Opinions on Audio Research LS17 & LS26

It doesn't depart any signature of its own. I am not saying that the Calypso is less of a product but this is (LS17) truly wire with gain. I always advocate that you must try everything with your own system before passing your thoughts along. Yes I have what I feel is a great system. If you have a Calypso try this unit. You may or may not agree with with me. But I am still stoked over the sound I currently have.

Has anyone tried to further improve the LS26? How about replacing the original ARC tube to NOS 6H30p DR ?

I did. The difference is big but the 6H30p DR in the LS26 will not please to every one. All depends on your other components. For a short story, if you feel there is some «slack» in your sound (specialy in the bass), the DR is for you. If you like the bass and the highs you already have, don't do it. The DR will tight the bass area and it's not a subtle move. The high frequency area is also tightened and you'll some times get the impression that something there is missing.

But like every tuning move you make, there will be a lot of recordings that you will like much better and others that will make you miss your previous setting. But all of them will be significantly different.

Generaly speaking, on symphony orchestra recordings, both tubes are good; for chamber classical music the DR is better because of its superior focus and tone contrast (amazing!); while small jazz band, I prefer the original Sovtech tubes for a more «live after midnight» sound effect.

Actually Mniquet I am changing tubes around as I write this. A little different scenario in that the amp is a REF5. I had a REF Anniversary for a year so I'm trying to narrow the gap. Tubes in it were Sovtek's dated 10-03, a batch known to have had issues. I'm playing with matched sets of 09-02's (better) 10-04, supposedly DR's, a pair of 85 DR's and a pair of 87 DR's. Just because there aren't enough variables I'm also playing with a 62 RCA 6550 coke bottle 6550 in the power supply. I find your comments about the characteristics of the modern vs the old DR's to be pretty spot on. Now, if I could control it from the remote.... The 10-03's were known to have a lot of problems both in outright failure and underperforming, sounding thin and bright. Seems to have been a production run issue. Anyway thanks for the confirmation.

thread revival to ask if you can DIY change a black unit to the silver color (LS17SE)?

Thx