Audio Research LS7 or LS8, which is better?
Michael Tufts
I need Advice on the Audio Research LS8. I have the LS7 on loan to me from
the local dealer and I like it very much. I understand it will be
discontinued soon, is the LS8 the replacement for this. They seem to have
the same MSRP. I am wondering if I should hold out for the LS8 and pay full
price or just buy the LS7. The LS7 is a demo for about $1200.
My current system is as follows:
CAL Delta CD transport
MIT T3 digital interconnect
Adcom GDA 600 DAC
Audio by Van Alstine Super Pas 3i pre amp
Sonographe SA 150 power amp
Audio Quest type 4 speaker wire
Spica TC-60 speakers
Tubes seem to give me the sound I am looking for i.e.: warm mids, soft hi
freq., good sound stage and imaging.
The Spicas lack a little in dynamics so I don't want anything to worsen
this. Typically I'll listen to classical music and maybe some jazz, but
then
again I've been known to crank up Pink Floyd on occasion!
Thank You,
Mike
Rgvivace
>I need Advice on the Audio Research LS8. I have the LS7 on loan to me from the
local dealer and I like it very much. I understand it will be discontinued
soon, is the LS8 the replacement for this. They seem to have the same MSRP. I
am wondering if I should hold out for the LS8 and pay full price or just buy
the LS7. The LS7 is a demo for about $1200.
>My current system is as follows (some snips in quote):
>Audio by Van Alstine Super Pas 3i pre amp
>Sonographe SA 150 power amp
>Audio Quest type 4 speaker wire
>Spica TC-60 speakers
>
Tubes seem to give me the sound I am looking for i.e.: warm mids, soft hi
freq., good sound stage and imaging. The Spicas lack a little in dynamics so I
don't want anything to worsen this. Typically I'll listen to classical music
and maybe some jazz, but then again I've been known to crank up Pink Floyd on
occasion! Thank You,
Mike
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Mike,
Given your stated musical preferences, I'd suggest going with your -- or
another -- lower cost preamp option, or simply keeping your current preamp, and
adding a powered subwoofer to your system. I've heard the Spica's with and
without a sub (Velodyne, I believe, I don't know which model). Freeing the
Spica's of LF duties opens up their dynamics considerably and allows you to
place them for best imaging vs. best bottom end. This would also allow you to
run a good inexpensive tube power amp for the satellites without the negatives
of low-powered tube bass. I'm happy with my Golden Tube Audio SE-40 amp ($980
retail) and I'm sure there are other good inexpensive tube amps available.
Well-placed Spica's with a sub can give you awesome, near SOTA imaging, along
with smooth integration and good full-range dynamics at a real bargain price...
better, IMHO, than your proposed investment in a new pre-amp.
Have fun,
Rob Gold
Bichon37
Michael Tufts wrote:
>
> I need Advice on the Audio Research LS8. I have the LS7 on loan to me from
> the local dealer and I like it very much. I understand it will be
> discontinued soon, is the LS8 the replacement for this.
The LS-7 has been discontinued. I called ARC and they told me there are
no up dates for the LS-7 because the LS-8 is too different. One major
difference is the LS-8 is remote control. If you want the LS-7, I
suggest you get a used one, because they can be had for ~$800.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**************************************************************
Bruce A. Brown
Tacoma, WA 98409
mailto:Bich...@prodigy.net
"Outside of a dog a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." G. Marx