Seriously? Why Buy ARC Ref 6SE? seems Benchmark LA4 is a better choice.

Yes, I understand about amps not part of the benchmark.

but, it remains totally unclear what is achieved within the arc 6se box. It’s a simple preamp.

There is value in a dac, in an amp, speakers and even an avr.  These are complex electronics devices with much going on inside.  I am getting more hard pressed to justify a $17k spend on a stereo preamp.  I would prefer to devote resources to a better main speaker with larger drivers. This follows an especially helpful discussion with a high end dealer who said it is very difficult discerning a diff between stereo preamps.  Much easier to pick out a diff in speakers.

it’s all marketing funny business.  If there truly were diffs there would be all kinds of efforts to have AB testing reviews and in store comparisons.  They don’t do this.

I have heard both, and apparently you have not.

Go listen and the answer will become clear, 

Do you know Julian Hirsch?

I would imagine you could hear differences between the ARC and Benchmark and it comes down to preference. I know I would prefer the Benchmark. I like transparent as possible and tossing tubes in the preamp just adds distortion.

Benchmark always sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me.  Why buy an expensive car when a cheap Fiat can do the same things?  You get what you pay for.   If you can’t figure out the difference, you are in the wrong hobby. 

I doubt they sound the same. Nor do they look the same. So there is that. Different strokes for different folks. I have an ARC preamp currently I am very fond of but would also like to try the Benchmark. They are both companies with very good reputations for delivering quality pieces of technology based on substantial R&D but with somewhat different goals in mind.