I've been running a Valab LCR-1 Mk2 for a couple of years now and haven't once thought of using something different. It's one of those components which is perfectly transparent and as such will never be the bottleneck in a system.
That said I do prefer using a Hashimoto HM-7 SUT with my AT ART9 rather than the built in gain settings. Sounds fuller and more natural to my ears.
That said I do prefer using a Hashimoto HM-7 SUT with my AT ART9 rather than the built in gain settings. Sounds fuller and more natural to my ears.