Help with an ARC LS5 MK III

I owned an LS5 Mkii for ten years and then Mkiii with Amperex 7308's.  I loved the Mkiii, i've since moved on to Bat and Ayre.

I did get to compare the REF 1 against it at home - REF was clean and I loved the remote, but the magic was much more evident on the LS5 MK III. I have since upgraded the III with Infinicaps and am thinking about tube rolling.

Hi Marlin, Since I first posted the question, I've since changed the original tubes.I think part of the problem was that the original Sovtek were old and on the way out. I've replaced the tubes with NOS Amperex 7308 and they just changed everything. The LS5 MKIII is a tremendous preamp. I did have the occassion to hear the LS25 MkII at a dealer who happended to have it hooked up to the same speakers I have. It wasn't an exact A-B test, but as close as I was going to get. My impression of the LS25 was that it was more sterile than the LS5. The LS5 just offers more midrange magic than the LS25, IMO. Both preamps offer great resolution and soundstaging, I just wasn't impressed with the LS25 as it compared to the LS5.

The LS5 MKIII doesn't get talked about here on Audiogon that much, but those who have heard it say it is the equal of, it not better than the REF 1. In Arc's line-up, it would only be bettered by the REF 1 and REF 11. There's always alot of talk here on this forum and others about the SP10 and SP11, but both of those just can't compete with the LS5 MKIII.

To answer you last question, I use an ARC PH3 phono preamp and the two mate extremely well together.

As always, YMMV and it's best to try to audition both to see which you prefer, but you can't really go wrong with either. Hopes this helps.

Mike.

I have an LS 5 MK II, I am currently swapping out the Sovtek tubes and there is a big difference

Tom

Can you offer me some help. I'm trying to decide between an LS5MKIII and LS25MKII. Any opinions? I'm awaiting delivery of a VT100MKIII. What phono stage would you recommend?

Thanks!

I have been using AR pre amps for years and have always found that the sovtek tubes are the first to go. ARC and many other manufactures use these tubes for their availablity. My favorite tube for the AR pamps are the German E188CCC.(US 7308) Most US and European Gold Pin tubes will give you more detail and less glare than the Russian and Chinese tubes.

I also use Mk 4 Black Diamond racing cones under my AR preamp and Mk 3 cones under the CD player, you can really fine tune the soundstage with these. Good Luck!