Should I consider the newer Audio Research pre & power amps, when I play records not CD's


I worked in and owned upper end audio stores back in the 1970's. (McIntosh B&O Magnepan, etc) I have been pretty much out of audio for the past 30 years. In my old age, I want to play the records I have saved (many MFSL & Japanese virgin vinyl) I kept my B&O linear 4002 W/mmc20CL cart. and it still works and I have newer B&W 804 speakers. I am going to get a new table of better quality. I have always wanted an Audio Research tube amp and Preamp. I am considering the LS 26 or LS17SE Preamp and older D90/115 or newer VS 115 or the Ref 75SE. I am in my 60's and my hearing is not as good as it was, plus I am lost with all the digital technology. (just started using a smart phone) I just wanted to get opinions spending $4000 on older ARC or bite the bullet and spend in the $7000 up. Is it worth spending the money for the new equipment when I am only playing records. 
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Showing 6 responses by randy-11

BTW, you will want to read up on the new benchmark amp - it includes some new technology to reduce crossover distortion and is said by Stereophile to match amps 5x its price.  You also don't have to worry about the cost of new tubes every year or so.

A tube pre-amp with a quality SS amp may be all the tubeyness you need...
I also have always wanted an Audio Research Preamp (well, maybe not always, but at least since 1974 or so).  I finally decide to just do it, and my used LS25 MkII arrived 2 days ago.

You don't state a cost limit, but they do make an outboard phono stage, ase well as a new SP series with a phono stage (SP-20?), so check their web site.  There is also a 3rd party site listing the entire product history if you want to buy used.

I don't use records anymore so was only interested in line stages (LS-x).

Early on, they had knobs and very nice switches and ARC has always had a lot of control functionality as well as a very detailed rendering with a bit of extra mid-range (euphonic) but never a fat, bloomey sound.  They have always aimed to be the best.

My LS-25 has the switches along the bottom (which all trigger relays), but the knob rotation for control is gone.  Instead, you twist the knob and hold it to change volume, balance, etc.  I don't like that as well, but it does get rid of the pots and their SQ problems.

The LS-26 and newer SP-x preamps have a clock to monitor tube usage, and a display panel (where the LS25 has LEDs in an arc to show volume settings, etc.)

I agree you will need to do some extensive listening to decide which has the sound you like best, as well as evaluating control functionality and the longevity of the company, since a long warranty is of no value if a co. goes out of business.  Indeed, even paid repairs can be an issue.
Get an ARC pre-amp and a good SS amp (maybe the widely hailed Benchmark?).

I just bought a used ARC LS25 MkII and use it with a 20+ year old Sunfire amp on maggies.
ALL dealers are more into A/V systems.

I have some bad news about your aging hearing -- you can still tell the difference between a $10,000 unit and one that will set you back $50,000.  So don't think you are going to get off with a blissful old age listening to a boom box.

The the quality of the turntable matters, but some design criteria do not matter because you can avoid vibrations in the room and air since you are not pumping out any SPL when making the transfer to your digital library.

iFi and anything with 'dragon' in the name will be good analog to digital converters, but you can always spend more to truly capture the best rise times and decay on those snaps, pops, and crackles on your vinyl.