Audio Research Reference 160S Stereo Amplifier

Name: Audio Research Reference 160S Stereo Amplifier
Brand: Audio Research
SKU: ARREF160S
Price: 60000.00 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

$60,000.00

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A vacuum-tube design, the Reference 160S stereo power amplifier follows in the footsteps of the internationally-acclaimed 160M monaural power amplifier, introduced in 2018, which has won multiple amplifier-of the-year honors from publications such as Stereophile, Hi-Fi+, and others.

The Reference 160S (REF160S) carries-over the stunning look of the 160M, with dual GhostMeters™ that float in front of the eight KT150 output power tubes.

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Specifications

POWER OUTPUT

140 watts continuous from 20Hz to 20kHz. 1kHz total harmonic distortion typically 1% at 140 watts, below 0.04% at 1 watt. (Note that actual power output is dependent upon both line voltage and “condition” i.e.: if power line has high distortion, maximum power will be affected adversely, although from a listening standpoint this is not critical).

POWER BANDWIDTH

(-3dB Points) 5Hz to 70kHz.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

(-3dB points at 1 watt) 0.5Hz to 110kHz.

INPUT SENSITIVITY

2.4V RMS Balanced for rated output. (25.5 dB gain into 8 ohms).

INPUT IMPEDANCE

300k ohms Balanced; 100k ohms Single-ended.

OUTPUT POLARITY

Non-inverting. Balanced input pin 2+ (IEC-268).

OUTPUT TAPS

16 ohms, 8 ohms, 4 ohms.

OUTPUT REGULATION

Approximately 0.6dB 16 OHM LOAD TO OPEN CIRCUIT (Damping factor approximately 14).

OVERALL NEGATIVE FEEDBACK

14dB

SLEW RATE

13 volts/microsecond

RISE TIME

2.0 microseconds

POWER REQUIREMENTS

105-130VAC 60Hz (210-250VAC 50Hz) 875 watts at rated output, 700 watts in Triode mode, 500 watts at “idle”, 3.6 watts off.

TUBES REQUIRED

4 matched pair KT150 (Power output V1-4); 4 6H30 (Gain stage V5 and V6).

DIMENSIONS

Width 48.26 cm

Height 26 cm

Depth 54.61 cm

With Handles and Connectors: 60.96 cm

WEIGHT

45.35kg

It’s almost laughably dynamic, making many amps we think of as dynamic sound a little flat and boring by comparison.

HiFi Plus

The 160S continues the feature set introduced in the 160M, including a proprietary auto-bias circuit, switchable Triode or Ultralinear modes of operation, balanced and single-ended inputs, and an output tube monitoring mode. The 160S also uses a four-layer circuit board, allowing music to emanate from a jet-black background.

With a weight of 100 lbs. and a chassis depth of 21.5“(54.6 cm), two rear handles were added to make it easier to lift and move. Larger 120mm, low profile fans are built into the bottom cover plate horizontally to provide ventilation.

The REF160S distills the astonishing resolution, dynamic impact, musical purity and finesse of the 160M into one beautiful and attainable chassis. It was designed for the music lover in all of us.

Who is this for?

The Reference 160S is designed for the dedicated listener who has assembled a revealing system and refuses to compromise on emotional connection to their music. If you've invested in full-range loudspeakers—whether efficient floorstanders or more demanding reference monitors—and your collection spans everything from chamber music to large-scale orchestral works, this amplifier delivers the power, finesse, and tonal accuracy to honor both your speakers and your recordings. This is for someone who listens critically but never loses sight of why they fell in love with music in the first place.

Your listening room is likely medium to large, somewhere between 250 and 500 square feet, where dynamics need space to breathe and low frequencies require real authority. The Reference 160S provides 150 watts per channel of vacuum tube power, which means it will drive speakers rated anywhere from 87dB sensitivity upward with complete control and grace. You're not looking for background music—you're seeking that moment when the system disappears and only the performance remains.

This amplifier belongs at the heart of a mature, thoughtfully curated system. Pair it with a quality preamplifier (Audio Research's own Reference line is the natural choice), a competent source component, and loudspeakers worthy of serious attention. If you've reached the point where incremental improvements matter, where you can hear the difference between good and great, and where you're ready to invest in a component you'll treasure for decades, the Reference 160S deserves your consideration.

The Reference 160 S steps up to the challenge of its own kin brilliantly. That’s part of what marks out a ‘great’ product from one that is merely ‘good’. And the Audio Research Reference 160 S really is great!

This Audio Research combo—the Reference 6 preamplifier and the Reference 160 S amplifier—combined gorgeous tone with physicality: horsehair on gut, hammer on strings, soft wood buzzing in brass, the harshness of spat vocals or an intentionally scratchy violin. I didn't know that so much of the music in my collection possessed so much tonal beauty.