Aragon 8008bb/Mk. 2


Any thoughts on this amp and how it might compare to current designs.  Strengths and weakness.  Pre amp and cable recommendations.    

Thank you.
adiorio
Thank you for the follow up.  I have heard good things about Clear Day and WyWires as well.  I have owned AQ in the past, but I think AZ offers allot of performance for the money.  My pre amp will probably be an Audio Research although the JC 2 Halo pre amp is very good too.  Have you had any luck with power cords?  I have had both JPS and Shunyata.  
I use Kimber PK10 Golds and WyWires Silver PC's. The Kimber's are really good but the WyWires are more open. WyWires has really won we over. I have a pair of WyWires Silver speaker cables with Silver jumpers on the way; should have them any day. 

As far as other PC's go I've listened to the PS Audio's, Shunyatas, Synergistics, WireWorlds and Audio Quest in the $600 and less cords and the Kimber's were better IMO, and the WyWires is even better. Both are very good. The Kimber is very neutral, and just gets out of the way. At first it seems laid back compared to others but it's not; it just gets out of the way. The WyWires does the same, but has a little more size to the stage but what it offers over the Kimber is it has depth and a little more air... it just breathes a little more. I have not heard the JPS's but the Shunyatas didn't do much for me; maybe their pricier offering are much better.

What ARC preamp are you considering?
I'm thinking about a LS 17SE pre amp with the A21.  I hear that the Kimber power cords are very good for the money  Pretty neutral.  In order to really get top performance from Shunyata you have to buy the Alpha series and up.  I have not heard power cords from the other brands mentioned.     
The LS17SE is a very nice preamp. If you're looking at a new Parasound A21 I'd suggest an older Pass X250 for about the same price. The A21 is a really nice amp but it doesn't compete with the Pass. No doubt the LS17SE and A21 will mate well but the LS17SE is such a better preamp. Reno HiFi doesn't show much of the older Pass they have on hand on their site. I'd check with them to see what they have before you make a decision. The LS17SE will definitely bring out the best the A21 has to offer. Definitely use balanced cables if that's what you end up with. 


Sounds good.  The LS 17SE is indeed a great piece.  Some would say the LS 27 is a bit better but mot that much for the extra money. I agree balanced is the way to would go for ARC.  I noticed Music Direct is offering AQ Colorado interconnects for half off brand new.  Are you familiar with these?