I can't speak to the SP14 but I owned the LS-7 for less than a year. It is one of AR's weakest efforts although none of their linestages (and power amps for that matter) are particularly noteworthy. Given other choices such as Joule, VAC, and even Sonic Frontiers, AR stuff wouldn't be my choice again.
AR LS7 v SP14
Hi, I wonder if any of you can help me? At a demo of equipment I heard a system that comprised the Audio Reserch SP14 paired with a Muscial Fidelity P270 MK2 and was blown away by the scale and living performance they gave. I have since been trying to buy these components second hand and have acquired an Audio Reserch LS7 with a Musical Fidelity P270 mark 2, although I love the sound it doesn't give me the scale and live sounding, living breathing performnace I heard. Can anyone with experience of the SP14 confirm that this is what the SP14 does compared with the LS7? You can gey the SP14's at a great price on the second hand market.