Audio Research Reference 10 Preamplifier

Our ultimate preamplifier

Audio Research has made history with industry-landmark preamplifier designs such as the SP3 in 1973, and again in 2010 with the Reference Anniversary preamplifier. In particular, The Reference Anniversary was a special limited-edition product commemorating our 40th year.

At the time, it was acclaimed by many as the finest preamplifier available and a fitting tribute to all the classic Audio Research products that were introduced since the company’s birth. We were met with disbelief that we would only accept orders for this special product during the anniversary year, yet we considered the limited time frame appropriate. But in the years that followed, research and advancement inexorably reached further. The result is the best preamplifier Audio Research has yet devised, the Reference 10 line stage.

REF10 accesses power via a single 20A power cord. After that, it is completely dual-mono from the power supply through the audio circuit. There are dual, separate low- and high-voltage transformers for each channel; there is dual-mono vacuum-tube regulation (one 6H30 and one 6550 per channel), dual-mono audio circuits (four 6H30 per channel), and enough energy storage for a serious power amplifier.

Key Audio Research design traits remain: The signal path is fully discrete, all-tube, pure Class-A, with zero feedback. Other attributes and choices remain, too: Each unit is completely hand-soldered and hand-constructed in our Minnesota facility using the finest materials, with major components such as custom transformers, plated-through circuit boards, and casework sourced locally. All engineering is performed in-house.