Has anybody heard the new Audio Research LS 27?

But that IS the point isn't it.

There is no denying the ARC makes fine sounding products, but that does not mean one has to buy into their new model hype. Manufacturers are constantly improving, tweaking, modifying their products and many do it without declaring it a MkII or giving it a new model number. It is also important to remember that as low volume producers audiophile companies are frequently at the mercy of large suppliers. If suddenly a tube, capcitor, laser assembly, etc is no longer available, they may have to "upgrade" their model.

The following is a rant: we're talking about line stages! A few inputs, a source selector, volume control, outputs and a suitable power supply - there ain't that much technology to be constantly refined. Like I said, ARC makes fine products, but the fanboys (thank you Elizabeth) do like to hype it just a little bit.

Hi onhwy61
fanboy here, only because I've heard it. And I've heard it added to several systems that made the music making even more involved. Maybe if you had one in your system you wouldn't think it hype.

Just a quick question here..Onhwy61, Have you ever designed a solid state of tube line stage or the power supply that goes to that line stage?? I love how people dismiss what's involved in the design of a product.If you had never designed a piece of audio gear then you have no point of reference and your comments are without merit. So here's the deal, when you have sat down for hours at a time and listened to 10 different manufacturers resistors and capacitors in only one small part of the circuit and played the same song over and over again at 2am ( when the line voltage is stable and quiet) and do this for months at a time till you voice the product correctly, then you can come back and tell me it's easy. Audio manufacturers should be given props for continuing to work on their designs thereby advancing the audio state of the art.

I haves owned and enjoyed using an ARC preamp. I even recently considered buying one of their preamps because I think they sound that good. But is ARC really any better or more dedicated to great sound than Atmasphere, Lamm, CAT, or any number of manufacturers? I think not.

BTW, I'm capable of judging a musical performance without ever having been a symphony conductor. I can hold a valid opinion about our commander in chief without ever having been the President. And yes, I can judge the relative complexity of building a preamp compared to some other components. Just because you can't do something doesn't mean I can't.