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Should I consider the newer Audio Research pre & power amps, when I play records not CD's

I worked in and owned upper end audio stores back in the 1970's. (McIntosh B&O Magnepan, etc) I have been pretty much out of audio for the past 30 years. In my old age, I want to play the records I have saved (many MFSL & Japanese virgin vinyl) I kept my B&O linear 4002 W/mmc20CL cart. and it still works and I have newer B&W 804 speakers. I am going to get a new table of better quality. I have always wanted an Audio Research tube amp and Preamp. I am considering the LS 26 or LS17SE Preamp and older D90/115 or newer VS 115 or the Ref 75SE. I am in my 60's and my hearing is not as good as it was, plus I am lost with all the digital technology. (just started using a smart phone) I just wanted to get opinions spending $4000 on older ARC or bite the bullet and spend in the $7000 up. Is it worth spending the money for the new equipment when I am only playing records. 
128x128juke4u
juke4u's avatar
juke4u OP
40 posts
 
I looked up your speakers and they are extremely nice. I love the workmanship and the sound must be terrific. Leave it to the Italians. I have a Ducati motorcycle. I purchased the B&W speakers because I have always loved them and the price was very good. They disappear better than any speaker I have ever owned. They are 90DB SPL and 75w would be the bottom I would accept in power. The 110w or 115w would be a little better. I am not a loud loud listener. I will upgrade them to a better pair as time goes on. No matter how good the equipment is "the speakers are the most important."
How do you get from the computer to the DAC without using USB? Do you use a USB to AES/XLR?  If I understood you the computer audio is not as good as a CD even with the DAC8 or other DAC units?
LS25mk11 For sale on audio Mart hope the link works.
thttp://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649316600-fs-audio-research-ls25-mk-ii-pre-amplifier/images/13894...
 
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
479 posts
 



 That is a fair price for a LS25 mk2. I sold mine for $2400  a little over 2 years ago. Ask if the remote works. Audio Research no longer has replacement remotes for the LS25 mk2. It is a wonderful sounding unit. And one of the last of the truly nice classic looking ARC preamps without a display screen. The Ref 5se is suppose to sound best with the display screen turned off. So I never got the whole point of the display screen.

 I use a cheap GUSTARD USB Converter to go from my computer to the DAC8. First keep in mind that the Ref CD7 has a better all tube DAC inside. The DAC8 is solid state. Also there are a lot of variables with computer audio. They are not built to play music. Computers are noisy (RF/EMI) and it takes work to get them to sound good.  The Aurender is a one piece unit with a hard drive that is built to play music. You don't need a computer. If I got one with a DAC, I could get rid of the DAC8, USB converter and extra cables.

 They are truly beautiful. I got a real super deal on my speakers. They were a dealer demo and less then a year old. I don't think they were completely broken in when I got them. I listened to them a few times and really loved them. They are not the type of speakers you bring home for the weekend on a whim. Then I read a review that said. Some speakers sound this way, other speakers sound that way. The Elipsa SE don't sound any way. They just sound like music. I totally agree, I can't see ever wanting to upgrade them.





bpoletti
1,004 posts
 
Go with all Herron Audio.  I haven't heard anything better.  IMO, VTPH-2 phono stage is as good as it gets, I haven't heard any line stage better than the Herron VTSP-3A (r03).  Amps are extremely good.  No coloration, no distortion.  Just the music.
juke4u's avatar
juke4u OP
40 posts
 
 I have the house set up so I can run the Ipad thru the house or just the video system. I was thinking I wanted to keep the audio system separate and just play records but the more i read about streaming the music the more I want to go that way. I just have to educate myself how all this stuff works. I have read about the Aurender and also the Lumin. The Lumin D1 ($2000) with a DAC is less but does not store the music. The Aurender N100H does store the music. What is the difference other than storage? The Lumin A1 has gotten incredible reviews but at $7000 it is out of my price range.
I have decided on ARC equipment mainly for the sound but also the resale. I am sure over the next few years I will make changes and ARC seems to do well in the resale market. I had looked at Herron Audio and liked what I read but the resale aspect of it concerns me.

bpoletti
1,004 posts
 
You're right.  There are few used Herron Audio components for sale even though there are thousands of units out there.  Could it be that the owners are so satisfied with them that they find few other components good enough to replace them?  What I've seen in the used market is that the few used Herron Audio components for sale appear to sell for a pretty high percentage of their original retail price, and they don't stay on the market long.  Even the 20+ year-old phono stages seem to hold their value and disappear quickly. 

But that's just my opinion.  And observation.   
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