Audio Research or Rogue

Replacing the AR9s may be the the best bang for your buck. Even though they are great speakers, speaker designs of today are much more open and will give you more of what tubes have to offer. Also, if you like the Dared and if it has an unsed input why not consider a seperate phono stage. The ARC PH5 mentioned above is an excellent choice. If at all possible though try to audition some Triangle or Talons speakers which sound very good with tubes. Finally, I use a TAD-150 signature for a tubed pre and was my choice over the Rogue which I also considered and I have been very pleased. It has a good phono stage and all the other dimensions of a good sounding tubed pre. The ARC phono stage however is in a different league. You have much to consider. Good luck.

Dan,

I heard mixed things about Rogue, but never listened to one myself, so I can't comment on that.

How's that a comment? I don't undertstand... Were you offended by what I said because you own that particular piece? If so, I appologize.

back on a subject now....another pre-amp to consider is Blue Circle.
Again, they don't come with built in phono section, but they do make a nice stand alone phono stage, which is pretty affordable, as is their basic pre-amp, BC-21.1
Although I never auditioned that particular pre(there is a review on it on 6moons.com), I did hear the BC3000 MkII and it is VERY good. All point-to-point wiring, superb built and great sound. Very spacious and holographic presentation. Superb resolution of micro and macro dynamics. Basically anything anyone would want from a pre-amp, IMO.

Lots of good press on Blue Circle. I'd recommend auditioning their pre-amps if you can.
They could be picked up used here on the 'gon for a reasonable price, unless you want new.

And personally, if I was going for a phono stage, I wouldn't look for a preamp with a built in one. I am a firm beleiver that stand alone phono stages are best.

Just a quick comment regarding the Audio Research LS25
LS stands for line stage, there is no phono pre built in.
I have own the LS25 it is a very good choice and currently own the ARC PH5 which is excellent

Dsremer, Sorry, I thought the LS25 has phono stage. My bad.
But what's the PHONO input on it for? Is it just a labled line level input?

First off, thanks for all the input, I really got the stuff I was looking for.

I would probably trade a little detail for more warmth.

Dared does have a pre with phono but, no remote control.

I am always sensative to price and will be looking for something on Audiogon. These are two units that seemed to fall into my price range in the used market.

The 9s are staying! Fortunately, I have been very effective in positioning for spacial affect and detail in a living room setting, and the tubes definitly took it to a new level. Even my wife, whom in her own words doesn't consider herself sophisticated with regard to audio, commented that the sound doesn't appear to becomming from the speakers. That made my week...

However, I have the same question as another. If the LS-16 MK2 doesn't have phono what is the phono input on the back? Is it for the external phono stage?