Recapping an ARC LS-5 mkiii

@djohn It's interesting to hear of Scott Franklin's recommendation here.  I had the ARC SP-10 for 8 years before I switched to the LS5 II, and then the III some years later.

My final showdown with the SP-10 was the MFA Luminescence at a dealer in the mid 1980s.  I remember that session vividly.  The Lummi provided bass extension and authority but lacked much needed extension on the top.  The SP-10 did not at all have the bass authority or portrayed power in the lower mid, but the SP-10's dynamic contrasts were incredible.  The Lummi's strengths were the lower octaves, the SP-10's were in the upper octaves, but both lacked detail in the very top.  The Lummi was more laid back at the speakers with the SP-10 out into the room. I ultimately bought the SP-10, but the Lummi was special.

And then in the mid 90s, the final showdown for an update from the SP-10 was the LS5 II vs. the Sonic Frontiers SFL-2.  The differences were very much the same, and no surprise.....it was the same designers head to head again.  The LS5 did the 3D magic with greater ambiance, but it lacked the authoritative power of the SF.  Notice that I do not use the word, "better".  Both models improved from their older models in the previous shootout, but compromise was still high.  

All these years later, I felt that the forward presentation of the SP-10 and LS5 was not natural.  The ARC's forward presentation can be appealing and addicting, but after 15 years with the ARC products, once I heard a system with the sound back at the speakers and behind, and extended into the top octaves, there was no going back.  The 1980s Counterpoint SA-5 auditioned 10 years ago confirmed this.

Almost 30 years after the LS5's creation, so much refinement has come along where the compromises I have described above no longer need to be made.  If someone is willing to pay $2500ish for an LS5, and put another $1k into an update, there are just too many models available on the used market today at this price that offer a multitude of refinements.

Oh, and I used a Classic 60 loaned by a colleague for almost a year until I dropped in an ARC VT130 amp in the late 90s.  Wow, wow, wow, lovely.  Ahh, the good ol' days.

John

@jafox okay, now this is funny...because I have two differentially balanced preamps.

One is an LS-5 mkiii. The other is...wait for it...an SFL-2 that's been updated by Parts Connexion and had the coupling caps replaced by the previous owner with VCap ODAMs bypassed by CuTF VCaps.

Now, I did a very brief listening test in a terrible room, and I couldn't hear any immediate differences...the LS-5 has EH gold pin 6922 tubes from Upscale Audio and the SFL-2 has some so-so regular EH tubes of unknown provenance with two Reflektors.

Anywho, if you were going to recommend a preamp in the $3500, what would it be? I ask because I am seriously considering sending the LS-5 to Scott F. I've read some reviews that state the mkii had "unatural" mid range bloom that was "fixed" by the mkiii version...but, you know...don't believe anything that you read on the Internet.

I'm also considering replacing the Solen caps in the power supply of the SFL-2 because I'm a tweaker and I can't leave well enough alone LOL

@atlvalet - It’s a small world indeed.

If you are using EH, Soviet, JJ, etc., tubes in your LS5, you have yet to hear its true potential. Do an internet search for the Tube dealer, Brent Jesse. He has given me sound advice on suggestions for several of my tube components over the years.

When I ran with the Aesthetix Callisto & Io models 15 years ago, a mix of Mullard, Telefunken, Amperex and RCA tubes made their way through these as I tried different pairs at each gain stage. Gutting out those horrid Sovtek’s was a major refinement.

I too am a tweaker.  I am a diehard tube roller as my many threads over the years can confirm.  And I recently fully rebuilt the massive crossover boards in a pair of Duntech Sovereigns.  That capacitor review page and other A'gon threads on Resistors steered me into the right directions.

John

Oh, I forgot to answer your question.  My consideration/audition list would include:

1. BAT VK51SE
2. BAT VK52SE
3. Cary SLP-05
4. Vac Renaissance Signature
5. CAT SL-1 (Many variations)
6. CJ Premier 16

@jafox - Absolutely Loved your writings and Thank You! for showing up to the Party.

I was also dead chuffed that you put up with the Classic 60 for a Year. My Classic 60 is very unique since Scott Frankland installed 2 Test Ports on Each Side, and 2 Bias Pots on each side of the Back Deck. I can Bias the Amp myself now with a Voltmeter since I was so sick and tired of lugging the Amp down to Scott's Shop.

I will certainly look at your consideration/audition List for the Pre's in the next little while. I did look at the ARC VT130 Amp that you mentioned and it will not work for me. I am also facing constraints with my Rack which I will not get rid of. When I look at potential replacements I also need to look at the visual & operational aspects, Width, Depth, and Height.

For my Amp replacement in the ARC Line, I love the Looks of the REF75SE but the constraint there is the Tubes. It is a Bigger Unit but it would work especially with the aspect of Biasing it from the Front which is a huge plus.

@atlvalet - I would suggest that if you are considering sending your LS5 to Scott Frankland that you ask Scott his Schedule to do the work. I had to reserve a spot and wait 3 Months. Just saying.

jafox " Nailed It " on the Tubes and also the Vendor to approach. When I switched from the Russian Tubes in the LS5 to these which were sourced from Brent Jessee if was like the LS5 " Woke Up ".

LS5 loves these;