I have a Ca-50 that I keep as a "back-up" when I upgraded to a LS 16 & vt 100. I think it holds up very well sonically to the seperates combo. Only lacks finesse at frequency extremes, low bass not as authorative & highs not as spacious or delicate, yet no slouch in either dept. Used with Infinity prelude compositions (96db efficient)& later Infinity prelude mts (90 db), both powered woofer designs. Powered both adequately with no signs of distress. Overall sound is "modern", not vintage ARC sound, i.e.not "tubey" & somewhat solid state sounding only with a rounded & spacious imaging quality with depth. Defintely not sweet, lush or euphonic. Had a cary sli-30 (30 w/ch integrated)before the ca-50 that was sweeter, but smaller sounstage & not as good bass, but very good mid-band. If your partial to the modern ARC sound you can't go wrong @ the used prices I've seen lately on audiogon (sub $1500). Retubing can be expensive with ARC tubes & getting them adjusted right without ARC tubes can be a bear (getting the input & driver tubes voltage balanced properly (it will work, but would wear output tubes unevenly & limit maximum power))This can stress ones sanity if your unwilling to pay a dealer to do the work (ME!)
