2. amps-preamps
  3. 191553-20019

Preamp upgrade

Hi all. Looking for some Reva or just to be told that it likely doesn’t get much better. Current preamp audio research ls-7 which was an audiogon purchase 12 years ago 550.00. Upgrade consideration ARC ref 3, ARC GSPre, Elliott Studio Arts 66-001, aesthetix Janus, audible illusion 3b, etc. rest of the system is parasound Jc 5 amp. eat c-sharp TT, McIntosh MP100 phono pre bluenode streamer and vandersteen treo carbon ct. audio quest cables throughout. I am wondering if the preamp upgrade for thousands more will provide any real marginal gain. Looking forward to the chat

jelliott78
jelliott78's avatar
jelliott78 OP
39 posts
 

I would say my upstream and downstream components are quite good.I totally understand that there isn’t any plug and play options in reward tomorrow choices. However the question is there going to be reasonable gains for spending 6-12 times what I paid for the LS7. Define crush? Is that a 5 percent 10 percent gain crease for the money? 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,573 posts
 

I kept my Cary SLP98-F1 and sold my two AR preamps.

jelliott78's avatar
jelliott78 OP
39 posts
 

What AR preamps did you own? 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,344 posts
 

I’ve owned the 3a several times and always enjoyed my time with it. Not sure about the 3b, but if it has the same amount of gain, then you need to consider that. These are extremely high gain preamps with wide steps on the attenuators. Not a good match for amps that already have a lot of gain.

jelliott78's avatar
jelliott78 OP
39 posts
 

The gain on the Jc5 is 29 DB you can adjust the gain right and left as well. I put impedance is 66K balanced and 33K line. 

More to discover