Buy an Audio Research SP10 MkII or an SP11 MkII ?


Help

I love that big image, valvey pre-amp sound but I don't know which pre-amp to choose ... an SP10 or SP11..... Quandry ! What do you think ... or should I be looking for something else .... help.

I have ...
Audio Research D115 MkII *2
Kinergetics SW800
CAL Tempest MkII
Oxford Crystal Reference Turntable with Airtangent and Koestsu Rosewood Signature

Have fun
growlar

Showing 1 response by jeffreygoggin2ca8

I'm the guy Jeffrey Behr referred to above and while it's been almost 20 years since I last heard an SP-10 (and 14 years since I heard the SP-11 Mk II I stashed in boxes back in 1991), having read this thread, I'll offer one more suggestion: If your amp is sensitive enough and your phono cartridge has enough output and you don't load it down too far, you just may be able to get away with using only the phono stage of the SP-11.

I was able to do this with HP's reference system back when I worked at TAS as well as my own system (just remember to invert phase at the speakers to make it an equal comparison) and if my memory serves me correctly, the stripped-down, "hot rod" version of the SP-11 was clearly preferred to the SP-10 that sat alongside it by pretty much everyone who heard the comparison.

YMMV, of course, but if you find a good deal on an SP-11 -- and come to think of it, mine might well be for sale -- it's an alternative you may wish to consider.