Audio Research, Reference 250 Tube Monos... Oh My!!

Sale price Price $12,999.00 Regular price Unit price per

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Since acquisition by Fine Sounds in a bold and somewhat shocking move, Audio Research has gone through something of a Renaissance. The Italian backers have been very clever with this brand, by not shaking the tree too hard, they seem to have brought the best out of Audio Research’s core values, making products that Audio Research was always good at building, with what seems like a lot of additional R&D budget to realise their potential.

The Ref 250 monos replace the popular Ref 210s. They continue the broad move by Audio Research to switch from 6550 power tubes to KT120s, with each chassis containing three matched pairs as power output tubes, a further matched pair of KT120s as line drivers, two 6H30s (one gain stage and one regulator) and a 6550C as regulator. As a result, you end up with a tube amp capable of around 0.5% distortion at 250W. Audio Research has never been a great proponent of low or no negative feedback in its power amp designs (because you sacrifice output impedance and damping factor, as well as generally giving better measurement on the bench), and the Reference 250 is no exception, with a healthy 8.8% global feedback across the circuit.

This also means an amplifier that creates quite a draw on your electrical supply. The 20A IEC socket isn’t just there for show; the 380W ‘idle’, the 770W at rated output and the 1kW flat out power requirements per side mean it’s probably best to have something more than a 13A circuit behind the wall socket, especially if you are driving these babies as close to full throat. Yet it draws a green(ish) 1W in its ‘off’ setting.

As ever with the best in ARC, this is balanced-only operation, with a heavy duty XLR socket sitting above the rear-firing (and quiet) case fan. Below that is a solid terminal block for four, eight and 16 ohm speaker systems, and there’s a set of 12V trigger phono terminals for automated power up.

What you get from the outset is very much classic Audio Research fare – a midband and soundstaging that set the benchmark for ‘to die for’ coupled with effortless, controlled bass and dynamic range and the kind of high-frequency performance that invites you to lose hours in your music. And this just seems to get better the more you listen. This isn’t the amplifier for those who micromanage their music, listening to a collection of sounds to determine whether the triangle player was playing left-handed. Oh, it can do all that analysis stuff very well should you so require, but those drawn to this kind of sound don’t tend to demand that sort of musical evisceration. This is music presented as big picture. You take in the whole of the sound in one big gulp here. And it’s a heady wine.

We've had a lot of " Reference" quality amps run through this shop,... all the usual names and some truly unexpected gems but these guys, these Reference 250s come closer to replicating a live performance than anything we've experienced and rightfully so; that's what $28K in all-American audio tech treats us to in 2025. There might be 50 online reviews of these amps right now and NOT ONE reviewer can find a fault with these masterpieces. Are they BIG? yep, do they weigh as much as a common 13yo? well, yes they do, will you have a rack suitable for these fire breathing dragons? maybe but if not, you'll stretch to get one do that will support a VW Bus and lastly, do you really need 200lbs of tube goodies? only you can answer that but if you want to drop the mic after this final amp purchase feel free, the journey is OVER. All and all, the most magnificent set of monos this shop had had the pleasure of offering. In solid 9-10 condition as they come from a one-owner home and were coddled their entire life. Owner would powder their behinds and tuck them in with a warm blanket at the end of each session. Truly as-new condition with all the new fresh from the box accompaniments; just glorious.

Come listen to these magic makers here in Andover... we can ship as we do so all over the world. You'll pay for it but good god, these are worth every penny you'll put into them. An end game power package.

Audio Research, ARC Reference 250 Monoblock Tube Power Amplifiers: $12,999.00

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