The Reference 5 SE was a delight to use. All of its controls were intuitive and positive, and the single-ended and balanced connectors were all nicely solid.
With the Ref 5 SE, instruments sounded more like themselves, more alive. Violas were more distinct from cellos and violins, and each woodwind retained more of its inherent characteristics, whether it was the woody, airy tone of a clarinet or the reedier buzz of an oboe. The rich way the Ref 5 SE portrayed instruments also made it easier to discern individual musicians in a chorus or orchestra, the differences in timbre and texture enhancing the image specificity to create a nearly holographic effect.