Q. about ARC LS5; & running an all balanced system

I've been thinking of upgrading my pre-amp for a long time. I have a VTL TL2.5 now w/phono which I really like actually, but just have an itch to find out what a more expensive pre-amp would sound like in my system. I had been thinking of an ARC LS25 MkII, but reading comments of A'goners about the LS5 has got me leaning in that direction (hopefully a MKIII). Now, I know about the 10 tubes, & that it has only balanced connnections (neither seem like positives IMO, but not "deal-breakers" for me), & I've noted all the advice I could find about diff. kinds of tubes to use. Can anyone give me further info. on this unit, when it was produced, any dates of old reviews, pictures even--I've never even seen one. Does it have the older ARC cosmetics---black with white markings as I recall? And are they noisy at all?

Also, I don't have one single cable with XLR connections now. Has anyone gone to running an all balanced system from scratch w/o going broke on Interconnects? I read on one of the threads here that you can use less expensive balanced IC's (compared to SE IC's--there is less of a sonic difference between diff. bal. IC's?) & still get good results--any opinions on that? One good thing is that I don't have much of an investment in inter-connects yet anyway.

If I got one of these puppies (LS5) I might look for an ARC PH2 phono pre also. Originally, I was thinking of a PH3SE, but they're pricey & maybe a PH2 would do it for me.

Finally the rest of my system--Cary 303/200 (has balanced outs, I think), Fanfare tuner (ditto), ARC VT100 MkII, Rega P25 w/Benz Glider, alternating between Merlin TSM-M speakers & B&W M802SIII's.

Thanks in advance for any advice or info. on all this!