Best preamp for Audio Research VT100mkI

I have owned the LS2 and LS2b: and VT100 andVT100 MKII, among other other ARC preamps and amps. The LS2 linestage is a large and significant sonic improvement from the preceding SP14 phono/line stage preamp...especially in transparency. Unfortunately, the Sovtek tube is a limiting factor in its sound. If digital is your source,a small investment in a Siemens 7308 or Amperex 7308 can make a very significant improvement in the LS2 preamp. The Audible Illusions is a very good sounding unit, but requires 4 6922/7308 type tubes.

If you want to go cheap, the passive adcom 750 is very good with this amp.

In general, tube preamps are much better than solid state with this amp. I use a vk-5i with my mk2. I find that it is as good as the ref1 I previously owned. Different, but in the same general league sonically.

Of all the preamps I have heard with it, bat vk-50SE/vk30SE are the best.

Some of the lower line arc preamps the ls2 and ls16 ) are not the most impressive. They lacked transparency and energy. I heard them mated with solid state amps which may have been the problem.

JBM, the Blowtorch has a base price of $12,500, a touch more than the $1,000 Demar wanted to spend....BTW, Curl designed the circuit, Thompson designed the boards and I did everything else....It is the best we can do without compromises.....