audio research

[Uberbrown]

Originally Posted by PHC1

I don't care for most of the ARC "house sound" it is a little bleached and lean for my taste. I would prefer McIntosh over ARC at a slight loss of detail and resolution but a gain of "richness and fullness" of sound. In fact I liked BAT over ARC as well.... Others may disagree.

Thanks.
(Ps...No insult intended by the "man of few words" comment. Hope none was taken.)

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Uberbrown

Thanks.
(Ps...No insult intended by the "man of few words" comment. Hope none was taken.)

I try not to elaborate too much on gear I no longer own since we have such a diverse group here, not to offend those that do own and like that gear. Of course if someone asks a more specific question.... It seemed to me you wanted just a bit more of an answer. It's all listener preference anyways. I owned various ARC and actually enjoyed it but moved on after hearing gear that was more to my own taste and preference.

[McPlanar]

I have an ARC PH5 phono preamp and a DAC7 D/A converter. I'm now using the the phono section in my newly acquired Mac C2200 so the PH5 is up for sale. The DAC7 will problably stay for awhile. It replaced a CAL Alpha DAC and so far I'm very pleased with it. I like the USB input. That is hooked up to my MacBook for streaming audio. I could only see replacing it with either a Mac MDA1000 or MCD500. At this point I'm not willing to make that big of a jump.

[salmtpa]

Originally Posted by two dot

I like the LS 26 for a single box, balanced, class A preamp.

It could make me give up my all Mc rack.

Why won't Mc give us a balance single box pre?

Therein lies the reason I bought the LS26. There is no Mac equivalent product near its price point, C500 is twice the cost. LS 26 is clean, neutral, dynamic, quiet, flawless operation. Doesn't look like a Mac but then again it's not supposed to. Beats the C45 it replaced in every imaginable way.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by salmtpa

Therein lies the reason I bought the LS26. There is no Mac equivalent product near its price point...... Beats the C45 it replaced in every imaginable way.

Sal.......How about posting a photo or two of the LS26 in your rack.

[vintage_tube]

An ARC Ref 3 and a PH7 w/the black faceplates are tempting in their own right. I honestly believe there is some synergy possible with those items and McIntosh tube amps. A high cost to find out -- which sucks.

I'm trying to away from the thought.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

An ARC Ref 3 and a PH7 w/the black faceplates are tempting in their own right. I honestly believe there is some synergy possible with those items and McIntosh tube amps. A high cost to find out -- which sucks.

I'm trying to away from the thought.

Better watch out...LuFlu will catchya and getcha!!

Pete

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

An ARC Ref 3 and a PH7 w/the black faceplates are tempting in their own right. I honestly believe there is some synergy possible with those items and McIntosh tube amps. A high cost to find out -- which sucks.

I'm trying to away from the thought.

I did a A/B with my EAR 324 phono stage against the ARC PH5 and the 324 stomped the PH5 into the ground- the Ear 324 was by far and away much better than the PH5. Even my Linn had to admit defeat. My Linn dealer carries the ARC line but not EAR products.
If you have a bent for a tube phono stage I would strongly suggest that you check out some EAR phono stages, all of their phono stages are tubed except the 324, which is solid state. Most people already know that I prefer SS for vinyl playback vs tubes so that why the choice for the 324 was so easy for me. I've yet to experience a better sounding phono stage than the EAR 324. Just my opinion.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by Uberbrown

Anyone on here ever have / audition any Audio Research gear? Their reference line has gotten some rave reviews. And they have a 600 watt tube amp!

Anyone...
Anyone..

Hey uberbrwon...as you can tell i am a fan of the ARC Reference gear. I guess I joined this site a few months late for a timely response to your post. Happy to share with you my impression of the gear. I had the LS26 before the Ref 3 as well if you were considering that. Did you ever audition the ARC gear?

[Uberbrown]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Hey uberbrwon...as you can tell i am a fan of the ARC Reference gear. I guess I joined this site a few months late for a timely response to your post. Happy to share with you my impression of the gear. I had the LS26 before the Ref 3 as well if you were considering that. Did you ever audition the ARC gear?

Yes, I have now auditioned the ARC ref 5 and ref 110. I prefer McIntosh to ARC following the audition.