Audio Research LS-16 Mk2 vs LS-17 preamp

A friend of mine bought the 16MK II and I tried it for a week in my system. He didn't like it either even with his ARC amp. He sold it. Why would I be so adamant about my dislike of this linestage without reason. There are many less expensive linestages that sound much better. I tried three different linestages at the same time and the 16 was by far the worst.

I don't think that Audio Research would be the well respected company that they are, (or even still in business) if they produced gear that sounded the way you describe...I'm sorry you can't hear.

One man's meat is another man's poison. I have owned the LS16Mk1 and find it to be a decent piece, not spectacular. It does sound superior to four other line stages that I have owned, but then these line stages are just crap in comparison.

Seems like I'm the one that can hear Mofi. I just don't let perception cloud my conclusions. Just because ARC makes quality components does not mean everything they make sounds good.

Rwwear, just because a LS-16mkII sounds bad in one system doesn't mean it will sound bad in any other systems!
You take one experience and base your opinion on that and call it unbiased? Are you kidding me?
As mofimadness indicated, you would do well to read all of the good and positive reviews that have been written about the LS-16(audioreview.com,10audio.com,ciao.co.uk,youngblood systems.com to name a few)then you might figure out who can hear and who can't.