Audio Research Reference 5 SE Preamps For Sale?

Riparian---ARC makes that claim with every new model.

Keith---Sunil's right hand man used to be at Brooks Berdan Ltd., working for Brooks' son Brian. Brian has his own shop now (Audio Elements, in Pasadena) and is also a Wilson dealer. I would much rather buy a pair from Brian than Sunil (check the thread on the worst dealers in the country, a survey in which Sunil came out on top!).

Taters, the "Worst Dealers" thread was about a month ago, it seems to me. I'll try and find it.

Statman, I too first encountered Brooks at GNP, in 1984. He wasn't even part owner of the shop, but did all their turntable set-ups (and was involved in the design of the GNP speakers). GNP was the other retailer (besides Randy at Optimal Enchantment) in the L.A area selling Audio Research/Vandersteen/Cardas (those three were often sold as a system). It was at GNP that Brooks came up with his mod for the Oracle Delphi turntable (which is what put him on the map, so to speak), using the knowledge he gained while involved in race car design and applying it to tables. The suspension of a turntable share similarities, it turns out, with a car's suspension, being a tuned system with resonant frequencies and spring rates. Brooks had to sell what GNP was a dealer of, of course, so when I expressed interest in the VPI HW-19 and Rega RB300 (neither of which GNP sold), he realized I knew too much to be able to talk me into an Oracle with a Sumiko Premier MMT!