Audio Research Ph8 compared to Reference phono 2

I second that request. I own an ARC PH-7, which admittedly sounds pretty good. I'm curious though, if I was to consider an upgrade, whether I would realize a major improvement with a PH-8 versus the Ref Phono 2, which, btw, is now the Ref Phono 2 SE.

Clabe ...

I have the PH-8 and love it! It needs the new 6550 power tube to sound its best, so be sure to include it. With this tube upgrade, it gets the PH-8 pretty close to the Ref-2 ... but not the Ref-2SE. Of course, you still won't have all of the features of the Ref2SE ... but you, like I, cannot afford it. :>)

Bifwynne ..

I went from the PH-7 to the PH-8. The PH-8 makes the PH-7 sound broken. No lie. If you go to the PH-8 be sure to get the new 6550 tube that ARC is offering. Major upgrade right there. If you can afford the Ref-2SE ... that's the one to get. My sources at ARC tell me that its really mind blowing. There's a Ref2SE in my future. :>)

and unlike the PH8, all those before it - no stereo/mono switch :(