I am very familiar with the ARC. The Cal has a the soundstage width and depth of a good tube pre-amp. But it falls short in that is it antiseptic in its presentation. Not quite that tube sound and naturalness of vocals.But it images with the best. I have some old R&B recording from the 60's, Aretha Franklin. It does a hell of a job as good as a tube pre-amp at conveying the space and the sound of the actual recording with notes gradually expanding into the room. You get that feeling that you are looking back at the event, like with a good tube pre-amp. The Cal unit takes a giant step in the direction of a great two channel pre-amp. It is not a good as the best 2 channel only tube pre-amps though. Still if you are a music lover and want one system, this is the best that I have heard. The other manufacuters are way behind in 2 channel. How far was only evident after I had owned this unit for a few months and allowed it to break-in. You can probabely get 90% of the quality of a good 2 channel pre-amp with the CAl. Take a look at the Soundstage feature on CAl audio. Do my eyes decieve me, or it that an ARC pre-amp in the wharehouse?! I'd rate the other surround processors that I have heard, as giving you about 80% of one despite all of the advertising which you have you believe otherwise.
