2. misc-audio
  3. 1438620491

Preamp Help

I've been scouring the net for all types of information and thought it prudent to reach out to my fellow Agoners for some help in choosing a new/used tube preamp. Recently sold my Allnic L1500...too dark...and using a Reference Line One Series II passive....more gain...but I do like it. Spent the weekend listening to new Audio Research gear at dealer and was blown away by GSPre. Totally out of my price range, but was thinking about similar performance and tone from used...maybe LS17SE, Ref3, Ref2 MKII, etc. Any suggestions? I've had:
CJ ET2 - Too Noisy even after return to CJ
Allnic L1500 - Too dark, blunted leading edges
First Sound MKII - Terrible ergonomics, Gain too course, but otherwise great sound...pretty close to ideal
Reference Line 1A - Not enough gain, tends to be too forward

But it was the sound of the AR that approaches the type of balanced sound I'm searching for. (Dealer used Vandersteen Quatro Wood, GSPre, and GS150)

Will be partnering with Ghent Mono and Magnepan MG 3.6r.
Thanks
Ag insider logo xs@2xcommunique1

Showing 2 responses by lostbears

lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 

That is a nice setup but I prefer the Ref 5se over the GSPre. That said how much of the sound you heard can you attribute to the pre and how much the amp? Also the Vandersteen speakers are very different than your Magnepan speakers. You really need to hear the ARC preamp in your system.

Don't get me wrong, I own a Ref 5se. It spent over a week in my system before I bought it. I also had an LS27 in my system for a couple of weeks as well as a few other preamps. You can try borrowing the LS17SE. At least that will give you an idea of how an ARC preamp would sound in tour system. To be honest I did not much like the LS27 and would choose either the Ref 2 mk2 or Ref 3 over it.

lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 

The Re 75 is not powerful enough to drive Magnepan speakers properly. They need power to sound their best. I own a Ref 110 and wouldn't pair it with Maggies for the same reason. I have a friend who has the 3.7i with 2 bass panels paired with Pass 60.8 amps. This is nice setup. But at 2 0hms with the bass panels, the Pass is putting out around 240 watts before it even leaves class A.

The ARC Ref 2 and Ref 3 are very different. Starting with the Ref 2 mk2 ARC design their pramps around the 6H30 tube instead of the 6922. This had a huge impact on the sound. People either love this tube or they hate it. I like it.

The Ref 3 is probably the sweet spot. As mentioned their is not that big a difference between the Ref 3 and the Ref 5. The Ref 5se is a huge step up from the Ref 5.
More to discover