenclosedboxdesign(liketheAudioResearch)oralower-profile
boxwithprotrudingtubesandtransformers.I’mhappywiththeclunkyclassicindustrialdesign,softenedbyabitofroundingandbeveling,usedbyAudioResearch.Ialsoapproveofthemoveawayfromblackhandlesandcases,whichalwaysremindedmeofrack-mountedsupercomputersfromthe1960s.
WhileoutwardlytheReference150appearslittledifferentfromitspredecessor,severalchangesareimmediatelyobviousonceyoulookinside.WithmyownReference110onhand,side-by-sidecomparisonwaspossible.ThealreadylargetransformersusedintheReference110haveswolleninsize,accountingformuchofthenewamplifier’sincreasedweight.Thenumberofelectrolyticstoragecapacitorsinthepowersupplyhas
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doubled,withtwobanksofadozeneachintheReference150.Theaddedbankismountedtoaverticalcircuitboardatthefrontoftheunit.AudioResearchclaimsthatthetotalstorageisnow1040joules.ThenewinterstagecouplingcapacitorsappeartohavebeeninjectedwithsteroidscomparedtothoseintheReference110.Theresistorcomplementhasalsobeenmodifiedwithwhatappearstobethelargest-valueresistorsreplacedwithtwosmallerresistorsinparallel.
Butwhatisprobablymostobviousistheswitchfrom6550CpowertubesovertoKT120s.AudioResearchhadalreadybeguntheswitchtoKT120swithlate-productionReference110s,andhasincorporatedthischangeintothenextgenerationofitsamplifiers.ThepublishedspecificationsclaimasignificantincreaseinpowerbandwidthfromtheReference110’s12Hz-60kHztotheReference150’s5Hz-80kHz.
Likeitspredecessor,theReference150isfancooledusingapairoffans,whicharenowchassis-mountedonrubbergrommets.ThenewfansarenoticeablyquieterthanthoseintheReference110,inpartbecausetheyliterallystickoutthebackoftheamp.IopenedupbothunitstomakesurethatIhadthefanssettothehighestofthethreeavailablespeeds.WhiletheReference110’snoiselevelwasnotobtrusive,itwasclearlyaudible.Thenewlow-noisefanarrangementfortheReference150ismuchquieter.Ihadtoputmyearclosetotheamptohearanynoise,evenwiththefanssettothehighestspeed.
Whychooseastereoampratherthanapairofmonoamplifiers?Isupposeifspaceandfinancialconsiderationswerenotinvolved,audiophileswouldalwaysgravitatetomonoamps.AudioResearch’snext
stepupintheReferenceseriesisapairofReference250s.WhileI’venotyetheardthemoutsideshowconditions,Ihavelittledoubt
thattheywilldeliverevenmoreofwhattheReference150provides--butatasignificantcost
premium.Andwithtwoboxesdemandingtwicetherealestate,noteveryonecantakethisroute.Inanyevent,a150Wpcampispowerfulenoughtocomfortablydrivemostspeakersthatcanbemovedintomosthomesthatlackaloadingdock.
hentheReference150landedonmy doorstep,itwasnicelyburnedforabout 475hours,allowingforimmediatetesting.ThefirstthingIlistenedtowasaTownesVanZandtsong,“Waitin’‘RoundToDie”fromHeartworn Highway[HacktoneVJCD167],acollectionofvintagerecordings
froma1975documentarythatwasfirstreleasedonCDintheUKin2006.Iwastippedoff
tothisreleasebymyUKconnection,fellowTABcontributorRoyGregory,andquicklyorderedacopyfromtheUK(it’snowavailableonCDandvinylfromtheusualsuspectsintheUS).I’veheardthiscutonvariousiterationsofmyownhomesystem,onfriends’rigsandoninnumerablesystemsateveryCESandRockyMountainAudioFestoverthelasthalf-decade.There’snothingshowyaboutit,justTownesinhiskitchenwithhisguitar,afemaleguesthumminginthebackground,andadog.Therecordinghasatmospheretospare,andiftheequipmentisuptoit,it’soneofthemostrealistic-soundingrecordingsaround.I’velistenedtoitonwell-set-upsystems
employingcomponentsfarmorecostlythanmostaudiophilesgetachanceto
audition,letaloneown,soIknowwhatgoldliesburiedinthosedigitalpits.TheReference110alwaysfellabitshortofcapturingthesubtleacousticnuancesIknewtobethere,nomatterthespeakersitwaspairedwith.TheReference150createdamoredetailedsoundstageandcapturedauralcuesthataddeduptoexquisiteresolution.
AudioResearchequipmenthasalwaysbeenknownforcreatingalargeandwell-definedsoundstage.
