@ginellis1,
I was using the Audio Research Reference 10 linestage preamp with a pair of Dan D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps before driving a pair of Wilson Audio Alexx speakers and was able to achieve excellent overall results.
The D’Agostino amps are solid state.
My digital front end components are the DCS Vivaldi full four stacks (Vivaldi master clock, Vivaldi upsampler, Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi CD/SACD transport).
My analog front end rigs are : Kronos Pro turntable, 12" Black Beauty tonearm, Air Tight PC-1 Supreme mc cartridge, class A linear PSU, and Audio Research Ref 10 phonostage preamp.
They all sounded great together with the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp + D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps on the Wilson Audio Alexx speakers. It is system dependents. It all depends on what kind of SS power amp, speakers, and your front end source components and cablings as well.
Before the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp, I had been using the D’Agostino Momentum stereo linestage preamp with the matching D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps, and I preferred using the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp paired with the D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps. It was better IMO, more musical you get that lush mid-range sound with better mid-range bloom and image depths with the ARC Ref 10 preamp in the setup. So, I traded in the D’Agostino Momentum linestage preamp for the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp.
Fyi, the Reference 10 is Audio Research flagship linestage preamp. Excellent sounding preamp with excellent musicality.
Recently I have upgraded my setup and system. I have since traded in both the ARC Ref 10 preamp and the D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps for the Naim Statement gears which consists of Naim NAC S1 Statement linestage analog preamp and Naim NAP S1 Statement monoblock amps and traded in the Wilson Alexx speakers for the new Magico M6 speakers.
Different leagues and different animals but they are at different price points.
But both my digital and analog front end rigs remains the same. All cablings also remains the same.
What are the rest of your setup? What are your speakers, front end source components and cablings are you currently using?
Parasound Halo JC1 monoblock amps are very good for the money. But I’ve never experienced or heard the pairing of the Parasound JC1 with the ARC Ref 3 preamp. And I’ve never heard the Parasound JC5 before.
I was using the Audio Research Reference 10 linestage preamp with a pair of Dan D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps before driving a pair of Wilson Audio Alexx speakers and was able to achieve excellent overall results.
The D’Agostino amps are solid state.
My digital front end components are the DCS Vivaldi full four stacks (Vivaldi master clock, Vivaldi upsampler, Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi CD/SACD transport).
My analog front end rigs are : Kronos Pro turntable, 12" Black Beauty tonearm, Air Tight PC-1 Supreme mc cartridge, class A linear PSU, and Audio Research Ref 10 phonostage preamp.
They all sounded great together with the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp + D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps on the Wilson Audio Alexx speakers. It is system dependents. It all depends on what kind of SS power amp, speakers, and your front end source components and cablings as well.
Before the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp, I had been using the D’Agostino Momentum stereo linestage preamp with the matching D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps, and I preferred using the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp paired with the D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps. It was better IMO, more musical you get that lush mid-range sound with better mid-range bloom and image depths with the ARC Ref 10 preamp in the setup. So, I traded in the D’Agostino Momentum linestage preamp for the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp.
Fyi, the Reference 10 is Audio Research flagship linestage preamp. Excellent sounding preamp with excellent musicality.
Recently I have upgraded my setup and system. I have since traded in both the ARC Ref 10 preamp and the D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps for the Naim Statement gears which consists of Naim NAC S1 Statement linestage analog preamp and Naim NAP S1 Statement monoblock amps and traded in the Wilson Alexx speakers for the new Magico M6 speakers.
Different leagues and different animals but they are at different price points.
But both my digital and analog front end rigs remains the same. All cablings also remains the same.
What are the rest of your setup? What are your speakers, front end source components and cablings are you currently using?
Parasound Halo JC1 monoblock amps are very good for the money. But I’ve never experienced or heard the pairing of the Parasound JC1 with the ARC Ref 3 preamp. And I’ve never heard the Parasound JC5 before.