my experience with the audio research player included visits to the audio research room several times during the last three years at the ces show, and recnetly, as part of my speaker selection effort, in which i heard the player paired with an antique sound lab preamp, de havilland amp and analysis audio omega speaker. i am looking to replace my magnepan 1.6s (another subject) and visited the importer of the omega speaker who owns the audio research player.
while i have not auditioned the player in my own system, i would say i find the player, slightly warm of neutral and having a balanced frequency response.
the reimyo player i also heard at ces, on two occasions.
i cannot comment on a comparison, as the two were heard in different stereo systems.
the amr player i heard at ces and the stereophile show in nyc. again, without i direct comparison, all i can say is that i personally, based upon my audition, prefer the amr .
i found a bit more color and thus a more tube-like presentation.
please keep in mind that i did not compare the three players directly and i did not hear them in my own system.
ideally, you should audition them yourself.
if i could not audition the players in my system and had to rely on the experience of others, i would look for confirmation of opinions.
if you note that there is similar opinion on a given player from a number of audiogon members, i would perhaps have more confidence than if opinions varied.
still, there is a risk in buying a component without hearing it yourself.