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TheReference150tookthistoanewlevel.Thinkofthesoundfieldasacubemadeupofaninfinitenumberofbits,likethescanlinesonavideoscreen,onlyinthreedimensions.Morebitsofinformationinthatspacegivegreaterweightandtexturetoeverythinginthesoundfield.The150justseemedtohavemorebitsineachofthethreedimensions.Asaresult,thestagedepthofthe110wasslightlycollapsedcomparedtothatofthe150,especiallywithrecordingslikeHeartworn Highwaythatofferrealisticstagedepth.Notonlydoesthisallowyoutobetterplaceaparticulareventwithinthesoundstage,butalsotheimagewithinthatspecialcontexthasmoretextureandthereforelessgrain.VanZandt’svoice,scarredbyyearsofsubstanceabuse,healthproblemsand,inthisinstance,apremium-gradehangoverisnotsomethingIwouldusuallycalldelicate,yettheReference150broughtoutthesubtlenuancesofeachandeveryinsultenduredbythoseravagedvocalcords,makingthereproductionfeelfarmorelifelikethanIhearfrommostamplifiers.Toputitanotherway,thisamplifierfilledinthespacearoundthenoteswithalltheextraneousinformationthatshouldbethere--thescrapingofachaironstageorapreviouslyunnoticedcoughintheaudience.Thiskindofdetailaddssubstanceandform,lifeandcontext,towhatisalltoooftenanalmostsynthetic,solelymusicalevent.Itputsthepeoplebackintorecordings.
LestallthistalkofbitsandscanlinessuggeststhattheReference150’sattributesshinemorebrightlyondigitalthananalog,fearnot.IpulledoutDiabolus in Musica, Accordo Interprets PaganinionDGG[DeutscheGrammophon02894776492],a1996LPcompilationontworecordsandasetthatequalsanythinginmycollectionformusicandsound.TheReference150
broughtouttheholographicsoundstageofthisrecordingbetterthanI’veeverheard.ThesoundoftheseLPsisexcellentonanydecentsystem,butasthequalityofthe
front-endandelectronicsincreases,therecordscontinuetoserveupanendlesssupplyofdelights.AfterswappingintheReference150forthe110,theLondonPhilharmoniccreatedadeeperandmorethree-dimensionalsoundstage,andthedynamicrangeincreased.Forthefirsttime,myattentionfocusedontheorchestralaccompanimentratherthanbeingcaptivated
byAccardo’spyrotechnics.
Thechangestotheamplifierwerealsofeltwithrecordsthathavesignificantbassenergy.TheReference150won’tmakethetwo7”woofersofanAvalonTranscendentsoundlikethe11”woofersoftheTime,norsupplythebasskickofmoreexpensivemonoblocks,butthedifferenceistheretohear.Evenwithspeakersthathavemoderatebassextension,theReference150’sextendedlowfrequenciesmakethemselvesknownwithgreatershapeandcontrol.OneofmyfavoritecutsforthispurposeisGol’s“AngelicainDelirium”
fromTrance Planet Volume Two[Triloka7210-2],long
outofprintbutadiscI’vebeenlisteningtosincethemid-1990s.ItproducesbasswellbelowthethresholdofanyspeakersI’vehadinmylisteningroom.Imadeadirectcomparisonbetweenthe110and150,andatfirstIthoughtIwashearinglessbassenergywiththe150,butafterhearingafewmorebass-richrecordings,Irealizedthatthe150simplytightenedupthebass,displayingmuchfaster,cleanerdecay.Iconfirmedthiswithsomeofmyfavoriteheadbangerrockmusic,includingWho’s Next[Track2408102]andLed Zeppelin II(UKPlumlabel[Atlantic588198]).Theserecordsareattheirbestonamuchlargersystem.Withmoremodestlysizedspeakersandastereoamplifier,it’seasyfortheloudestpassagestodistort.TheReference150heldthebassin
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laterincreasedto$10,995.TheReference150,pricedat$12,995,whileexpensive,canholditsownwithexoticamplifiers
costingalotmore.I’veusedorownedmanyAudioResearchampsoverthelast25years,
andIcan’trememberanimprovementbetweengenerationstocomparewiththeadvancesbuiltintotheReference150.Iapproachedtheamplifierwithmodestexpectations.Afterall,theReference110wasanextremelyaccomplishedperformer--myreference.Howmuchcoulditbeimprovedupon?Theansweris“alot.”I’venothadsomuchfunwithanewproductinalongtime.
checkinplaceswhereeventhe110wouldloseabitofcontrolandbecomemuddy.Andattheotherendofthespectrum,itaddedabitofextension.Theupperreachesofpianoandviolin,theshimmerofhigh-hatpercussionandthesparkleofpiccolo,allwelltreatedbytheReference110,confirmedthepublishedclaimthatthefrequencyextremesofthe150trumpthoseofthe110.
orme,theReference150isthesweetspotin theAudioResearchReferenceamplifierrange. TheReference110hadbeeninproductionsincemid-2006.Itstartedoffpricedat$9995andF
Price:$12,995.
Warranty: Threeyearspartsandlabor.
AudioResearchCorporation3900AnnapolisLaneNorthPlymouth,Minnesota55447(763)577-9700
www.audioresearch.com
Associated Equipment
Analog:VPITNT-6turntablewithrimdriveandSDSspeedcontroller,VPI12.7tonearm,LyraSkalaandTitanMonocartridges,KoetsuCoralcartridge,AudioResearchReferencePhono2phonostage.
Digital:AudioResearchReferenceCD7CDplayer.
Preamplifiers:AudioResearchReference5.
Power amplifiers:AudioResearchReference110.
Loudspeakers:AvalonAcousticsTranscendent.
Interconnects: NordostValhalla.
Speaker cables:NordostFrey.
Power conditioners:QuantumQBase8andQX4.
Power cords:NordostValhalla.
Equipment rack, platforms and accessories:BillyBagsequipmentrackmodifiedwitha4”mapleplatform,StillpointsUltraisolators,StillpointsComponentStands,FurutecGTXD-RhodiumACoutlet.