AUDIO RESEARCH Reference 80S

So, let’s be back to the bass quality. The Reference 80S has the aforementioned multiple speaker taps on its rear panel. To decide about to which taps connect the speakers is not a straightforward exercise; although the speakers state their impedance in a specification sheet the impedance usually varies with frequency, often significantly. Through the Audio Research’s 4-ohm taps I heard what I described two paragraphs earlier; when I connected the speakers on the Reference 80S’s 8-ohm taps the bottom hand underwent a major facelift. In that moment the massive Angel from Massive Attack (Mezzanine) tightened in the bass and got more resonant at the same time, without losing the depth and fatness of the bottom end. I could not be satisfied more with what I was hearing, however, there was also a proverbial trade-off: the presence region got accented and some recording became too forward sounding. What is the learning? Make sure that your existing speakers will work with the Reference 80S to your satisfaction before the buy. Or, vice versa, if you own the Reference 80S, be patient to choose the right speakers.

The Reference 80S also reacts to which power cable is used with it. There is a slight complication though as the amplifier uses IEC C19 standard. I tried to swap the Acrolinku 8N-PC8100 to Shunyata Research’s new Sigma XC v2 and the sound changed; it was another major improvement with no trade-off this time.

In Audio Research they know how to build great amplifiers and the Reference 80S is the proof. It runs hot because of the tubes, and have limited power handling that does not allow for playing too loud; other than that it is a competent piece of high end gear. Should you need more power there is the Reference 160S model that doubles the power of the 80S. Still, I know quite a number of audiophiles that like to listen at low volumes – those may find the Audio Research Reference 80S the ultimate power amplifier.