Opinions on Audio Research LS17 & LS26

I just broke in my Audio Research LS17 and it is amazingly good. I have had many so called reference preamps in my system but this unit is truely light years ahead of any preamp I have heard. These incude BAT, Cary, Audible and Mcintosh, Calypso (all tube units).Please do yourself a favor and seek this unit our (one with at least 200 hours on it) and listen. It is all about the music and it is the closest preamp I have heard to not having one at all and going directly into my amp from the CD player. It disappears and throws a stage like you have to experience. Micro detail, decay and imaging stage is incredible! I have no idea why this unit is not receiving glorious press or reviews not that they mean much these days. Our so called press is the best money can buy.

Well you must have a very unique system I can't fathom how an LS 17 can best a Calypso.

It doesn't depart any signature of its own. I am not saying that the Calypso is less of a product but this is (LS17) truly wire with gain. I always advocate that you must try everything with your own system before passing your thoughts along. Yes I have what I feel is a great system. If you have a Calypso try this unit. You may or may not agree with with me. But I am still stoked over the sound I currently have.

Has anyone tried to further improve the LS26? How about replacing the original ARC tube to NOS 6H30p DR ?

I did. The difference is big but the 6H30p DR in the LS26 will not please to every one. All depends on your other components. For a short story, if you feel there is some «slack» in your sound (specialy in the bass), the DR is for you. If you like the bass and the highs you already have, don't do it. The DR will tight the bass area and it's not a subtle move. The high frequency area is also tightened and you'll some times get the impression that something there is missing.

But like every tuning move you make, there will be a lot of recordings that you will like much better and others that will make you miss your previous setting. But all of them will be significantly different.

Generaly speaking, on symphony orchestra recordings, both tubes are good; for chamber classical music the DR is better because of its superior focus and tone contrast (amazing!); while small jazz band, I prefer the original Sovtech tubes for a more «live after midnight» sound effect.