ARC or other Pre?


Hi all,
I need a balanced pre to go with my ARC V140 mono blocks. An ARC pre is the obvious choice but it seems that the REF5 is one of the few options worth having, the others sounding worse than it in the range (obviously). What else is out there for less cash? I have £3k uk pounds max. Can spend less! Doesn't have to be valves.

Front end is VPI super scoutmaster and speakers are Martin Logan Clarity.

Cheers, T
timfld

Showing 1 response by lostbears


The V140 amps are very special amps. I owned a V70 for many years and now own a Ref 110. IMHO only the recent Ref series amps are truly better than the Classic and V series. If you have not replaced the large caps, I would check them as they are about 20 years old now and could start to leak.

ARC has made significant improvements with preamps in the last 10 years. If it were me I would look for a nice used LS27. I would be a really good match with the V140s.