Audio Research Reference 5SE

I purchased my Audio Research REF 5SE April 2016 new, and it
has been perfect. My tendency is to use my equipment lightly before changing my system components. I love trying new
combinations. The original tubes are in place and perfectly burned in after a
total of 650 hours of playtime. I have the original boxes, manual, metal remote
control. All in EXCELLENT condition.

 I have decade+ experience on Audiogon and all of my reviews have been excellent

My experience with this piece has been stellar, the sound is
outstanding, and the condition is virtually mint. No blemishes,chips,defects, or any signs of abuse.I can package it as I originally received it. It is such an exceptional preamp that I have struggled with whether the next model, which costs much, can be at all appreciated by my 63 year old ears. Tough decision but here we go.

A brief description from Stereophile is below:

The Reference 5 SE ($12,995), introduced in late 2011 to replace the
Reference 5

 The 5 SE's front panel
mirrors that of the Anniversary: the buttons are now tidy, round, metal, and
set directly into the faceplate, rather than the Ref 5's square, recessed
plastic buttons. Added on the inside, to the left, is a vertically mounted
circuit board, stuffed to the gills with capacitors to nearly double the Ref
5's already massive energy storage. Other changes include new Teflon and hybrid
coupling and bypass capacitors, and changes in the internal wiring.

The Audio Research Reference 5 SE's lineage and $12,995 price led me to
expect a lot from it, and it didn't disappoint. I can sum up my impressions of
it in one word: "Wow!"

The Ref 5 SE's resolution of detail was absolutely superb. The Ref 5 SE didn't
uncover just another level of subtle detail and nuance in his voice; it seemed
to uncover 10 more, or 20. 



Summing up my experience of Audio Research's Reference 5 SE preamplifier is
pretty easy: I was smitten. I hear a lot of great audio gear, but it's been a
long time since I've been so taken with a component. I can't imagine anyone
hearing the Ref 5 SE and not falling
head over heels for it. It's been a long time, too, since I've heard a
component that seemed to be so fundamental and significant an advance over all
others I've heard. It's true that I haven't heard the latest models from Ayre
Acoustics, Simaudio, Sutherland Engineering, and VTL. And $12,995 is a lot of
money—but not for a component this good and this well built, and not for one
that Audio Research stands behind. There are a lot more expensive preamps out
there today, but I'm not sure that any amount of money will buy better
performance than the Reference 5 SE's. One thing I am sure
of: Like its illustrious predecessors, the Ref 5 SE is a component I'll wish
I'd held on to—assuming I ever let go of it. The Reference 5 SE gets my highest
recommendation.