Line Stage battle: ARC LS26 vs Aesthetix Calypso

Audphile1, thanks for your considered and interesting reply! I've also read the ARC LS26 is an exceptional pre at it's pricepoint & is very close to the Ref3, and that is a big statement given the Ref3's ticket price.

I appreciate your comments about ARC's reliability, as I had read one review which suggested otherwise (but only one).

Re: the Calypso, i've also noticed a lot of owners switching tubes after purchasing that pre, yet I haven't heard that kind of stampede to mod the LS26 whatsoever, so that sais something about how good it is straight out of the box.

The power amps which I will be buying to bi-amp my speakers have high current, so the LS26's adjustable gain would certainly be an advantage. I also like the LS26's display & the fact it displays tube hours as well. It also looks fantastic with that mean-looking aluminium faceplate & handles!

I'm planning a system upgrade which will include a pair of Infinity Ren 90's, so i'll be bi-amping them with high current Benchmark dual mono power amps & need a smooth, open & clean sounding pre which will exploit the maximum potential from the Ren's planar drivers. My source is a JVC XL-Z1050 Class C transport connected via a Nordost 'Silver Shadow' cable to a Vimak DS-1800 Mk2 Dac. Given that company, the choice of pre will be critical. One thing is for sure, the LS26 will definitely be on the rack when I start auditioning pre's!

Anything can break. But in case of preamps, reliability issues with ARC linestages are most likely limited to the units that have tubed power supply - REF2, REF2MkII, REF3. That's probably what you have read. You have to watch out for the power supply tubes and replace them on time. There is definitely a potential that a failed PS tube can take out a resistor, etc. So that would definitely be possible.

If you want a tube preamp that you won't have to worry about tube rolling or mods, LS-26 is the way to go. If you think you would like to experiment with tube rolling, then the 6H30 based pre such as LS-26 iswn't for you, because there is no tube rolling the 6H30s. But the advantage is that the tube lasts longer, and you won't get on a merry go round of tube rolling, which can be fun and frustrating and expensive all at the same time.

Good luck assembling a new system. It is fun!

Thanks for your comments Audphile, I am actually off in a different direction now. I have been blown away by the Cary SLP 05 tube pre! It just gets everything right. A pre-amp which sounds like a TRUE all tube pre-amp but without any of the typical trade offs like tube noise, lack of bass control, too warm/tubey (at one extreme), too dry & clinical (at the other), reliablity issues etc. Twin box design for low noise characteristics, fully balanced design, cool looking Mac-like meters & 8 exposed warm, glowing tubes to make your heart smile. And you have Cary's legendary back up service behind it. I know that ulitimately, hifi is about personal choice & what sounds good to YOU, but i've heard a number of people tell me this is one of the best pre-amps in the world & sounds better than the ARC Ref 3, that's a big statement. A'goner Rbirke's review from Feb '06 is a great read by the way, I am salivating over this baby!

You won't be wrong on Cary SLP-05, it is absolutely a remarkable pre. Tube rolling is fun, but the EH stock tubes are not bad at all.

I agree about the Cary, I tied the 05, but could not afford it bought the SLP-03 w/ 12au7 tubes tube rolled to NOS and have no regrets, a bargain for the money at 3K, I like the single box design, completly dual mono construction, dead quiet, works great w/ my Wyred4Sound monos