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I own Bliss Hifi, a high-end audio boutique based in Minnesota. This Audio Research Reference 6SE line-stage preamplifier is in on consignment from one of my local clients. It is the black finish. The unit is in like-new condition and in perfect working order. Single owner, purchased in 2021. The tube hour meter reads only 375 hours on the original tube complement, which speaks to how lightly this unit was used. Audio Research rates the 6H30P signal tubes for approximately 4,000 hours and the 6550WE power supply tube for approximately 2,000 hours, so this unit has a tremendous amount of tube life remaining.

The unit comes with its original box, manual, remote control in excellent shape (not pictured), and stock power cable.

The Reference 6SE is the preamplifier that sits at the top of Audio Research’s single-chassis lineup, and it is the product that countless reviewers and listeners point to as the reason a great preamplifier still matters in a modern system. There is a school of thought that says you should run your DAC straight into your amplifier and skip the preamp entirely. The Ref 6SE is the component that disproves that theory. From the moment it is in the signal path, you hear what an active gain stage with this level of refinement actually contributes: the soundstage deepens and gains dimensional layering, instruments separate with a precision that a passive or DAC-direct approach simply cannot match, and there is an authority and dynamic scale to the music that makes everything downstream perform at a higher level. What makes the SE upgrade meaningful is a series of 18 new proprietary capacitors and 14 runs of upgraded internal wiring, inherited from the research that went into the Reference 160-series amplifiers. The result is a meaningfully more transparent and resolving presentation than the already excellent Ref 6, with tighter bass articulation, more precise imaging, and a lower noise floor that lets spatial cues and low-level detail emerge with greater clarity. At 375 hours, this unit is barely broken in by tube standards and has years of service ahead before it will need attention. Audio Research is headquartered right here in Maple Grove, Minnesota, so factory support and service are close at hand.

There is a matching Audio Research Reference 160S stereo amplifier also available from the same client, along with several other components from this system. Take a look through our preowned listings to see them all.

Happy to answer any questions. Thanks for your consideration.

Check my stellar feedback and buy with confidence. This listing includes free insured shipping across the CONUS. As this is a passthrough sale that I am brokering on behalf of my client, I prefer to accept payments via PayPal F&F, Venmo Gift, or personal check, but this also gives you the opportunity to attain this at my lowest possible price. Credit card payments are also possible for a 3.1% convenience charge.

More about the unit:
The Audio Research Reference 6SE is the company’s flagship single-chassis line-stage preamplifier, designed and manufactured in Maple Grove, Minnesota. It is a fully balanced, Class A design with zero global feedback and a single gain stage. The tube complement consists of seven 6H30P dual-triode tubes (three per channel for the audio signal path, one for the power supply regulation) and one 6550WE power supply tube. The SE upgrade from the Reference 6 incorporates 18 new proprietary capacitors developed specifically for Audio Research, 14 runs of upgraded internal wiring, and an updated acrylic top plate, all derived from research conducted during the development of the Reference 160-series amplifiers and the Reference 750SEL. Audio Research recommends tube replacement at approximately 4,000 hours for the 6H30P signal tubes and 2,000 hours for the 6550WE power supply tube, with the onboard hour meter tracking usage. The Ref 6SE features eight line-level inputs (four balanced XLR, four single-ended RCA), three pairs of main outputs (two balanced XLR, one single-ended RCA), one pair of record outputs (balanced XLR), and a processor pass-through input.

The electronically controlled 103-step volume attenuator provides precise level matching. Additional features include signal polarity inversion, mono mode, and a defeatable front-panel display. Frequency response extends from 0.4Hz to 200kHz (+0/-3dB) at rated output. Voltage gain is 12dB balanced and 6dB single-ended. Distortion is less than 0.01% at 2V RMS balanced output. Output impedance is 600 ohms balanced and 300 ohms single-ended. Recommended downstream amplifier input impedance is 10k ohms minimum. The aluminum chassis features front and rear handles and an acrylic top plate that allows viewing of the internal tube layout. A 20A IEC power inlet accepts high-performance aftermarket power cords. The unit includes a full-function remote control. Dimensions: 18.9 x 7.8 x 16.5 inches (W x H x D). Weight: 37.5 lbs. Stereophile Class A Recommended Component.

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