ARC versus Joule Electra

I am not sure why the OP and Dob are comparing Ref 2 Mk2 (introduced in 2000) or LS25 Mk2 (introduced in 2000) with the best current Joule preamp. If you want to compare apples-to-apples, ARC's Ref 5 and even more appropriately ARC's latest 40th Anniversary Reference preamp will be the relevant comparison. The OP and Dob are comparing 10-yr old designs one of which was the mid-level ARC offering (the LS25 Mk2) with the latest SOTA Joule offering. I am sure ARC and Joule have very different sonic signatures and that's fine. But one should compare current designs at same price points to make relevant comparisons. Doesn't make sense to me. My 2c worth.

Dob...you may want to read my response.

"I am not sure why the OP and Dob are comparing Ref 2 Mk2 (introduced in 2000) or LS25 Mk2 (introduced in 2000) with the best current Joule preamp."

OP stands for Original Poster. So I am asking the question of both. And just because the OP asks the question does not mean you cannot answer his question and at the same time point out the difference between the units he asking feedback on.

Capish is actually spelt Capiche. Capiche?

Pubul57...I agree but if you are assuming the OP is asking because he does not like the 6H30 based designs from ARC and prefers the more tubey 6922 based designs which will have a more similar sonic signature to the Joule Electra units, than he should have gone back before Ref 2 Mk2 and LS25 Mk 2 because those units were some of the first linestages coming out of ARC that had transitioned over to the 6H30 tubes and were really the predecessors of the current more neutral 6H30-based linestage designs from ARC. I was just pointing out the difference in designs that's all. The OP can ask for whatever comparisons he so chooses. To me the comparison does not make as much sense but that's just me.