Is Audio Research SP-6 considered a good model?

classic. in its day it was the consesnus best preamp.Not likely that it could compete with todays preamps. I think you should keep it un-modified. You have got a piece of audiophile history. Mate it with an ARC D79 and say a pair of quad esl 63 and entec subs.

Well it turns out that my amp is actually an SP-6A- I didn't realize that you had to check the back plate to see the exact model. I'm wondering though if I should give up on the Plinius yet,I've read that the PC makes a big difference. I'm using a Top Gun HCFi- it's so big that i can't plug it straight into the wall- maybe I should try another PC?

I use to own a SP-6A, SP-6B.ARC had other mods done on them with ARC SP-6C, 6E, i BELEIVE AS WELL.I had heard that a rare SP-6F was made which is actually a SP-8 in a SP-6 outer shell. The amps of the day that worked well with the SP-6 were the ARC D90B. I used a Hafler DH 200
Solid State Amp when I had the arc preamp, and a Ram Labs Head AMP for additional gain in the phono stage and all had it hooked up to Acoustat ELS SPEAKERS.Boy does that bring back memories.