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In Reply to: Any experience comp[aring ARC LS5 MKII with LS25? posted by MJL on April 2, 2007 at 21:53:13:
I have heard all variants of these preamps and directly compared the LS-5 III to the LS-25 I but it was almost a decade ago. My recollection is that I found the ML-5 III slightly sweeter and fuller in its presentation than LS-25 I without being too overtly tube-y. I also like the volume control better. The difference is not night and day, however, and if you are not running a fully balanced system I would opt for the LS-25 I. The LS-25 II is a different matter altogether with the 6H30 tubes - too dry for my tastes.
I think Bambi B actually owned one or both of these so you may get a better perspective from him. My listening was in the shop I worked at.I liked the LS-5 III the best of the LS-5 variants but that is not a universally held opinion.
Follow Ups:
Can you share with me the reason you think the LS5 MKIII is the best amoung the three versions? I understand the MKI has some noise issue and it use ten 12AT7 tubes, the MKII correct the MKI noise issue and use ten 6922 tubes and it's still remain as a all tube version. The MKIII has FET front end so it use only eight 6922 tubes.
I have experience on MKII but not MKIII, can you share your take on this?
As this was over a decade ago my memory may be fuzzy but I recall the LS-5 III as being slightly quieter, having tauter bass and slightly better resolution. You may be correct about the FET front end in the III but I was thinking the solid state elements were only in the power supply. The II, if my memory correct, is slightly more tube-y and some people prefer that.
Bambi B, if he's around, can probably provide a more cogent analysis.
After reading your reply, Now I am not so sure the additional two 6922 tubes in MKII are for front end or power supply. You could be right also.
I have the LS5MKIII -
1- tube rolling made a big difference
2- changing out to aftermarket PC helped.
2- GNSC reference mod made BIIIG difference for the better.Have no experience with LS 25. I believe some say the all tube 5MK II is better, but honestly, I am still happy with this preamp. At the time I also took home the REF 1 and this is how I describe what I heard: Turning the Ref up, the sound grew louder. Turning the 5MKIII up the sound got BIGGER and louder.
It's dead quiet, nicely dynamic with good imaging. Switched from ARC VT100MKII to NuForce 9SEs and finally found even more dynamics I sought. (Also dead quiet, no artifacts. Tremendous tight bass, sweet highs, present mids.) I really think I have the best of both worlds.
I'd love to put mine up against the REF 3 but I also wish I had $10k to buy it if I liked it.
I need a windfall.
I've never heard either an LS-5 or LS-25 with anything but the stock tubes and cord but I'm very willing to believe that changes could help considerably. I have not had a chance to listen to the new ARC series but everyone I've talked to, including many people who quite dissatisfied with the interim products, feel that they have finally worked out how to use the 6H30 tubes.
Everyone I've spoken with who had GNSC mod their Wadia or ARC component was very satisfied with the sonic results.
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