I've had the ARC LS26 for almost a year. I love it! Prior to the LS26, I had an Aesthetix Calypso and, before that, I had a Sonic Frontiers Line3, and, before that, a Jeff Rowland Synergy3. The LS26 is superior to all of those and some preamps costing twice as much. It is a very dynamic preamp with a fantastic soundstage. I auditoned the ARC Ref 3 at the same time, but, alas, I could not afford it. My next preamp, if I can afford it, will be the Ref 3; it's everything the LS26 is and then some.