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ARC or Jeff Rowland pre-amp?

I’m using Electrocompaniet EC-4.8 Pre-amp and AW-180 Mono-block power-amp about 5 to 6 years, I enjoy EC amp sound very much but recently want to try something new. I used listen to Mark Levinson No. 326S, Accuphase and several famous brands but they are not impressed me very much. Because I’m using Esoteric K-03X and Avalon Opus Ceramique speaker,  I know many Avalon speaker user are using JR and ARC pre-amp, and I heard a lot of good things about these amp , so I’m interest to give them a try, my target is ARC’s Ref 6 and JR’s Corus. Unfortunately I’m unable to compare them side by side at the same place because they have different distributor in my area.

 

I prefer natural, a little bit warm and sweat sound, not too fast but not slow, very good density and texture, good dynamic, wide soundstage, very high transparency and very good 3D dimension soundstage. I only listen to Jazz music, especially contemporary Jazz like Charlie Haden, Stan Getz, Bossa Nova, Pat Menthey, Enrico Pieranunzi…. which pre-amp you think is fit for my need?

 

Another important very thing is I will not change my EC AW-180 Mono-block power amp at this stage because no budget (And this power-amp drive My OPS Ceramique very well). So I need to know which pre-amp can work better with my power-amp?  THX!

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mmbl622
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,578 posts
 
Much Thanks! mmbl622
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I have the Esoteric K03 and was using an ayre preamp into my magtech amps (actually external digital crossover).  The ayer preamp was a low priced one so I wanted to move up.  I ended up going with the Jeff Rowland Criterion and COULD NOT be happier.  Jeff Rowland is a GENIUS and the battery power really takes his stuff to a different level.  ARC had tube rush and Jeff had uber solid ink black backgrounds, a soundstage you can drive a truck through and dynamics that will make grandma blush.    
mmbl622 OP
58 posts
 

Hi triode12


I’m in Hong Kong, unfortunately we can’t get the equipment from a dealer in here to test at my home. All I can do is ask them to find a power-amp, speaker and CDP which has similar character with my system. Beside ARC, the Ref 6 dealer is selling McIntosh and Accuphase products. I’m planning to ask them to use a SS McIntosh power-amp to test with the Ref 6. Because I think McIntosh’s sound neutral and warm, which has similar character with Electrocompaniet.

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soix
9,456 posts
 
It seems like you've balanced out more neutral speakers and source with warmer pre and amp and that it's working for you.  Given that you like a good 3D stage with silky smooth highs, transparency, and good tonal texture and density, the first thing that popped into my mind was VAC.  Not sure if you have access to that brand, but from what you describe adding a little tube magic to your system may push all your buttons in a big way.  I'd be concerned ARC may be a bit more neutral sounding than your current pre and could potentially shift the balance of your system in that direction, which may or may not be a good thing.  VAC, on the other hand, may more preserve the balance you currently have but potentially provide meaningful improvements the areas you indicated are important to you.  Not sure how VAC would compare to JR as I've not heard the latter in person, but I'd guess there may be some meaningful differences given one is solid state and the other tubed.  Just some thoughts and another potential option, and best of luck. 

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