Having just gone through the "preamp shuffle," Get an ARC REF6. They can be had on the used market of about $7K and it is a fabulous pre, IMHO, a significant step better than the new LS28SE, both of which I had in my system. In fact, I thought that the LS28SE was just barely better than going direct from my MSB DAC to my Pass Labs 250.8 amp. I also experimented with a VAC Renaissance Mk V, primarily because it had a built in phon stage, and the VAC was also good, and slightly better than going DAC direct, but not in the same league as the ARC REF6, again, in my system. Owners of the Allnic 7000 rave about those as well, and you can get one for around the price of the ARC REF6. I have no experience with that pre but talking to owners, and someone from The Music Room who had listened to one, that was on my short list, but resale on them is very slow if I ever wanted to sell AND there is no volume display. For me, I like a visual volume display too, so I am very pleased with my REF6 over everything else. Note that I replaced the stock ARC PC which has a 20 amp termination, with a Shunyata Research Alpha NR V1 PC and the difference was so startling that I went all Shunyata!
Time to upgrade the pre-amp.
I am currently running and ARC SP-16l into an Art Audio PX-25 power amp which feeds a pair of Blumenhofer Genuin FS2s (94db). I listen to mostly vinyl atm, and I have an external phono stage (Icon PS1 mkii). I think at this point, the pre-amp is the weak link.
Although I am not wedded to buying another ARC preamp, I am leaning in that direction due to company reputation, longevity, accessibility of local dealers (Northern NJ) and resale value, though I am definitely looking for that full mid-range and "musicality" typically associated with all tube architectures.
I have an opportunity to buy an SP-11 for $4,000, and from what I am seeing, if I wait, I may be able to get an SP-10 in that same range. However, for ~$2,000 more, I could likely get a Ref 5SE, which would be the top of the budget, but has in addition to any sonic advantages, a remote and tube hour tracker.
My questions are: (1) is it worth holding out for the newer Ref series (~10 yrs old at this point) vs the SP10/11 which are 40 years old at this point; and (2) if it comes between the SP10 and SP11, What I have read here is that the SP10 is all tube, but while that unit’s phono stage is particularly strong, the rest of the line inputs are not up to the SP-11. If it turns out that they are close, I would likely choose the SP10 between those two.
Very interested in how folks think about this.
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@soix a lot of logic in that post! Not sure I can afford VAC... But they look awesome. |
Just purchased a PATHOS SYNAPSE Preamp. Now Kevin Deal and I have something else in common!!! ;) It proved to be the biggest upgrade I have ever experienced...and after much thought conclude that the fact it is a Dual Mono design has to be a major contributing factor. I know this...never has it ever occurred to me to ask: "Hmmm...I’m not getting the BASS I think I should be...I wonder if it is the Preamp???" Well...guess what...IT IS THE PREAMP!!! |
The LS28 was transformed by changing the tubes to 6N6 (also known as 6H6). I compared my friends system (YG Sonja 2.3s) with my pre-amp (custom) and they sounded 90% similar with the new tubes. With the 6H30s, yuk! After hearing the slightly modified LS28 (tubes), and having extensively heard the SP10 and 11s over the years, I would choose the LS28. The SP10 is very big sounding, lovely, but so many tubes and not as clean sounding line stage as an LS28. The SP11 is different sounding and I missed the big open sound of the SP10 when I heard it although it is very clean (I owned an SP14 back 40 years ago-nice preamp). |
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