Audio Research LS7 - Still a good performer?

Have had one of these for about 3 years now. Most important as with any used HiFi stuff that you find one that has been pampered. Physical appearance, seller's reputation is all you can use when you buy online. One tip, if you see any written markings or repair tags, pass in it. I can't understand why some sellers leave like 3, 4 or 5 or more service tags stuck to the back, major red flag. Also never buy one that has been serviced, even by manufacturer.  Some may disagree there but with maybe 25 pieces purchased on Ebay this technique has never failed me.  This LS-7 I have has been hooked to ss with fine results but now is married to a new MC275 and they sing sweet music. Pre, amp and speaker combos make or break systems, thats the whole deal. Run good gauge speaker wire, ie 12 ga and justs decent interconnects. Forget any thing over $100 for connects, you would be wasting money. I will say tubes are very accurate and transparent but I also like the SS sound that has that deep bass back round for certain types of music. I am currently running 2 ss and one tube set up through the same speakers (2 speakers at 4 ohm for tube and 4 speakers at 2 ohm drive) I can switch back and forth for a change of pace. This hobby is a real addiction, or should I say this Obsession!  lol  You can't lose with LS-7 and you can get matched set brand new from ARC for about $250. I have a set boxed as back up.

Well, I got one of these after searching a couple of months. I fell in love with it from the day it arrived but after some days I began with tweaking. The two most important mods were:
- the terrible sounding Wonder Caps were replaced by WIMA FKP1 of the same value (don’t try other brands here, they will fail! Funny enough, Arcotronic KP caps drew a veil over the music, but work better as cross caps in the PU!). The Wondercaps have come into age, and they cause a sharp sound and a worse soundstage along with boxed dynamics. Do this mod and compare the LS7 to LS15/16!
- the power lead from the power switch to the rear and is thin as a human hair and will limit attack and speed significantly. I replaced this with a thicker solid core cable and used all four pins of the switch in parallel. It was a dramatic change for the better again.
These mods are easy to do, but work carefully because it is on your own risk. Now my LS7 plays in a different league.
Strongly recommended!

Jan

I bought LS7 when it came out working weekends at our local ARC dealership for cost along with a VT60. I really liked the amp but the LS7 didn’t blow me away. Later I changed out the stock Rel Caps and went with Infinicaps which where the hot caps at the time, and was using NOS tubes which did help the LS7. I’m sure caps today are far better than those old Infinicaps as well.


I didn’t mess with the PS on the LS7 but I’m sure that helped and I always felt that’s where ARC could have spent a little more money but knew they had a price point to meet. If you haven’t tried some isolation devices under your LS7 that will probably open things up as well… even Cardas myrtle blocks do well and are fairly affordable.

I had one for about 20years, it was dependable never had a problem with it, teamed it with a Rogue Audio amp. IMO unless you’re into vintage and not music the new stuff sounds so much better. 

Wonderful unit however use NOS Amperex tubes for best sound.