Audio Research Reference 7 Pre-Amplifier

Name: Audio Research Reference 7 Pre-Amplifier
Brand: Audio Research
Price: 59000.00 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

$59,000.00

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The Audio Research Reference 7 brings the company's latest generation of valve preamplifier technology to a new level of performance. Developed directly from the ground-up architecture of the flagship Reference 20, the Reference 7 is designed to deliver exceptional transparency, focus and musical expression without imposing its own character on the recording.

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Specifications

Type Stereo line-stage preamplifier
Tube complement 2 × 6H30P dual triodes
Frequency response -0.3 dB at 10 Hz; -0.3 dB at 40 kHz
Distortion <0.03% at 2 V RMS balanced output, 10 Hz–80 kHz, unweighted
Gain 12 dB balanced / 12 dB single-ended
Input impedance 25 kΩ balanced / 25 kΩ single-ended
Output impedance 600 Ω balanced / 375 Ω single-ended
Output polarity Inverting, balanced and single-ended
Inputs 7 inputs, each available via XLR and single-ended connections
Outputs Balanced and single-ended
Crosstalk -76 dB or better at 1 kHz
Power consumption 60 W maximum
Standby consumption 4.4 W
Power requirements 100–135 VAC 60 Hz / 200–250 VAC 50/60 Hz
Dimensions 48.26 W × 17.78 H × 44.45 D cm
Dimensions 19 × 7 × 17.5 in
Weight 15 kg net
Shipping weight 21.8 kg

The Reference 7 is not a refinement of what came before - it is a clear step forward.

Audio Research

Designed from the Reference 20

Rather than being a development of an existing preamplifier, the Reference 7 was created from the same new platform that produced the Reference 20. This gives it the benefit of Audio Research's latest thinking in circuit design, mechanical construction and power-supply engineering.

Its multi-layer chassis uses a combination of different metals to help control mechanical resonance, while the carefully engineered signal path is designed to preserve the integrity of the music from input to output.

With both balanced and single-ended connectivity, the Reference 7 can form the heart of a wide range of high-end systems. Its low output impedance also makes it an excellent partner for demanding power amplifiers and long interconnect runs.

A New Reference in Musicality

At its heart is a carefully optimised valve line stage using two 6H30P dual-triode valves. The circuit is supported by a sophisticated power supply designed to minimise background noise while maintaining long-term stability, helping the Reference 7 reveal the finest details and subtle dynamics in a recording.

The result is a presentation that combines the openness, tonal richness and dimensionality associated with Audio Research valve circuitry with impressive precision and control. Instruments occupy a stable, convincing soundstage, while voices and acoustic textures retain a natural sense of presence.

The Reference 7 is an ideal choice for listeners looking to build a truly high-end two-channel system around a transparent, refined and highly musical valve preamplifier. Paired with a Reference-series power amplifier, it provides a sophisticated control centre capable of extracting the full performance of today's finest digital and analogue sources.