Some like it Hot

摘要

'Business as usual' marks life at Audio Research under Quadrivio, its new, Italian owners. The American-as-root-beer virtues that exemplify the products remain; banish any notions that we'll see ARC amps made with staves of curvy walnut. The new 120W/ch VS115 is pure Yankee ARC all the way, though one now needs to turn to Russia for 6550s. Advancing from the VS110 by adding balanced inputs, the VS115 retains the layout of its predecessor: open architecture and an anodized top plate with every aperture clearly labelled for each of the eight matched 6550 output tubes and the quartet of 6H30 gain and cathode follower valves. Optimal ventilation is a given, the structure preventing all but the most majestically stupid of users from putting anything on top of it. As is ARC practise, the VS115 benefits from the development of the Reference models, in particular the REF110's FET input stage design.