Hi Audiotomb, your right! The LS5 is an excellent choice. Although I have not personally heard one yet, I have read nothing but high praise for it's performance. In fact it seems to have set an audio reference standard in which other preamps are compared. I'm not sure it would be a fair to compare a less costly solid state (LS9) to the more expensive tube preamp (LS5). However for a ss preamp, I really enjoyed the LS9 and give it high praise! I compared it's performance to the more expensive Krell KBL and came to the conclusion that it was a toss up, finding more smiliarities than differences. Thad Early was the principle designer of the LS9 and was employed by Krell in the eighties. hmmm. That in my opinion says alot for a ss preamp that costs less than half as much as the Krell. I sold mine only to go to a tube pre and I may purchase the LS5 myself. Anyway I would like to add one more comment on the ARC D200. I wish I would of discovered the ARC D200 amp way earlier because it would of stopped an endless search for the perfect ss power amp. The D200 in my opinion sounds just right, allowing me to hear into the musical landscape like never before, without the solid state nasties. I only wish that this Audio Research site could of been more informative on the attributes and differences of Audio Research gear which would include ARC ss amps. Other opinions would of been very helful and I hope this one is. Many thanks
