ARC Support

Hasse, I was aware of the LS16 MKII when I purchased the LS16 on the cheap. I got full factory warranty and much better price than any LS16's currently listed here on Audiogon. In fact, I paid only slightly more than many used LS15's.

I can't imagine the LS16 MKII being a huge improvement over the LS16 (but of course AR will have you believe it) so I feel I made a good purchase.

Great to hear that you´re happy with your purchase Abecollins. Did you compare the LS16 to any other preamps before you decided on the ARC? The LS16 (MKII) is on my shortlist but I had some trouble with a hissing noice when I tried it in my system.(McCormack DNA-1 dlx/ Maggie 3.6/R combo) Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

This ones for Abe and Hasse (& any one else who cares) The LS16 I had home to audition was embarrassingly noisy. I actually run a completely balanced system so I was hearing the '16 at its best. My favorite low-noise NOS 6DJ8 alternatives from Amperex, Tele-, and Siemens along with some ultra low noise selected Sovteks didn't seem to improve things much. I was not impressed. My previous pre, an LS2B was way quieter.

Hasse, just about every tube preamp I have listened to has a slight bit of hissing noise in the background but usually only noticeable if you place your ear up to a speaker. I noticed this with CJ PV-12, CJ PV-14, and AR LS16 but once I back away from the speakers its gone. I believe this is normal background hiss generated by the tubes. If its a real loud hissing sound, there might be something wrong. Otherwise I think its normal. My solid-state preamps had no hiss or noticeable background noise but done of them has that magic tube sound either.

In addition to the tube preamps listed above, I have owned Classe CP-45, Classe CP-35, and Adcom GFP-750 solid state preamps. As you can see, none of these are real "high-end" preamps although the AR LS16 is the most expensive (LIST).

Here's a brief summary of my findigs as they apply to my system.

CJ PV-14: Nice warm smooth midrange with good sound stage but slightly rolled off frequency extremes, top and bottom. I won't mention the CJ PV-12 because its been so long since I've owned one I barely remember what it sounds like.

AR LS16: Not as sweet in the mids and compared to the CJ PV-14, it barely sounds like a tube preamp. Good sound stage and air, much more neutral sounding, recovered some of the top and bottom end I felt I lost with the CJ PV-14 in my system.

Adcom GFP-750: Better than either of the Classe preamps I've owned. Doesn't sound at all like a tube preamp because its not a tube preamp. Compared to the AR LS16 it has very solid bass slam and extended highs, maybe just a little "bright" especially compared to the tube preamps and no midrange warmth at all, not quite the soundstage or the ability to separate the instruments like the AR LS16. I am still very impressed with the Adcom but I wanted more of a tube sound and even though the AR LS16 is fairly neutral, it still has some of that tube magic. For my system, it is currently my top choice but the modest Adcom GFP-750 is a keeper.

Main system components: Cary CD-306/200 192/24 CD player, AR LS16 pre, Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a tube amp, Thiel CS 1.5 speakers. I like the more neutral AR LS16 combined with my CJ Premier 11a for this setup.

I didn't notice any significant difference in the noise from the LS16 tube preamp vs CJ PV-12 and CJ PV-14 and like I said, its ONLY noticeable slightly if I put my ear right up to a speaker. I have not auditioned the LS2B or the LS25 both of which I would like to try someday.