Line Stage battle: ARC LS26 vs Aesthetix Calypso

Thanks for your comments Audphile, I am actually off in a different direction now. I have been blown away by the Cary SLP 05 tube pre! It just gets everything right. A pre-amp which sounds like a TRUE all tube pre-amp but without any of the typical trade offs like tube noise, lack of bass control, too warm/tubey (at one extreme), too dry & clinical (at the other), reliablity issues etc. Twin box design for low noise characteristics, fully balanced design, cool looking Mac-like meters & 8 exposed warm, glowing tubes to make your heart smile. And you have Cary's legendary back up service behind it. I know that ulitimately, hifi is about personal choice & what sounds good to YOU, but i've heard a number of people tell me this is one of the best pre-amps in the world & sounds better than the ARC Ref 3, that's a big statement. A'goner Rbirke's review from Feb '06 is a great read by the way, I am salivating over this baby!

You won't be wrong on Cary SLP-05, it is absolutely a remarkable pre. Tube rolling is fun, but the EH stock tubes are not bad at all.

I agree about the Cary, I tied the 05, but could not afford it bought the SLP-03 w/ 12au7 tubes tube rolled to NOS and have no regrets, a bargain for the money at 3K, I like the single box design, completly dual mono construction, dead quiet, works great w/ my Wyred4Sound monos

Congratulations on your SLP-03 Jtsnead! I agree, it's just a great pre-amp for the money with core design fundamentals filtered down from the 05. And rolled with NOS tubes, I can see why you're so happy with it! The main thing is system synergy of course & it sounds like you've got yours perfect and within your budget. My Audio Advisor talked me out of running tube monoblocks to drive the Ren's mid/highs as he felt that introduced a number of undesirable characteristics such as timing errors and distortion. The Benchmark Plexus power amps I am buying are very special amps, but it's the Cary pre-amp which is going to pull it all together & make my system shine! Come to think of it, no wonder i'm single; all I can think about is my next component, cable synergy, isolation feet, shakti stones.. Maybe i'll have to have a civil ceremony one day & marry my rig! Lol, i'd probably get a heap of gifts too from all of you A'goners!

Audphile, I thought you might be hanging in there to see if I came around to the ARC in the end, well after researching further (think RIDICULOUS hours on Audiogon and the net), it's clear from Audiophiles in the know that the ARC LS26 is the best all round pre for what I want to achieve in my system. Great quality, reliability, fully balanced, adjustable gain, incredibly accuracy, phenominal soundstage, lots of "air" around instruments, sparkling highs..yes, the Cary or even a CJ could give me more of a lush sound, but if I could transport myself back in time to 1993 and sit down for a coffee with Arnie Nudel and Cary Christie & talk about the Rens, I have a strong sense they would be talking up ARC because of it's natural synergy with Infinity. With the LS26, there is a perfect alignment of stars..