ARC LS26 versus Cary SLP-05

Just fyi: there is an LS26 or two available now on Audiogon for around $4,000. There is a Cary SLP-05 also available for $4,000. The LS17 ARC lists for $4,000 new. ARC Reference 3 is just over $6,000 used on Audiogon and a bit more than I want to spend, I think.

Well, I actually have two EAD's, an Ovation and a Noble Electronics modded classic Signature with a gold front. I am debating which EAD to sell and the other will be upstairs with the surround sound five channel (Vienna Acoustics Beethoven mains)and TV setup. The Ovation is less good sonically, but it uses conventional remote options and thus it can be programmed into our universal remote. The Signature uses the old heavy black remote that for whatever reason cannot be programmed into a universal remote. My wife likes the convenience of the universal remote, and for HT, the sound is less crucial than for stereo. I really think that the Signature is a terrific sounding unit and makes for a nearly ideal combination HT/stereo piece. Still, it will not process anything higher than DTS and HDCD formats and has no analog pass throughs to allow SACD resolution or the new DD/DTS formats either. Thus, while a classic unit, it is a bit limiting since I want to explore SACD, 24/96 and 24/192 audio and cannot do that on the EAD. I will compare the EAD Signature with the new units on red label to see how it holds up. Do you know Greg Palma at Noble Electronics? He is a great guy and a fabulous resource for all things EAD.

I am surprised by the landslide voting results thus far! I figured more would say that both are great but for "synergy" get the Cary or some such. Also, the 05 is Cary's top of the line compared to the LS26 which is one down from ARC's top. I guess that most feel that the LS26 really does represent a value for its price and can hang in there with the heavy weights. A reference 3 would be even better, I guess, but I think the price is a tad high for me. I have read that a new Reference model might be coming--perhaps at CES, but this is just conjecture. Perhaps I should hold off a couple of weeks and see as that might influence the market for second hand Ref 3's....

Thanks for the comments, Amfibius. Yes, I fully intend to run balanced. It may, for reasons of WAF (or SAF) be necessary to run 15-25 feet from preamp to amps so I will definitely want to be running balanced. It may not, but I don't see any reason to not used balanced connectors.

Thanks and best wishes to you (and all) for a happy holiday season:)

I ended up picking up an ARC Reference 3. Sounds pretty great so far (system set up yesterday) with the only annoyance being that the display on the preamp is noisy (so I set it to be off). Thanks all for the helpful advice. I would love to try the Cary and will if the opportunity arises for a comparison, but for now I am content.

Where and for how much can I get one of those magic tubes?:)