Anthem STR or BHK (PS Audio) preamp?? Thoughts

Of course it won't FIX a bad room but it will do wonders for bass reproduction, the toughest part of any room to optimize.  ARC is there to help with rooms that cannot be optimized due to space, wives, etc.  It's not a "cherry on top" tweak.  If the room is sonically optimized then the need for room correction diminishes. 

 @golfmd2 not really.  ARC cannot fix a bad room..  It CAN help but it's assistance is limited if you feed it junk to begin with.  It helps a bad room but won't FIX a bad room.

1. Room isn't treated well enough to get the maximum out of ARC yet.

Isn't the fact that the room is not well treated a greater reason to use ARC? 

@mofojo  I just normally listen without it for a couple of reasons..

1. Room isn't treated well enough to get the maximum out of ARC yet.

2. Swapping speakers so often, I want to hear them "organically".  

3. It bothers me that ARC is doing a whole other analog to digital conversion on my signal, therefore I have to either be ok with that, or not use an external dac.

Curious as to what you mean that you aren’t using the ARC function much? You prefer it without the room correction? Or just sometimes? I would think that would be the deciding factor. 

Which of these amps would be the better pairing with Magnepan 3.7i?  Thanks for responses. Bryston 4b3, PS BHK 250, Pass Lab x250.8.

The BHK is a fine unit. The tube stage is nice. Have never heard the STR. It appears to be about 2 grand cheaper. Looking at their website, it appears to be a very nice unit.