I've owned a PH-3 and PH-7 phono preamps. Both excellent for their time. I grew out of the PH-3 and looked in the used market for an upgrade and found a PH-7 in Canada. I didn't think there was anything new or used in its price range that was as good.
I've also owned a number of ARC preamps, including LS 22, Reference 2 Mk. II, and Reference 3. I would have kept the Ref. 3 for the rest of my life but it blew tubes frequently. It probably needed biasing. Changing preamp tubes is difficult because I had to pull out all the interconnects attached to it and then replace them.
I replaced the Ref. 3 with a top-of-the-line Pass XP-30. Three boxes, one for power and the others for each channel. The Pass is pretty equivalent to the ARC Ref. 3. For the most part (they have made lemonds, like the LS 22), I love ARC gear.
Need to learn about Audio Research
Still exploring amps and preamps to go with my Magnepan 3.7i.
I've always heard about Audio Research being a great match, but I'm not familiar with the brand at all.
I'll need to shop the used market since the new gear is way out of my price range.
I am looking for a high power (100wpc +) amp and a preamp that has remote control. I'd like the preamp to be tube, and the amp could be either solid state or tube.
I don't know at what point in the model lineup remote control was added, but it appears most of the older gear did not have a remote.
Any AR experts here?