SS Pre-amps that can beat an Audio Research sp16

Zd,

Thanks for that suggestion. I always read good things about Ayre but don't think I have ever heard.

The ARC probably would not go anywhere too soon. Whenever I upgrade or change something in my main system, it usually frees up something good to now try in my other system.

I have been using a 30 year old NAD 7020 receiver that is usually my spare as pre-amp only in my other system now for several months with very good results, but I'm sure the Arc would be a nice upgrade to that. The ARC is a really great piece that will not be easy to replace I think and I hate to part with those ever.

Personally, I don't think I could ever go back to a SS preamp, I know, I've tried. Probably the best I ever heard was a Threshold T2, which I liked better than others I had owned from the usual suspects (Krell, ML, JRDG, Ayre, Classe, etc.). However, I still have owned several tube preamps that I preferred over the T2.

That said, if I were to try another SS preamp that I would hope to satisfy me, it would be a Klyne. I say that because a Klyne 7PX5.0 was the best phono preamp that I have ever owned, and yes, I did prefer it over several tubed phono preamps that I have owned.

Jm,

Not absolutely sure yet that I can either, but having sampled the tube pre-amp waters now for a few years, I will be in a much better position to decide.

I'm largely just testing the waters....not needing to change at all really, but interested to know what the other possibilities might be.

I have heard some Krell integrateds in recent years that did a lot of what I am looking for very well and that is another option I forgot to mention that I have considered. Krell pre-amp that is , not integrated.

Not certain but I think frequency bandwidth is the main thing that a good SS pre-amp might be able to best the ARC in. THat an dnoise levels, but noise levels have not been a big issue with the ARC either, though I have had to replace tubes a couple time over the years to keep things that way, espeically the #1 tube in the phono stage.

I do not use the phono stage that much these days yet the 3 pho stage tubes are in play whenever I use the ARC, shortening their life.

At this stage, I'm just thinking that I might be better served over the long term by a good SS pre-amp with no phono and adding a separate phono stage (maybe tube) that is only on when I use it.

Bel Canto seems like a logical choice to do what I want and also to match to the amps well being from same company.

Newer Benchmark interests me as well as a potential giant killer. I'd really like to try that.

IF I went with a pre/DAC combo, that would probably free up one of my two current mhdt DACS as well, either the SS Constantine that I prefer overall or the tube based Paradisea which is also a very good performer with the right tube in it. I might sell one of those to help finance the deal.

The NAD is one of those devices just too versatile to ever get rid off. I'd keep that as a spare again for sure if a new pre-amp were to find its way into my house. I picked it up in a pawn shop on the cheap 25 years ago and it has managed to stick around ever since as a bench player/substitute amp/tuner/pre-amp that I can always call on if needed.

I would think the most recent Pass models would do well.