What's a contender to an Audio Reference 5 SE?

Bo1972
we are in golden age of quality and choice..never have we had such great selection of caps, res, transformers, wire, etc in components and a wide variety of price points. REF 5 SE blows away my SP-6 of old..
you might be right about the kids and ten years out..but this is good RIGHT now.

Good is often based on a persons frame of Reference.

@timztunz, I was just suggesting that yes, to a point it is worthwhile adding a very good tube preamp. But there is no point throwing a $20k tube linestage at your Plinius amp as imho there are better integrated amps such as the ones I mentioned. I own a Vitus SIA-025 and came from Boulder 1000 series amps as my reference point.

If AR would be a stunning brand and would be able to show all the parts what makes highend unique and impressive it would be a different story.

The people who own AR will not be happy abouth the things I said. I can understand that.

But what would you prefer to hear? The truth or the things you would like to hear.

A name or brand does not garantee you anyything. But the best sound and quality by research and shootouts does. This is how we work.

Foccusing on the best possible instead of a brand.

I'm quite surprised no one mentioned Ayre preamps.