ARC LS25 or Pass Labs X1??


Here's my current setup:

ARC LS-15 line
ARC PH-3SE phono
SOTA Star with AT OC-9 cartridge
Classe DAC-1
Classe CDT-1
Valve Amplification Company PA 160 MKII monobloc's
Sonus Faber Cremonas
Transparent and MIT interconnects, Harmonic Tech speaker cable and I run it balanced.

Here's the problem:
The VAC amp imputs are too sensitive for the output of the LS-15 (the volume control doesn't get much past 9 o'clock and it's loud at that point). Further, the volume increments on the LS-15 are very coarse.

Solution:
Finer increments on the volume control (I like having a remote volume control) and/or adjustable output sensitivity on the linestage.

I've narrowed it down to the LS-25, MK I or II, or a Pass Labs X1 and will likely buy used thereby limiting my audition possibilties. I like transparency, coherence and soundstaging in my system. I've had ARC for a long time (SP-11 MKII before the LS-15) but find the Pass Labs linestage appealing. Both have adjustable output (although it's unclear how it's done on the ARC) and finer increments on the volume control.

Any thoughts? Any suggestions keeping in mind the need for adjustable output sensitivity/finer increments on the volume and balanced outputs? BAT SK30SE looks interesting but probably too expensive at this point. Someone had mentioned that the LS-16 had lower output than the LS-15 but I've not been able to confirm.

Regards
barolobrain

Showing 1 response by kehut

I can only offer my experiences with the ARC gear as I have not heard the Pass pre amps.

The LS16 actually has a higher gain output of 12.2db in SE config. The 25 is adjustable from 0,6,12db Se.( 6,12,18db in Balanced) Your 15 runs 6db in SE out,so the 25 would be a good choice, run at the lower 0db. setting.. That said , I dont think that the 25 offers any more flexability with volume as the stepped attenuator is much as the 15 is, however the lower gain setting will be useful for you here.

Sonically, the 25Mk1 is a nice improvement over the 15 in every area, and cost about 2.2K used. compared to about 2.9K for the used Mk2 which incorporates the 6H30 tubes over the 6922's. For me, I prefered the Mk1 over the Mk2, as it had more airy mids and highs but slightly lighter bass than the Mk2.Not a big difference here, but worth noting. I thought the 6H30 tubes were almost too "accurate" sounding, they are very linear and provide good dynamics, but the Mk1 was able to bloom more in the mids..