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ARC preamp line up

Just getting into ARC preamps and while i was hesitant to jump on an SP5, I have to admit I am thrilled about the soundstage and detail. I thought I was going to have issues with it being too analytical or bright but turns out I really like the sound...to boot it has a phono for my LP12.

I also know that the Sp5 seems to have little or no praise and is probably one of the cheaper models, but having said that, it sounds so good to me.

So my question is, what is the next step up from this model in terms of solid state and if I go to the earlier models (read below $1K) with/without the single 6922 tube do I lose anything that I like with my SP5? From my research I guess i should only be looking at the SP series for phono or do some of the LS models come with phono?

thx for your input
vinylb
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
ARC SP-11.
spinaker01
293 posts
 
Hifigeek1, pretty sure you'll still spend way more than a grand for an SP-11.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
An ARC SP-11 is going to cost more than a thousand bucks.
Same for the SP-15.. Another two chassis preamp.
(I own an SP-15 currently)
For more than the thousand, Like $1,500 to $1,800 you should be able to aquire an Sp-11 or Sp-15
The SP-11 has a few tubes in it. The SP-15 is all Solid state EXCEPT the phono section, which uses three tubes.
I can highly recommend the Audio Research SP-15.
It should cost no more than $1,700 though. (closer to $1,500) Even if it did retail for $6 grand new.
(the original sets of boxes for those two chassis preamps are worth a hundred bucks all by themselves)

The Sp-9 mk3 is a good preamp, but not up to the later SP11 or 15.
The SP-10 is a classic, and commands a fortune used, (over $3,000) plus you have to spend ANOTHER fortune for great tubes (13 tubes in the Sp-10, and i owned a SP-10 and the Sp-15 trounced the Sp-10 IMO)
All the SP-10. SP-11. And SP-15 were two chassis preamps
palewin
58 posts
 
First, you mention solid state. While the SP-5 was a solid state pre-amp, none of the later SP series were; all were tubed. Looking at later SP-series pre-amps, the SP-9 had two tubes, the SP-14 had three, and all the others had more. So there really isn't a solid-state ARC step-up in the line.

I had an SP-8 for many years, and used the built-in phono stage with my Linn LP12 as well. I thought it was a good unit, but when I upgraded to an LS17 (line stage, no phono section) and a PH5 phono section, it was a significant improvement all around (i.e. the LS17 sounded better than the SP-8, and the PH5 sounded better than the SP-8 phono section). Also, all of the older SP pre-amps were pretty high gain, which made using them with a CD player problematic, since the CD player already has a high input voltage relative to other inputs.
djcxxx
81 posts
 
I owned an SP5 for many years and it was okay but the Analog Module technology (shared w/ the SP4) was not a sonic high water mark for ARC. By comparison the SP6 (all tube) was a contemporary of the SP5/SP4 and an overall much better offering. If you want to go all tube around the $1K mark an SP6 would be a good choice and it can be upgraded substantially if you get an original 6 or 6A which would sell for less than the later 6B through C/D/E variants.
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