ARC users please

What is the difference between LS and SP besides the phono section ? In other words, is a SP 8 the same as a LS 8 ?
Do they use the same technology and sound the same except for not having a phono stage on the LS ?
Scott

Hello Scott. Yes, the SP designation offered an on board phono stage where LS is a line only. Although the number designation does not always correlate to the same preamp. Example.... The LS-5 line stage is basically the same topology as that of the line of the SP-8. Note:I believe the LS-5 has "balanced outs" only. The LS-5 is a terrific preamp and their most sought after line stage.It typically gets snapped up pretty quickly here or on the used market and the reason why the posters above are recommending the SP-8 series. You get the phono stage as a added bonus if your ever considering vinyl as a source.The phono stage alone is worth the price of admission as it's a great one.Hope this helps. cheers

The SS ARC preamp short lived because it wasn't as good as its tube ARC preamp. ARC decided to moved back to tube gear. The SP-10 and 11 MKIIs are much better and much sought after than 8/6/3. In our setups, they sound fuller and more musical than the LS-16 and 25s. Since we don't have any balanced equipments, we never tried the LS-5s.

They seem to have made it very difficult to follow the model lines and what the sound like.

Hello Chang. I would certainly concurr with your observations, I have owned an Sp-10 mk2 since it was first introduced and I personally believe it to be the finest preamp ARC ever produced [haven't heard the latest reference 3]and yes,it's in a whole higher leaugue than the sp-8. However,Scott was comparing preamps for under $1000. If you can find me another SP-10 for under a kilo buck I will buy every one you can find.