I Want To Know About Audio Research

[Mr Peabody]

I've heard some ARC but not those particular models. I've heard mostly their tube gear and it sounded great with Martin Logan speakers. The dealer also sells B&W. I found ARC with B&W not so pleasant to me. Isn't the D100 their digital power amp that retails around $2,500.00? If so, I haven't heard it but a friend is using one until he can afford some Edge gear and he thinks it's a great amp. I have all the confidence both pieces are good sounding but much of your result will also depend on speakers and source, as well as the stuff TS mentioned. So much of good highs or bass is subjective to each listener it's difficult to convey. I'd say the ARC tends to be a warmer and polite presentation. I also find that brands like ARC and Conrad Johnson, when they do solid state they don't stray far from their "house" or signature sound. If I were you and the price was right, I'd jump on it.

[hifitommy]

a sp3a1 preamp came to me for cheeeep. i was confounded by the sound that i expected to be classic tube sound, round, fat, warm, rolled off top. the usual description you hear of tubed equipment. WRONG!

extremely wide frequency extremes, extremely wide dynamics, and tonal colors of the most natural and vivid you can imagine. imaging and soundstaging attributed to tube sound was there in spades.

if you have an opportunity to snag some arc electronics, go for it.

[Florian]

My friend runs his Maggie 20R's with a Audio Research SP10 and Audio Research D300 Reference Monoblocks on the mid/hi section and Krell KSA250's on the bass.

Great stuff, but not very reliable. Just like Jadis, can work for a long time or not....

But go for, ARC rocks!

[JoeE SP9]

Purchasing my ARC SP9 ended my searching for a preamp. That was 6 years ago.

[hifitommy]

Purchasing my ARC SP9 ended my searching for a preamp. That was 6 years ago.

i'll bet the sp9 flies in the face of typical tube description like my sp3c.

[JoeE SP9]

No tube sound, no transistor sound. Just very good sound!!! I bought an SP3 in 1983. Selling it was one of the dumber things I've done.

[Florian]

If you like the SP9 then give the Silvewalds and Transcendent Sound a try. Also the SP10 :-)