Audio Research REF150 (£12,495)

摘要

Despite a tendency for one to assume that a company's flagship model has to be its best effort by default, there are always flukes. I've met a Porsche fanatic who'd rather live with a 911 Carrera 4 than a Turbo, and I prefer the Rolex Explorer - one up from the 'bottom' - to its dearest, blingiest pimp-wear. When it comes to hi-fi components, there's often something alluring about the middle models.Rather than alienate half the industry by pointing out mid-level miracles that could cost them sales of the halo items, I will limit myself to stating that I have always had a greater hankering for Audio Research's 'smaller' amps. As often as I have been wowed by whatever is the current REF Series circa-600W monoblock, my lust list usually centres on the more prosaic, entry-level stereo model. Indeed, I am currently saving up for a used REF110 -the amp superseded by the unit at hand.