For ARC lovers, Problems?

From the original post:

"From your experience with Audio Research is this a good idea going back to the ref 6 with the hope of upgrading it to the SE?"

Does anyone know if ARC is still doing upgrades?  I was put on the list to upgrade my LS28 to LS28SE when they announced the upgrade program last June.  I inquired about it in December and was told that my upgrade would likely be scheduled for the first or second week of January.  I inquired again this month and have gotten no response.  I called and the greeting says to send an email if you have questions about service which, of course, I already had.

If anyone has any information about the upgrade program that they would like to share I would certainly appreciate hearing it. 

"Does anyone know if ARC is still doing upgrades?  I was put on the list to upgrade my LS28 to LS28SE when they announced the upgrade program last June.  I inquired about it in December and was told that my upgrade would likely be scheduled for the first or second week of January.  I inquired again this month and have gotten no response.  I called and the greeting says to send an email if you have questions about service which, of course, I already had.

If anyone has any information about the upgrade program that they would like to share I would certainly appreciate hearing it."

I wrote the above back in February and I owe Audio Research an update.  I finally decided to call again and speak to an actual person rather than follow the instructions to send an email.  When I did speak to someone in service I was told to expect an email in a couple of weeks about sending my LS28 in and, in fact, got that email considerably quicker than that.  The bottom line is my pre was upgraded to an SE in short order at the announced price and the upgrade was definitely worth it.

Have since had a great time doing a shootout between the LS28SE, a PS Audio BHK Signature preamp and a Bakert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.3.  Great fun.

Kudos to ARC.

Too soon I'm afraid.

Very interesting comparisons.  As I mentioned, I received my LS28 back from Audio Research after it was upgraded to SE and, before putting it in the system where it normally resides, decided to compare it to the BHK Signature in my other system (primary source was a VPI Prime with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC ☆ ES, Bob's Sky, PS Audio Stellar phono pre, BHK Signature 300 monoblock amps, Magneplanar 3.7i's).  I found that the ARC seemed to have more transient detail and, while the image width was similar, the ARC had more apparent depth.

I had read a review of the Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.3 in Enjoy The Music and thought that it might get me closer to what I liked about the ARC without having to spend close to $10K.  As it turns out there is a Backert Labs dealer within driving distance of me (Dr. Vinyl - https://www.drvinyl.net).  Dr Vinyl was kind enough to loan me his Rhumba Extreme 1.3 to try out in my system.  The bottom line is that I bought a Rhumba Extreme 1.3.  In my system, the Rhumba Extreme presented a soundstage that was similar to the LS28SE spatially.  And like the LS28SE, the Extreme seemed more detailed with a deeper soundstage.  Even more striking, though, was how quiet the Extreme was in my system and, probably related, how the Extreme seemed to offer more dynamic contrast between loud and soft passage in the music.

The outcome of these comparisons is that I purchased a Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.3 from Dr. VInyl and have been enjoying it greatly.  Bottom line, though, is all three are really good preamps, and it may come down to the system and individual preferences.  Which is another way of saying, YMMV.

"sigh! spell check. Your due diligence."

That probably epitomizes "due diligence"!