Audio Research Pre-Amp advice

Thanks for all the comments I am leaning towards a 27 or 28SE. The 28SE is still a little pricey for me so have to think about it.

@ghdprentice - I get what you're saying about working. If you only used it for <1hr, then you've never heard it at it's best, and I'm sure you'd have had a better experience with a SS amp that warms up much quicker. I wouldn't even consider serious listening to my Ref3 in under an hour or more; as I said, it really takes c2hrs to come on song. When I 1st switch on, it's either Radio Paradise (A FANTASIC radio station btw, which streams FLAC files, if anyone's not heard of it, give it a try - it has no ads, has several different streams for different genres, 5 different quality levels in case you have a poor connection, and an amazing thing for a radio station; if you don't like a track, you can press 'next' and it,,, you get it), or TV/Film duties, while it warms up. The warm up change is NOT subtle, so again I'm surprised at your usage, and given your work commitments, your choice of it.

When you changed the 6550WE, what make did you choose? There's been several comments here about that tube, and how it affects SQ.

hSounds says he went with NOS Winged C but doesn't mention maker.  Also, the Tungsol Black Plate, which he adds a 'NJ'. is that a reference to NewJersey? I'm in the UK, so not au fe(?) with US terminology. $300 for a single 6550 doesn't seem 'cheap' to me, as @pinwa seems to think - but he may be a millionaire!

@tomic601 May I ask why you change the 6550 at just 2k hrs? What part does the 6550 play in the power supply? Is it THAT important, as these tubes ain't cheap (lookin at £240 here for a pair of Winged C, which, I admit, is cheaper than the $300 each he paid for one there. Ohh, and 6k hrs on it?!? Maan, you're WAAAY over the top limit. Replace ASAP and you'll be blown away by the improvement new tubes will bring.

@romad - If you can't stretch to a 28SE, go for the vanilla 28. Don't bother with a 27 or anything earlier, especially things like LS15/16. save your money and wait for the SE IMO.

Here's a link to a REALLY useful site which gives lots of info about most ARC gear - https://www.arcdb.ws/model/LS28

LS28SE introduced in 2017 at $10k, so should be well within your budget, so just wait until one appears.

daveteauk

... May I ask why you change the 6550 at just 2k hrs? What part does the 6550 play in the power supply? ...

The 6550 is critical to the power supply and 2,000 to 2,500 hours is about all you can expect from it, and least in my Ref5SE and Ref Phono 2SE.

@cleeds - thanks, but what exactly is 'critical'? What part does it play - my Ref3 seems to use SS rectification, so is the 6550 the supply voltage for the 6H30 in the PS, or does it do something else? 2000hrs seems a very very low figure for replacement - what do you experience, in SQ, after that time?