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Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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In Reply to: ARC LS- 3 vs. Bryston BP-20 posted by gripweed44 on January 14, 2011 at 17:45:51:
gripweed44,
I don't have experience with the Bryston amplifier, but I have had three Audio Research Preamps over 26 years: tubed SP8, SP10, and used the solid state one- an LS3 (1996), with a solid state power amplifier- an ARC D130 (2X130W) since 2005.**
**[Amplifiers: ARC D115 (2X105W Tubes, McIntosh MC240 (2X40W, Tubes), D130, Sources: Oracle III/SMEV/AQ200, Cambridge Audio 640C, McIntosh MR67 (tubes), Revox B160, Speakers: Vanderasteen 2C, Infinity Primus 360]
Between 1985 and 2005, I had only tubed ARC stuff- and which I liked tremendously- I think if I had to live out of shopping cart, I'd still have an SP8 and a headphone amp.
The ARC gear I've had was not only great sounding: natural timbre, effortless, transparent detailed, but have been very reliable. The SP8 has never had a repair and at the moment has all it's original tubes as supplied in 1985. The SP10, famed as a "tube eater" is not that at all if it has the right tubes- they have to be tough and very quiet.***
***[My SP10 was still using it's 1991 tubes until last May when I changed 10 of the 12 control chassis tubes- (6DJ8 family) and the two first position phono gain tubes are still the 1965 Amperex E188CC's (7308's). The SP10 had: the PS 12AT7 go wonky, a muting circuit repair, and two capacitors replaced. The LS3 and D130 (1996) have never had repair, and the D115 has had no repairs and only had 4 sets of power tubes since 1985- it did arc a high mileage GE 6500C in 1992, and still has it's original small tubes.
PHOTO: My chaotic office system in 2006 using the LS3/D130 to try vintage tuners: McIntosh MR67 (1965), MR77 (!974) and Revox B160 (1988).
Enough history- the LS3: The important thing is of course the sound and the way I'd summarise the LS3 is to say that it's relentlessly revealing of the quality of the source, the speakers, the wires, the room. It adds or subtracts nothing, so it unfortunately causes discontent. With the rather dry sounding Cambridge Audio 640C CD player, it was a dry solid state system, but with the glouriously, lush, wide and deep McIntosh MR67 tuber tuner, it was tube paradise. I'd rarely heard a soundstage as wide and deep, even with the SP10.***
***{The most amazing feature was the MR67 in mono mode- and the LS3 has a mono switch. The image was centered between the speakers, but was a 100 yards deep and just amazingly transparent and nimble.]
One disadvantage of the LS3 and moreso the D130 is that they are cold-blooded as hell. I thought the LS3 didn't have it's full sound until it was on for 5 hours. The SP10 is doing it's best after 45 minutes or so.
For me, the LS3 is a "sleeper" - amazing value as these were $1,500 new and sold today for $600-700 - mine was $500. I believe these are being sold by those who are not matching it with complimentary sources. The sound- neutrality is the keyword, and construction quality is just superb- but only if you have superb sources that emit the listenability quality you prefer. My preference is still heavily tube leaning, but the LS3 gives me hope of the future of solid state. If you want personality and a more forgiving attitude, the SP8 is difficult to best.
Happy hunting!
Cheers,
Bambi B
PS: 2011 Prognostication: My prediction is that there is going to be a future including an increasing number of astoundingly good hybrid tube integrated amplifiers of considerable power.
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Follow Ups
- ARC LS- 3 : Relentlessly Revealing - Bambi B 01/16/1106:24:26 01/16/11 (1)
- RE: ARC LS- 3 : Relentlessly Revealing - Karma16 11:09:58 01/26/11 (0)
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