Pream question


A few days ago I got Audio Research LS-5 MKII for testing. The sound seems good for me so I decided to buy it. But right now there are two more preamps in the same price range at our local market: Audio Research LS-25 MKII and Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE. All have quite positive feedbacks... What will be the best choice among these three?

My current system is: B&W Matrix 803 S2, Luxman Da-06 DAC and Luxman M600-A amp.
alex_bolotnikov
I think you'll be very happy with it. It sounds great and the build quality is outstanding.
I was able to listen to VK-51SE and I wasn't impressed at all... The sound was absolutely dead and flat. Could it be because of the dying tubes? I'll try to persuade the seller to give it to me for a few days for the tests with my system. But right now LS-5 MKII sound really much better...
You won't hear the 51SE at its best unless you spend the "big dough" and get some NOS "DR" 6H30 tubes (talk to BAT). I tried some new production tubes which gave dreadful sound (and died within three months).
Nobody said the high-end is easy...
Can anyone tell me what caps should I use for 51SE as a replacement? Is it 0.1uf 400v or 1uf 400v by Jensen?