I'm in a preamp pickle: ARC Ref 1 VS CJ 17LS

I've owned the CJ17ls and pretty familiar with most ARC gear.

Most people giving you advice aren't really knowledgeable about what they are saying.

Here's the first and PRIMARY questions to ask if you are considering the 17LS:

1. Will you be running long interconnects from it to your amp?
2. What is the input impedance of the amp?

Probably the only downside to the 17LS is that it isn't balanced and can't drive long cable runs to the amp as well as other CJ preamps like the ART. If you're using low capacitance cables and short runs, then the 17LS is a great option. You will be getting essentially the same performance of the legendary ART at a fraction of the price.

As for ARC gear, you can almost NEVER go wrong with them either. It will give you balanced outputs, which could be an advantage.

Both pieces would have more in common than dissimilar as they are true reference level preamps.

BTW, the 17LS has one other quirk that may bother some people. It's resister ladder volume control clicks at each change of volume.

Personally though, I'm wondering why you feel the need to change preamps from the Cary.

The things I read on this forum are absolutely comical.

First of all, Jmrgrogan2, I guarantee you didn't look up the input impedance of his amp BEFORE I said anything. If you did, anyone knowledgeable about the 17LS would have still made the comment in case he decides to ever change his amp.

Secondly, if you find your ears bleeding with ARC and Nordost combinations, then I'm an super eager for a picture of this complete system setup and what source you were using.

Anybody who screws up an ARC + Nordost combination to where "your ears bleed" has no business giving advice on this forum...Sorry to be harsh, but the level of ridiculousness on this forum has to stop!

jmcgrogan...maybe you should re-read the Subject of the post.

It asked for opinions between the Ref1 and 17LS.

I stated previous ownership of one, asked questions about why he is changing, as well as provided questions that would help him choose the right option of the two.

You just provided ridiculous hyberbole about the brands, mentioned other brands not even asked in the subject, and clearly have zero experience with either product that the original poster asked about.

You're welcome to keep posting if your goal is to make me laugh more, but you're not helping the original poster with your hyperbole and primitive understanding of the brands in question.