ARC LS26/27 vs BAT VK31SE

I recently purchased an LS 26 for my bedroom system.  It replaced a Jolida Fusion and was a big improvement, more detail and dynamics and a very noticeable improvement in the bass region.  I've been wanting to swap it out with my Modwright LS 100 in my main system to see how it sounds there, but haven't had time to do so yet.  The LS 27 is supposed to be even better than the LS 27.  I would not describe the LS 26 as having an overly "tube-like" sound.  Soundstage is a little hard to describe as it's in a small room, but I get a sense of the music being kind of "everywhere" with the LS 26.

No experience with the BAT.

I've owned the LS26 and I agree with @big_greg in that it's not a "tubey" preamp.  It's very close to a good SS preamp with a hint of tube warmth.  In my experience I was able to get very similar results from a Levinson 326S.

Can't speak to the BAT or LS27.

Thanks for the information guys. Wondering whether it's worth it to switch to a ARC preamp. The LS 26/27 series is in my price range. 

Agree ARC preamps of today are more neutral than having a big tube sound of their past components. The latest ARC I’ve had in my system was a LS25 MKII, and it did nothing wrong and was very neutral but I found it cold compared to my previous ModWright preamp which I much preferred and moved up the ModWright chain. 

I’ve listened to the current ARC preamps at local dealership and they’re very good so I don’t think you can go wrong with them. Can’t speak for the BAT but they always review well and have a loyal following.

Since you already have the Ref 110 I’m sure the ARC would be a safe bet. If you had a SS amp I’d think about other preamps but again nothing wrong with them on SS amps; just depends on what sounds right to you. I know many feel the ModWright LS36.5 sounds as good as the former ARC Ref preamps at much less cost so you might want to read up on that model as well. As big_greg mentioned the MW LS 100 is very good and has more of a tube sound than the LS36.5, the LS36.5 is a little more refined but again it’s all what you’re looking for. Also the LS100 has XLR input and output but I believe it’s just a single end with the jacks as the LS36.5 is balanced.

 An ARC preamp seems like the logical choice. If I was going to have one ARC piece it would be a preamp. I have not heard the LS26. I spent a week or so with the LS27 when I was thinking of upgrading my LS25 mk2. I thought it was a sideways move. And in some ways preferred my LS25 mk2. I would look at one of the ARC Ref preamps, a Ref 3 or ultimately a Ref 5se.  The Ref 5se is in a completely different league than the LS27.  And the Ref 110 with the Ref 5se is a spectacular combination.

 I have not heard the ModWright 36.5. Most of their dealers are in the pacific northwest. I wouldn't mind hearing one. But with only one balanced input, it would not  be a good fit in my system.