Audio Research LS25 MK II ??

Gmorris, have you compared the 25MkII to your 25MkI in your system?
I am using LS-25 right now and I'm thinking to upgrade sometime in 2007, so now I'm thinking what my next preamp should be. I'm not excluding 25MkII from the list of potential candidates.

Mcrheist, so what is the secret appropriate preamp replacement that you can't even mention here?

Statman, great looking system!!! I bet it sounds awesome.

I am always impressed when I see speakers like Wilson Audio Sophia used for the rear surround channels.

If I wanted Ref3 and had Sophias parked in the back of the room(even if they are used for surround channels I still consider them just being parked there), they'd be gone along with the LS-25....and that is a Ref3 right there....but it ain't mine system, so....I'll shut the hell up.
:)

doesn't the gain setting used depend more on the input impedance and sensitivity of the amplifier the preamp is driving?

Anyway, what I've found to be the case is this -
If the amp is sensitive, then low and medium gain is all that is needed. If the amp is less sensitive, the high gain will produce better results.
I use LS-25MkI with Pass Labs X250.5 on low gain if I want a bit softer sound, more tubey so to speak. And medium gain when I want some more dynamics and punch. High gain in my system does not produce desired results. It only limits volume range. I am running it all balanced and my amp is 22kohms input impedance, so I think that explains the gain settings I prefer. I had my preamp drive a Blue Circle BC202 amplifier that has 200k impedance. We had to use high gain for best results. Low and medium gain were pretty much not driving the amp properly.
I really like the adjustable gain feature. That is the reason I am reluctant to upgrade to some other preamp. Besides, I think the LS-25 even with EH tubes sounds great. If you pop the right set of NOS tubes in, it sounds even better.
I would think the MkII will be more resolving than original with better dynamics and bass definition though.

ALso, No_money, if you could, breifly comment on the differences between Ref2MkII vs LS-15. Appreciate it.