Soundstage Ultraaudio.com's Review of the ARC SP-20 Preamplifier...

[cmalak]

SoundStage! Ultra | SoundStageUltra.com (UltraAudio.com) | Audio Research SP20 Preamplifier

Do the math: For $9000, you get a preamp roughly equivalent to $15,500 in separates. More important, it sounds wonderful. I didn’t have a PH8 phono preamp to compare, but in most respects the SP20 did sound slightly better than my LS27 line stage, and its controls are easier to operate. The frosting on the cake is that all of this quality and value are packed into a case whose beauty rivals almost anything on the market. What’s not to like? I’m buying the review sample.

I guess he liked it.

[pete6737]

I'm very close to buying a Ref5se but I love the idea of the SP20 with the phono stage. Since I'm new to vinyl I wonder if this combo would be better for me. I cannot listen to the SP 20 at my local dealer but I heard the Ref 5se and I thought the sound was excellent. My question would be what Do I lose sound wise with the SP 20 over the Ref5se? I'm sitting on the fence. Those of you with more experience with ARC gear, your input is valued. Thanks Pete

[cmalak]

Well the SP-20 is supposed to deliver SQ at the level of the LS-27 linestage pre and PH-8 phono pre plus delivers a very good headphone stage. If this is your first ARC pre, you will still get all the traditional ARC strengths/sonic traits - resolution, instrument separation, holographic staging and crisp imaging within that stage, and neutral tonal balance but with a very natural tonal presentation. As you go up the ARC line up, you get more of each of these things and so to answer your question, you will lose a little bit of all these things as compared to the Ref 5SE. But if you don't have the Ref 5SE there to compare it to, you would not know. The SQ levels will still be very good. Plus if you plan on getting into vinyl, you are getting excellent phono pre performance. Seems like a no brainer. Of course if you are not limited by the $ and the rack space, will you get better performance if you buy the Ref 5SE and Ref Phono 2SE separately? Sure but that comes at just over 2.5X the price of the SP-20.

Hope this helps.

[pete6737]

Cmalak
Thanks for your informative reply. This imminent ARC purchase will be my first. I am very impressed by the gear I heard at my dealer. I will starting with my first vinyl rig thereafter. It does seem like a great value in the ARC line. I will be returning to my ARC dealer at the end of the month and I hope to make a decision/purchase then! Thanks, Pete

[jdandy]

Cyril.......Thanks for the link to the review. The new ARC SP-20 is an attractive, nicely configured preamplifier. I am certain ARC will sell these like cupcakes.

[Ritmo]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Cyril.......Thanks for the link to the review. The new ARC SP-20 is an attractive, nicely configured preamplifier. I am certain ARC will sell these like cupcakes.

+1...

[2fastdriving]

In my opinion, the sp20 has some big pros and big cons.

Pros: attractive, 3 products in one mean high value proposition. Good sound.

Cons: terrible user interface. It's clunky and slow and not very intuitive. 3 products in one mean sacrifices.

Judging sound quality alone, there is no comparison between this and the ref5se, in my opinion. I've tried both in my house and the ref5se was much richer and more dynamic. But of course, it should, at 4k more.

I would say to anyone considering the sp20... Try before you buy. The UI was just not as good as it looks. Sound quality is definitely good, just don't expect a Ref5se.

[jdandy]

Cyril.......You'll find another well written ARC SP-20 review in the June 2014 Stereophile magazine.

Audio Research SP20 preamplifier | Stereophile.com

[cmalak]

Dan...thx for the Stereophile link

Pete...Marc has actually heard/compared both units, so his is an important perspective to take into account. Ultimately, I would recommend you demoing both the SP-20 and the Ref 5SE and Ref Phone 2SE side-by-side to see whether the premium for the Ref 5SE and the Ref Phono 2SE is worth the extra $ for you for the step up in SQ. That's the best way for you to decide. If your dealer will let you demo in your home system over the course of a few days to a week, even better.

Good luck.

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Dan...thx for the Stereophile link

Pete...Marc has actually heard/compared both units, so his is an important perspective to take into account. Ultimately, I would recommend you demoing both the SP-20 and the Ref 5SE and Ref Phone 2SE side-by-side to see whether the premium for the Ref 5SE and the Ref Phono 2SE is worth the extra $ for you for the step up in SQ. That's the best way for you to decide. If your dealer will let you demo in your home system over the course of a few days to a week, even better.

Good luck.

+1 I would add that depending on your vinyl listening percentage, you can get away with a lesser phono amp. For example, I listen to vinyl very little, and for now I am quite happy with my little LP1. The Ref 5 makes everything sound good.