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Audio Research REF3 Review by James Leahy
Introduction
God I love my job I tell you. A sincere 'Thank You' to all you guys asking me about the REF3 and how it compares against the other models, I felt severely compelled to getting one for my system and writing a review so you could all benefit from my listening sessions. Please send me a pile of e-mails asking about the PH7 next ok...
Ideally the best scenario would be for you all to visit me and hear the differences for your selves on my system first hand but I know this is not always possible so hopefully you will get something out of this review that might make your buying decision a little easier.
I will try and dedicate this review to more of a comparison and real world virtual listening session than a useless technical feature description article that leaves the reader with no more clues as to the sound of the product then they had before. Audio Research's statement line stage; the formidable REF3 was released in 2004 and as many have said has indeed set a standard so high, even today it is constantly being used as the yardstick by which all other line stages are judged. Not a cheap unit at $16,995.00 I hear you say, for a simple volume control and input selector but this is the best line stage Audio Research know how to make at any price. You might not want to hear the differences in line stages but unfortunately there is a world of differences between the good, the bad and the ugly. You don't want there to be a difference but there is. Because of this fact the REF3 has ascended into urban folk law as one; if not 'THE' best line stage in the world at any price today. Having previously reviewed a number of past Audio Research line stages I was greatly looking forward to seeing if further improvements were indeed possible. Running a line stage like this in your system gives your input signal the best possible quality guarantee. You can rest assured that every tweak, source up-grade, room acoustic treatment, power cable up-grade will not be wasted. When released the REF3 took the audiophile world by storm and turned it on it's ear. What we all thought we knew about a good quality line stage and what performance we once all expected from a high-end unit was instantly and forever rewritten in one single blow. Before the REF3 there was nothing on the market that could even hold a candle to it, such is the sever departure from what you have heard if you have not had the pleasure of hearing this unit. Audio Research have really made a unit that is not only different to everything else out there at any price but it even eclipses their own REF2 Mk.II by the Grand Canyon's of margins and makes this former world heavyweight sound broken in comparison! I would rather listen to a LS26 than a REF2 Mk.II such is the level of improvement A.R.C. have made with their new line stage range. The unit is designed with totally new audio circuits from it's predecessor but is physically the same size. It is roughly the same dimension as a VT50 power amplifier! The external look of the new REF3 is also a large departure from what customers have been used to in their past products and I for one very much like the new design. There has been some unfounded negativity from other fellow Hi-Fi journalists that the design could have been improved upon. I strongly disagree with this statement and argue it is one of the most attractive line stages I have seen from A.R.C.. It is both modern and functional and I am sure it will prove to be a future collector's item. Get your hands on one and keep it in your system while you can still buy one new. It physically looks horn from all angles and provides for every possible feature one may need in any high-end system configuration. There is a 20 amp I.E.C. connector used for the first time on any A.R.C. line stage which may be strongly related to the huge 50% increase in size of the power supply compared to the REF2 Mk.II. The power supply is 50% larger then the companies VS55 power amplifier! Now that's BIG. There are new power transformers which have been commissioned in the REF3 that are of extreme bandwidth that allows the unit to push to an unheard of 200kHz ceiling. Previously up from 60kHz, this is a remarkable achievement and one that can certainly be heard with real world benefits. The micro dynamics and fine shades of detail on the musical layering is proof that. This advancement has in turn lead to a lowering of the measured noise floor by a staggering 12dB. Distortion has also been reduced by 40%. That's more than enough of the spec sheet. I am going to skip most of the regular technical measurements and feature list that can easily be read off A.R.C.'s own website but wish to let you guys know really what I thought about the real world performance of this monster of a line stage and how it compares with previous generations.
Not a small unit by any means. The REF3 continues in the tradition of all Reference products being the very best Audio Research know how to make at any price.
The usual feature list continues with 12V switching and a new 20A I.E.C. receptacle.
Possibly the last line stage you will ever need.
Attention to detail is displayed everywhere with basic functions being controllable from the front panel.
One of the nicest displays I have seen and sure to make the REF3 a future classic.
Huge reserves of current from a vast array of Nichicon caps.
The tube component of the REF3's audio circuit is 4 x 6H30's
This is what make the REF3 sing. Special proprietary coupling caps.
Above and below are the two new ultra high band width power transformers designed especially for the REF3. One for the audio circuit and one for the power circuit.
