Is It Worth Modifying an ARC LS16?


I HAVE AN AUDIO RESEARCH LS16 PREAMP. SOUNDS GOOD BUT DOESN'T HAVE GREAT DYNAMICS OR STRONG BASS.IS SPENDING $1000 TO $1,500 ON THE UPGRADE OR GREAT NORTHERN SOUND MODIFICATION WORTHWHILE OR SHOULD I JUST GO FOR BETTER PREAMP, MAYBE USED $2500 TO $3000? SYSTEM IS McCORMACK DNA1 REV A, VANDERSTEEN 3A SIGS, MICROMEGA DRIVE 1, ARC DAC2, REGA P3, KIMBER 8TC SPEAKER CABLE.
rdale4da23
I have the same pre and posted a similar question a few months ago. It does not appear that any visitors here have done the upgrade.

I do not feel that I lack bass...maybe your other components/cable are holding back the pre's performance.

I am about to start tinkering w/replacement tubes. Mine are the orig stock tubes and have somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000-5000 hours now. I have a strong suspicion that they are getting tired.

Good luck. Feel free to email to discuss further if you wish.
I have a friend who did the modifications to either an LS16 or LS 25 (sorry can't remember which model), I was quite surprized, the results were stunning.

I have an LS5 which I feel is outside of the Ref2 the best Arc preamp that I have heard. I am definitely going to do a Great Northern Sounds modification to it.

Steve Huntley used to work for Audio Research and is very helpful at evaluating the sonic benefits of particular Arc pieces. He was quite informative on sonic characteristics of the various pieces in his e-mail correspondence with me. You could ask him whether to modify the LS 16 or upgrade and modify another Arc piece.

hope that helps

Tom
Please, someone....tell me more about the Great Northern Sound mod. Who is Steve Huntley? I have an ARC LS 25 and I am interested!

Rick
my gut reaction is that you would be better off selling the ls16 and appling the sales money and the cost of the upgrade to a better arc product (or a cj, or bat, etc). your mod will be expensive and will not improve the resale value of the ls 16 much or at all.