Audio Research Reference 6 Preamp Review

elem79, what is your opinion about SP-20?  There are couple of them on sale. I can't afford to buy a new Ref 6, so I am eying on LS28 or SP-20 to mate with my KWA150SE's.  

Did you by any chance audition LS28 before you bought Ref 6? 

Laltik, both seem like great preamps. Not knowing an awful lot about the SP-20 I would probably be more partial to the LS28.  I think that may be the sweeter of the the two based on some of the reviews I've read.  

I didn't get the chance to hear either.  I had a REF 5SE and loved it. When the REF 6 came out I thought it might be a better match for my GS150 and based my purchase of the 6 entirely on the strength of REF 5.  

Thank you for your feedback and enjoy the Ref 6.

From what I hear about the REF-6 I put it into my bucket list. 

On a somewhat related note, I've never heard the Ref 6, I own the 40th Anniversary pre. I'm not sure if I'll ever switch, it's been an absolute pleasure. 

However, I do own the new Ref 3 Phono preamp and it's an extraordinary improvement over the Ref 2. The dynamics are incredible. My perception is that I am hearing more information than I was able to glean from my albums in the past. Since the Ref Phono 3 and Ref 6 are fundamentally built on similar platforms, I am encouraged to believe that the positive reports on the Ref 6 are, indeed, true. 

Happy listening!