Which is "better"?

[CDLehner]

So...I just picked up a SP-16L/300.2 combo, and like it quite a bit. No surprise...I've tried a few ARC pieces before, and have always considered it quality kit.

So...after being a box-swapper extraordinaire, lol; I might just settle into an ARC upgrade groove.

But if I'm going to contemplate being an "ARC man"; I think I need to know, which is "better"...SP or LS, lol

[BillK]

Neither is inherently better; the question is do you need a phono stage?

If you get an LS, you will need a phono stage if you have a turntable.

If you have an SP, the phono stage is built-in.

[CDLehner]

Thanks Bill; it's that simple, huh? Yet...I have the SP-16; but the SP-16L...which means no Phono, but it's optional...just like it would be on an LS??

IDK...seems a bit confusing, and redundant.

[audio badger]

For what it's worth, the review of the SP20 in the latest Stereophile notes that Dave Gordon (head of ARC marketing) believes the sound quality of the line stage in the SP20 is between the LS17 SE and the LS27.