Yep, I had one as well, back in the day, and kept it a long, long time. Very
musical. I had ARC do various updates and upgrades to it over the years.
Biggest issue was microphonics (and as I recall), making sure the phono
section tubes were quiet and well-behaved.
With a smallish ARC tube amp and Crosby Quads, the thing sang.
It finally proved to be a little too noisy to work with my horn-based system,
which requires absolute quietude among the components. But, for a system
that isn't quite so sensitive to component noise, I would probably still make
beautiful music if it were thoroughly gone over. (That thing is pretty darn old
now).
I replaced mine with a Lamm L2, which, superficially, resembled the SP-10.
Both of those pieces- SP-10 mk ii and Lamm L2 now with other presumably
happy owners, but great pieces. And John is right, the magic of the SP-10
was its phonostage.
musical. I had ARC do various updates and upgrades to it over the years.
Biggest issue was microphonics (and as I recall), making sure the phono
section tubes were quiet and well-behaved.
With a smallish ARC tube amp and Crosby Quads, the thing sang.
It finally proved to be a little too noisy to work with my horn-based system,
which requires absolute quietude among the components. But, for a system
that isn't quite so sensitive to component noise, I would probably still make
beautiful music if it were thoroughly gone over. (That thing is pretty darn old
now).
I replaced mine with a Lamm L2, which, superficially, resembled the SP-10.
Both of those pieces- SP-10 mk ii and Lamm L2 now with other presumably
happy owners, but great pieces. And John is right, the magic of the SP-10
was its phonostage.