Coda CP pre-amp vs Rogue Athena Magnum vs ARC LS-12 .Need information

 Tim, 

Yes, it is a tough call, and you offer good common sense advice. I may put this all on the back burner for a bit, because I am taking a short vacation at the end of September, and  would resume the quest when I return

The Muse pre-amp has become a distant possibility for a few reasons which I need not go into.  The low profile of both Muse and Coda concerns me less than not knowing what to expect. The key trigger for me is that what ever I choose advances the sound quality similar to the BAT-VK-200 amp which really opened my eyes about aspects of high end audio I either did not understand or appreciate.

Let me note, that the BAT pre-amps are a given as far as a possible choice. However,   I was hoping to get something lighter in weight and smaller in size, and not dressed in "graveyard black".  I did not talk to CJ today to clarify about the compatibility of their LS-18 pre-amp and the BAT  amp.

One  last point, I was thinking of launching a new thread about asking whether the electronic "design" of a component is still viable after say 15 years, that is, do newer designs necessarily provide better sound quality. I realize and know from experience that speaker design may be hardest to pin down, whereas electronics, and to a lesser degree cables over time "usually" ( I say usually) get better in sound quality incrementally.   I know that the idea of buying some companies "newest" amp, pre-amp, CD player, etc. does not guarantee improved sound quality compared  to either its previous models, or models of  other manufacturer with similar dates of issue.  That is an interesting question!!

Cheers!!

 Tim,

0I will checkout  the ad on e-bay.  In the meantime,. do you know anything about the Mark Levenson 38S  pre-amp.  I always thought Levenson products were overrated and the company continued to flourish because of his constant crusading for its products which always seemed over inflated in price.  There is one on AG now, but the seller Tansen Audio wants too much for it.  The design  must be at least 15 years old.   Thanks 

Tim, Thanks. I contacted ML about the serial number but they claim the server that contained the info was destroyed.  So I will either have to believe the seller or move on.   I did read some stuff on the blog "Audio Review"  about the major sound quality difference between the 38 and 38S..In addition,  ML sent me the info and a PDF file of the manual.

Were you aware that ML was bought by Harman International?? I also heard though it might be just rumor that they also bought  out  ARC  about ten years ago. 

I got blown off twice by their customer service department attempting to verify a serial number. Maybe, it was a mistake, but I know Victor Khomenko at BAT is always open to answer questions about his older models.

An ARC SP-17 popped up on AG today. and I found an old thread from 2008 asking about what was a better choice the SP 16 or SP 17.  I also was able to clarify via that thread the difference between their two series: that is, the SP and LS. I read that SP models were earlier pieces and had no phono stage, whereas the LS series often have phono stages ( optional, I guess) and remotes. The SP 17 is not   balanced, only RCA's,  but has a phono stage and remote I need to check out some reviews. However, if ARC is going to be hard-ass about answering questions I will need to change horses in mid stream. The Classe CP-60 is looking much better now, and even the Muse CL3 Signature

Onward and upward I go  Thanks.