As the far as the B&O goes I believe there are folks who refurbish these. After the hiatus you'll at least want to clean or preferably replace the belts. Soundsmith in NY, I think, has a line of replacement cartridges. As far as a phono preamp goes I use a solid state Pass product presently. They have excellent customer service. I would not hesitate to buy a pre-owned one. I personally like the lack of noise a well-engineered solid state phono preamp has versus a tube phono preamp, as a rule. I will experiment with the Pass as a phono stage the range of tube Line amps I am auditioning. Finally, there is a feedback switch with on the Carver Mono Blocks so you can switch them from a "Modern" to a "Classic" sound. For speakers, with few exceptions, you can never have too much power. I like iconoclasts.
Should I consider the newer Audio Research pre & power amps, when I play records not CD's
I worked in and owned upper end audio stores back in the 1970's. (McIntosh B&O Magnepan, etc) I have been pretty much out of audio for the past 30 years. In my old age, I want to play the records I have saved (many MFSL & Japanese virgin vinyl) I kept my B&O linear 4002 W/mmc20CL cart. and it still works and I have newer B&W 804 speakers. I am going to get a new table of better quality. I have always wanted an Audio Research tube amp and Preamp. I am considering the LS 26 or LS17SE Preamp and older D90/115 or newer VS 115 or the Ref 75SE. I am in my 60's and my hearing is not as good as it was, plus I am lost with all the digital technology. (just started using a smart phone) I just wanted to get opinions spending $4000 on older ARC or bite the bullet and spend in the $7000 up. Is it worth spending the money for the new equipment when I am only playing records.
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- 64 posts total
- 64 posts total