Audio Research News!
Audio Research I/50 DAC Module and Audio Research Ref 160M MKII
Last week we received not one but two nice Audio Research messages of which we would like to inform you: the report that the long-awaited DAC Module of the I/50 is finally in production and therefore (almost) available, and the announcement of an MKII upgrade for the Mono version of the Ref 160 power amplifiers. Good reason for an Audio Research news item from the Reference Sounds Headquarters.
Audio Research I/50 DAC Module – now available
Global challenges in the field of electronic components have hampered the engineers at Audio Research during the development of the I/50 DAC Module. Unfortunately, the original design could therefore be thrown in the trash. But after the necessary prototypes, the final design has finally rolled through all the test phases and has been put into production. Fact is though that Audio Research has been able to pull out all the stops to turn this DAC into a special piece of art. One that can just be squeezed into the populated bottom of the I/50. Unfortunately, the network connection and built-in streaming functionality that was previously on the blueprint didn’t make it to the final product, simply because it wouldn’t physically fit in. As a positive result, the DAC Module went down a bit in price as well.
Equipped with RCA Digital Coaxial and Toslink Optical digital inputs and a USB-B connection, the I/50 is the perfect center of your High-End audio setup. The Coaxial digital input supports a maximum data resolution of 192kHz, the optical input is limited to 48kHz. The USB input goes a little further with a maximum PCM Sample rate of 384kHz and also supports DSD64, DSD128 (DSD1x and DSD2x), DoP64 and DoP128. A nice bonus is the build in Bluetooth receiver for fast, wireless music streaming to the I/50. Sound-wise, an external streamer is of course always a better choice, but it’s still great that it’s possible!
As far as we are concerned, the I/50 is truly a musical jewel. Fantastic to see but especially to hear. What this small Audio Research integrated amplifier manages to do with every musical note is truly sublime. Tonal color, conviction, stage, everything is spot on and is conjured up with a generous smile. With this sound magician, Audio Research brings an amplifier fully developed and manufactured in-house in a – by Audio Research standards – significantly lower price segment. Best of all, he will also have a brother and sister later this year. Presumably in the form of a separate pre-amplifier and power amplifier, but we make no promises.
The I/50 with built-in DAC Module has a suggested retail price of € 8.290,-
The DAC is also available as a separate Module so that it can be retrofitted. In that case, the I/50 DAC Module has a suggested retail price of € 1.490,-
Audio Research Ref 160M MKII
Our introduction show of the Wilson Audio ALEXX V is still clear on the eardrum. Partly thanks to the combination with the Ref 6SE preamplifier and the Ref 160M Mono power amplifiers. The four KT150 tubes, subtly glowing behind the white Ghost Meter paint an extremely smooth and detailed sound spectacle. Super realistic and three-dimensional at the same time. As if Salvador Dali and Rembrandt took care of the tuning themselves.
With the behind the scenes development of a Ref 320M flagship that we expect to introduce later this year, a number of new insights also emerged. Small improvements in the signal path and newly available components that are too good to save for the Ref 320M only. So the guys took the Ref 160M by the handles and translated some of these modifications into the current Minnesota flagship. The result turned out to be astonishing. Today, 5 years after its official debut, we are therefore introducing its successor – the Audio Research Ref 160M MKII.
Although we blindly believe Audio Research, we have not heard the MKII in all honesty, but we have ordered it. It is nice that existing Ref 160Monos can be upgraded with all the good things from the MKII version. Various new internal components and cabling have, according to our friends, an impressive impact on the bass reproduction that gains solidity and at the same time has become even more elastic. The dynamic talents of the 160M are further enhanced with the upgrade and the typical High Definition sound character of Audio Research is imposed on the loudspeakers with even more elan and expressiveness. Long story short – we can’t wait!
The Ref 160M MKII Mono Power Amplifier is available immediately and has a suggested retail price of € 22.490,- each. An MKII version for the Ref 160S Stereo has not yet been announced.
We can upgrade an existing Ref 160M to the MKII version for a price of € 6.990,- per power amplifier.
