If cost was no object, up to the Ref 6, the best sounding ARC linestage was the Ref 40th Anniversary, though it’s unclear if the Ref 6 would pip it overall.
On a budget, I’d pick up an SP-11 Mk2 any day of the week & get it modded/refurbed by a high end AE with topline Mundorf or Jupiter caps, upgraded internal wiring, matched cryo’d NOS tubes, a Furutech IEC, WBT rca connectors & use the spare change to buy a set of Stillpoints or Pro Audio Bono iso feet. My 2c.
On a budget, I’d pick up an SP-11 Mk2 any day of the week & get it modded/refurbed by a high end AE with topline Mundorf or Jupiter caps, upgraded internal wiring, matched cryo’d NOS tubes, a Furutech IEC, WBT rca connectors & use the spare change to buy a set of Stillpoints or Pro Audio Bono iso feet. My 2c.