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Audio Research SP-8 or Quicksilver Full Function ?

Hi there I have been looking into tube preamps for a while now and I have it narrowed down to two. The ARC SP-8 or the Quicksilver Full Function. I want it to look good and sound very detailed and natural with a great sound stage. I want to spend under $1000 and must have a great phono section and lots of Line stage inputs.

I was wondering if anyone had actually heard this two and Know the defferances I'm leaning toward the SP-8 and doing some upgrades to the Caps.

My System is
Magnapan 2.6R
Home made sub kit from Parts express with 10" titanic sub and 250 watt sub amp, this is an awesome sub kit.
B&K ST-140
Music Hall MMF-7 with Grado wood Platnum
B&O Cassette
Teac Reel two Reel
Sony ES CD player
Sony CD Changer
Senergenic Research .5 M between Turntable and CD Player to Preamp
Tera Labs 1M between Pre and Amp
Speaker wire old Huge Fulton Gold or Kimber Kable 4pr
I have two preamps now A
B&K pro 10 mc and a Dynaco Pat 5

The Pat 5 actually sounds much better then the Pro10 With much better inner detail in the soundstage and more musical sound
I have been told by many that the Preamp is by far my week link. and I should go with a Tube preamp with the True Ribbons in my Magnapans
I mainly listen to Vinyl I have over 2000 lps
I know I also need a better CD player or maybe SACD player soon also

PS Don't give me more idias for preamp that don't have a Phono sections and don't have many line inputs like everyone seems to always do.
I have rulled out the MFA magus, Audiable illusion 2b,c,d,3ect. Counterpoint, Sonic Frontiers ect.
Thanks Mark In Puyallup WA
markblom
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
I owned the sp8. Have heard the sp9 - not even in the same league.

I replaced my sp8 with an sp11.

All reviews tell you the sp8 will float your boat. This is means thick, lush, beautiful sound. If you want lots of detail look elsewhere.

SP8, 10, 11 as well as 3 and 6 will go up in value I think - they are classics.

Not sure about finding an sp8 for under $1k but if you do try to get the later MKII model.

Sorry I sold my sp8, I needed it for another system. I did buy an Audible Illusions mod 3 and it is very nice as well.

Just my two cents good luck.
autospec
472 posts
 
I would like the SP-10 if I ever had one , but it is one that I haven't owned....If I get a chance to buy one I'll let you know what I think ... I just bought my third LS-2 Will
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
The SP-8 is actually an improved SP-6. In fact the final revision of the SP-6E1 is almost identical to the SP-8. I think the SP-8 sounds a little less lumpy in the bass. Also the SP-8 has a tube rectifier in the power supply which can be more gentle to your tubes on turn on, and I think sounds better. I've owned an SP-6B for many years. The SP-6C and C1 versions had less stages of regulation for reliability reasons. I actually like the SP-3C which I now own.I'm not familiar with the Quicksilver product.
exocet954
98 posts
 
Hifigeek,

How would you compare the SP8/SP6B to your Audible Illusions? Could help but ask....
exocet954
98 posts
 
Sorry question was for CT0517, regarding the difference between SP-8 and the Audible Illusions.

Regards
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