Aresearch is not my best brand....but is too true never listen the REF5 with the XA100.....
Is a radical change. I have listen the A.Arts and the AMP2 or the AMP3 is not a class A (well my x250.5 but sound good as well..) but the A.A. with tis 2 ampli is really at the level from the Pass XA.
I have a "inexpensive" Cambrige 851 cd playe/Dac but is really not bad vs. the marantz SA15 had in the past....the Bryston Bda sound better as the 851 but is not the "strong point" of the chaine....a Meitner MA1 is another level.
At first I will change the pre and the ampli: Xp20-xa100.5/x250.5 -> A.Arts preTube-AMP2mk2 or AMP3.
after I can go test the source.
Is not a good "beginning": the source will make, normaly, more differnce vs. a new amplifier....but like write is a radical decision to change brand....
In Europa A. Arts is very very apprecied and is - imho - much better as Mcintosh, Krell, .....
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