I've only heard this ARC unit at shows, where it sounded very good. I've lived with an XP-25 for a year and a half. Its higher 76db SS gain setting is very quiet--which has been useful in handling LOMC cartridges down to .05mV and .06mV without a SUT(Ortofon MC2000 and Stanton 981LZS.) Does the ARC use a SUT to get to 74db?.
XP25 vs Reference Phono 2 SE
Has anyone compared these two wonderful phono stages? I have heard the Pass in the context of an all Pass system and was impressed. Would be upgrading from a Herron unit and wonder if maintaining a tube unit, even with the non tubey 6H30 tubes would be a benefit to my otherwise solid state system. If you own either of these units I would like to hear from you and what you considered before purchase.