All tube rectification in the power supply. 1 x 6550C 1 x 6H30
Sonic Evaluations
Previously my line stage of choice has been the LS26 which has served me really well for a number of years and will continue I am sure to be Audio Research's most popular volume selling unit. To best understand my comments in this review please read my LS26 review HERE if you have not done so. Listening to Kris Kristofferson - 'Border Lord' Album (Monument Records, 1972) the best way to describe the REF3's overall sound is that of a volume control with no volume related compromises as can so often be the case. What I mean by this is in my experience normally when you use a line stage in your system there is a sweet spot that the music just sounds right and everything jells. The REF3 has the uncanny ability to get everything right at all volume levels. When you increase the volume the music is just louder without any distortion of character, harshness or annoying grittiness. At lower volume levels the detail is not lost that can happen with lesser models. It captures the essence of the music without adding any obvious floors or colorations. This sounds elementary but I guarantee you it is very rarely achieved in the real world. I believe most readers will want to know and understand the differences to the junior model, namely the LS26 and how much of a real advantage there is. I too was eager to see where the two differed and what could be gained by spending considerably more on the REF3. Well without further delay lets get down to the nitty gritty. Compared to the LS26 the difference is most noticeable in the following areas, of bass response, smoothness of midrange character, width of soundstage, and detail of musical multi layering. Firstly lets talk about the bass response. Compared to the LS26 there was a huge improvement in the depth and level of bass. This was obvious and not just a small improvement but a large one. I went from one to the other on my system and the REF3 was the grand master of hard hitting bass response. It was in no way bloated or slow and the new level of performance in this department complemented the music with every drum beat. The LS26 does the job but it is not to the same degree in this department. Not that it is obvious until you do an A-B comparison between the two do you know the difference that you are missing. Could I live with the LS26; well yes I certainly could but the REF3 is a lot better in the quality of bass that I know some will really appreciate. Comparing anything else to the REF3 in this area is almost an unfair fight because it totally destroys anything else I have heard with it's fast tight lower octave extension while remaining coherent in all other frequencies. Totally un-nerving the first time you experience this. The good part is that it does not compromise the midrange and treble and nothing is out of balance. It makes you wonder how you listened to units that compromise the low frequencies that much. I am convinced this boost in performance had a direct link to the REF3's increased bandwidth and lower noise floor. The second area of performance improvement comes from the smoothness for sound at all volume levels. Like a good Scotch that has been aged 12 years the REF3 delivers totally transparent and un-offensive liquid detail with all the hard hitting impact of a sledgehammer. There is a full wall of sound that pushes you back in your listening chair without ever being overly edgy or harsh. It improves against the LS26 in the area of fullness of sound stage while remaining smoother and even more refined and polished. The smaller LS26 gives you separation and detail in all areas in it's presentation of multi layering and space but the REF3 fills in all the holes more completely so to create a seamless picture with no gaps unfulfilled. In detailed musical passages the REF3 improves the smoothness of micro dynamics with far more finer gradients of detail rather than less refined layering and therefore I found held my attention more completely. The vocals hang more intensely
and deliver their message with more weight and dynamics than I have
heard before. There can be no mistaking the way the REF3 gives the
listener more midrange depth and detail when it comes to the blend
between the vocals and instrumental sound tracks. On multi layered
recordings if the listener wants to concentrate on the drummer or maybe
the bass guitar track they can without loosing their attention on other
more obvious parts. This is very similar to live venue listening
sessions where you do not have to concentrate on listening to the music
as a whole but can accurately focus on each performer as an individual
if you choose and not just as part of a big mass of sound. Once again
nothing to bag the LS26 with but the smoothness of detail and fullness
of midrange was a considerable improvement that is not slight and
insignificant on my system. The way I listen to my music and want it to sound and feel is very dynamic with loads of midrange slam to pin you to your chair. I like to totally knock myself out with grip and control over the soundstage with a wide and engulfing wall that does not have any holes or areas of deficiency. The REF3 excels in this area and will give power freaks their daily dose of testosterone in one huge shot. The width of the soundstage is even wider then the LS26 at all volume levels and it has no areas of weakness with a full and detailed presentation. There is no sense of over doing it either as the sound is neither too ripe or lean. The REF3 really lets those of us that have invested heavily in quality amplification to get the most out of their gear. With lesser units I have always felt the need to restrain myself when listening at higher levels without being able to fully drop the hammer but with the REF3 in my system it is like unlocking the gates of Hell and unleashing all the potential your amplifier is capable of. Let's put it this way, if your system does not sound better with a REF3, it is not going to sound good with anything. It is remarkably neutral in tone as well without any obvious sonic characteristics one way or the other. The lower end models are obviously cut from the same cloth and they bring with them many of the same sonic benefits of the REF3 but to lesser degrees. There is a sense of amazement every time I listen to this masterpiece of modern engineering that I cannot believe how much more it has brought out of my already great sound system. Could I get by with less? After you hear the REF3 on your system it is hard to go back to anything else when you know what it is capable of but it is a matter of degrees. If your system is not up to the performance level of the REF3 then I would look at cheaper but still very capable alternatives. On my particular test system the performance benefits of the REF3 made it's price not the major factor in deciding it was well worth it's price. It is such an improvement in terms of bass dynamics, width and depth of soundstage alone that made it excellent value for money to me. The all valve rectification in the power supply when compared to the LS26's FET alternative accounts for much of this benefit here I am sure. When ever you have valves in the power supply the soundstage gains massively in width and depth. The REF3 is no exception I am glad to report and if you wish to knock down the walls of your listening room this is the line stage that will do it if ever there was one; without question. So what would I recommend to a potential buyer? If I was putting a system together with a limited budget and have to leave room for other items but wanted a line stage that could do everything well and blow away the former gold world standard in the REF2 Mk.II I would whole heartily recommend the LS26 for less then half the price of the old REF unit. It remains the best buy in the Audio Research line-up value for money and dollar for dollar. The LS26 is close to the REF3 in sonic character and it is worlds away in performance at the same time. The LS26 will get a good valve system up there into the air with amazing performance but the REF3 will knock it's teeth out and punch it into next week. The performance benchmark of the LS26 will take many years to be bettered if it ever can be at it's remarkable price point. The REF3 gives more in all areas that I have described above and I could not be without in my system once I had heard the differences. There is no question, the REF3 does trounce everything else I have ever tried against it and it is a legendary line stage that will elevate your system into the stratosphere in one blow no matter how good you already think it sounds. The REF3 WILL make it sound better! If you want a line stage that will see you through a number of up-grades in your system and will last you a good number of years without becoming outdated I would get a REF3 without any hesitation. The level of performance A.R.C. have achieved in this flagship model will not be surpassed without a lot of trouble and many years of development. This is one unit that should not be missed. If you have the amplifiers, source components and loudspeakers to benefit from more of everything then I would recommend you see the rabbit Audio Research have pulled from their hat in the new REF3.
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