ARC Ref 5se inferior to LS28?


This is what a big dealer told me the other day. Dealer speak or right on the money? Would very much like to hear opinions of the many knowledgeable ARC users on Audiogon. Thanks

4425
schubert04-05-2017 5:28pm
A pretty smart scientist said," what you can measure doesn't matter, what matters you can't measure' .
Science is as much a religion as religion is
Sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. You're not quoting a famous scientist; you're quoting Robert McNamara, a businessman. Worse, your "quote" is a paraphrased misquote of what he said, which ended with: " The fourth step is to say that what can't be easily measured really doesn't exist. This is suicide."

To suggest that religion is as inherently valid as science is absurd. Scientific facts can be repeated. Religion is based on faith.

But we are way OT here and, as you already stated:
You need not take me seriously

No, I am quoting William Cameron, a famous social scientist .
Science is based on faith as well and that is obvious .
One easy read is ,"How Science Mimics Faith " 
Tory Rodriguez 
Scientific American
March 1, 2014
Gents and ladies - just answer the question please. 
The ref5se is much much better than an LS27 based on auditioning both in
my system. So it is possible that an LS28 is closer but it is highly unlikely that it is equal or better. 
Not sure that logic necessarily follows.  5Se was introduced in 2011 - plenty of time for improvements to be made.  But the question remains unaddressed.  Does anyone have any experience comparing the two preamps?  Anyone from Audio Research able to shed some light on the question?

LarryRS 

"... the price of BMWs during the 1980s.  In the 1970s and earlier they used ot cost about the same as a Buick"

1970s and earlier BMW NA was not even in play. But that aside, drive a 1980s Buick and a BMW 3 series of the same era - 320i, back to back and you'll see why their prices has risen steadily since. Poor example at many levels. I have a number of friends and relatives that have uber expensive audio/video systems and they know their gear inside out and almost always shopped for best prices.