Seriously? Why Buy ARC Ref 6SE? seems Benchmark LA4 is a better choice.

@emergingsoul You sound like someone that needs to have a listen to the Luxman c900u preamp and m900u amp stack. Only tubey sound I loved and it is SS, great stuff. I would not mind putting the HPA4 or LA4 with the Luxman m900u amp but I will try a CODA #8 first for 1/3 the cost. I actually was emailing CODA today about getting a customized version of the #8, which I will do.

A side note about cars, I had BMW M3 (E46) for 19 years (only owner). I sold it a few weeks ago and bought some speakers with the proceeds. I advertised it on Facebook and had over 150 offers to buy in 1 hour, I was shocked. I had a guy come to my door 10 minutes after the ad was placed and gave me cash on the spot. He had seem my car on the driveway once and was able to figure out that it was my ad. I did not put my address on the ad. It really showed me the power of Facebook.

@clearthinker Some people need a preamp because they (like me) think the volume control on a DACs is not as good direct to amp. Yes, I have done that for years. There are also people with sources that do not have a volume control, how do you play them?

Actually you should not hear anything from the LA4, zero, utterly silent. If you are hearing chalk on a blackboard with the LA4 then you are hearing something else in the system.

The ARC will have some sound character to it. I heard my buddies ARC based tub system with Spendor D7’s and it sounded great but not something I would get for myself.

I had this same preamp decision when I went preamp shopping a few months ago. Get something with a sound signature to it like the great Luxman c900u or something without any sound to it like the HPA4/LA4. I am very happy I got the HPA4 and can add any amp + speaker to tailor the sound.

Just keep your eyes open for posts by people who give the LA4 a 30 day home demo and decide this is a great choice for their mega expensive ($100K) systems. Already 1 or 2 posts like that on Audiogon and a few on WBF. Benchmark seems to be behind on orders for almost all of 2020. A lot of demand.

I do think the LA4 looks rather unattractive.

I spoke with Rory Rail at Benchmark when I order 6 months ago. They are not keeping up with demand even today. Go to the web site today and see the disclaimer (capital letters are from web site).

" WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND. ALL ORDERS ARE FULLFILLED IN THE ORDER RECEIVED. "

You can get something like Luxman or Ref 6SE that connects you to music emotionally or get something like Benchmark for background noise.

As someone who has heard all of those components I would say that comment is rather ignorant. I have a feeling you are not even clued into that we are talking about preamps on this thread. You funny though.

@emergingsoul I don't buy the ego driven thing as something that applies to most folks. I think people buy what they like or need for their system. If the LA4 cost $20K I would have to do more demoing and likely still got it. However, at $2.5K it was simple buy decision and moved on to the next component I needed. I think it plays in the $20K crowd.

@kren0006 I was going to get the Yamaha NS5000 but then I saw a local ad for a speaker that I liked better, the Thiel CS3.7. It also has less bass so it works better in my room.

I am still looking at the NS5000 or KEF Blade2 for my larger room downstairs. Though I do so much listening in the home office room that I am wondering about setting up a another system.

Come on man. If you do not listen to music what's the point?

@aewarren 

If you seriously think the Benchmark preamp is "the better choice", then that's what you should buy. I envy your lack of discrimination.

A statement like that makes me think that you have never heard the LA4. I have heard some very expensive ARC gear,  I guess that must mean it was some of their better gear. 

Easy question in this discussion,  do want you preamp to add sound or no sound? That is the "discrimination" decision.

@aewarren Yes we were talking about the OP's choice in preamp, not yours. I never asked what preamp you use or really care. I am curious as to how you can make a judgment on the LA4. Have you heard it? 

Next month The Absolute Sound will do a review of the LA4 + DAC3B. You know a mag that speaks to sophisticated audiophiles. You may find it interesting. I already know what it will say.

@aewarren You must have been a good hockey player with those deflection skills. Whatever, man audiophile talk is not that interesting to me.