Anybody familiar with both Aesthetix and Audio Research?

I have used a Audio Research REF 5SE preamp with Pass x350 amp for many years… wonderful combo, until I tried an Audio Research Amp… holy cow… that was so much better… more musical and natural. Now I have a ARC REF 6SE preamp and a REF 160s amp… actually at the moment I am auditioning REF 160m monoblocks. Overwhelmingly musical.

Extensive experience w both storied firms with well deserved reputation for excellent engineering, sonics, support and typically some level of upgrade path without scrapping / selling the whole box. As others have stated, they each have strength, in image depth and air, i would give nod to ARC, bass drive, nuance to Aesthetix. In my system the ARC Ref5se is also quieter and more detailed. I do have an Aesthetix Pandora Sig feeding the ARC. At the level you are at tube rolling and isolation will both improve image depth, I use HRS, but there are other brands that yield similar results. Best wishes in your journey.

Jim

Pass with Pass makes the most sense. The 6SE may be better in

some ways but is it as synergistic?

I had an XA25 and it created a 6' deep soundstage with no

preamp at all. 

I wonder though if you enjoy 'large orchestral forces' does the XA25

have the juice to produce? Maybe with highly sensitive speakers

in a smaller room but otherwise it seems unlikely.

I am an Aesthetix lover and currently own the Mimas Integrated amp. I owned the Aesthetix Calypso for many years with Quicksilver tube monoblocks and it was a great combination. When I switched to a Pass 250.5 the Calypso did not work well with it. After listening to many preamps I landed on an Audio Research Ref 3. It was a major improvement over the Calypso with the Pass amplifier. A Pass preamp was also really good with it but I slightly preferred the Ref 3 and got a great deal on it. YMMV. Good Luck.

It sounds like the Calypso is a great preamp. I own a ARC REF 6SE, of which I can attest to being a world class preamp. Detailed, excellent imaging, midrange bloom, quiet, and great bass. I have owned ARC phono stages and preamps for a couple decades. The most amazing things happened as I added more ARC components… they are incredible synergistic and my system made a huge jump in sound quality each time. Now with all ARC components the sound exceeds what I thought possible. It has been a great 50 year journey.

You probably can’t go wrong with your choices here.

I recently sold my Aesthetix Calypso signature  which i liked very much, especially for the money, and purchased  a ARC ref 6se  and am extremely pleased with the switch. Obviously a difference in price, but very glad i did it. But the Calypso was very good.