2. amps-preamps
  3. 139217-365

which Audio Research pre-amp?

I've pretty much narrowed down my next pre-amp purchase to an Audio Research 6 or GSPre.  Ultimately, this will be paired with an Ayre VX-R.  For the sake of marital harmony I need to spread the purchases out over a few years.  
Is the 6 that much better than the GSPre?  I like the idea of having an integrated phone section but I read that the 6 / Ref 2 SE combo. blew away the phono section of the GSPre.  I don't listen to vinyl that much.  My current phono pre-amp is a Pass Aleph Ono.  thanks.
russellrcncom
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,614 posts
 
@stlyde,

Congratulations on your recent purchase. You made a great decision to go with Ref6 over GSPre. My dealer told me that GSPre performance rivals the LS28. The REF6 is a definitive upgrade over GSPre or LS28. I went from LS28 / VT80 combo to REF6 / GS150. 

Once you’re settled with the new combo, I highly recommend to upgrade the stock Sovtek 6550WE Tube to SED 6550C Svetlana -C- / Russia Tube. This upgrade yielded tighter bass and more meat to the bones to overall soundstage. 

To my ears, 6550WE Tube had bass less defined and fat, YMMV. 
caphill
678 posts
 
Get the ARC Ref 10 linestage pre.
wjt3
205 posts
 
Ref 6 !!!!
team212
250 posts
 
Get an SP10 --if you can find one

Team212
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