MEASUREMENTS

rom the outside, the Audio Research Reference 6SE looks identical to the Reference 6 preamplifier that Michael Fremer reviewed in December 2016. I measured the REF 6SE’s performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It”). Like the earlier preamplifier, the REF 6SE’s volume control operates in approximately 0.3dB steps. The gain with the volume control set to its maximum—“103” on the front-panel display—was 12.2dB, balanced or unbalanced input to balanced output, and 6.1dB, unbalanced input to unbalanced output. The unity-gain setting was “62.” Both sets of inputs and outputs preserved absolute polarity