Need to learn about Audio Research

ARC in the 1970’s was at that time relatively reasonably priced. In ’73 the SP-3 pre-amp was $595, the D-75 $995, the D-51 $695.

It was when the Mark Levinson brand appeared that the price wars started, as well as "all out" assaults on advancing the state-of-the art, such as the SP-10 pre-amp, and D-150 and then D-79 power amps.

For a long time ARC had both somewhat modestly-priced entry level products (LS pre-amps. I paid $2995 for an LS-2B in the 90’s) and premium models (the Reference line) with premium prices. Now even the LS pre-amps carry a hefty price tag.

I still have a LS25 mk1 made in 1998 from what I see , it's still rocking 😎 

Got all new capacitors about 4 years ago, and voltage regulators . Great preamp!

Agree that tube pre + SS amp is a good “warm” direction to go from the Hegel H390.

A GanFet amp, which is similar to a warm sounding SS, may be a good option.

Krell K-300i integrated has “150Wpc into 8 ohms and 300Wpc into 4 ohms, with its iBias technology allowing the amp to deliver up to the first 90W in class-A (warmth) —"without the excessive heat and power consumption of traditional Class-A designs,- (Stereophile)

I have used ARC AMPVT150 mono with LS5 preamp since1996, sweet amps to replace McIntosh tube amp/preamp. , there was no mechanical or electrical failure.

My current amps are 160M,without repair last 4 years.

AR is coming out with  some NEW AMPs/preamps SS/Tubes in 10 K range starting in April 2025.

I have decided SS will be the way to go.

Good decision. There are many maggie owners who have had a tube amp on the tweet/mids and a solid state on the bass panels but you don’t have that biamping option with the 3.7’s, not without much more extensive modification at least.

A friend is going to loan me a parasound A21 soon.

That should work out, let us know how that compares to the Hegel.

What would the pre be with it though?