Tube Preamps...I'm sold

Tboooe,

Just curious what decision you made on a new preamp. I was really surprised to read that you were pursuing a preamp outside of the CP-700. That is one of the best preamps out there, can be had for significantly less than its $7000 MSRP, and surpasses any preamp I have heard in or near its range (tube or otherwise). I have had the opportunity to hear it in a system I am very familiar with, and it was a best in class. Bettered the new Audio Research LS26 (which is $6500 MSRP). Not even close in performance.

Please update on what you have auditioned, when you have the opportunity.
Thanks.

If you are going with ARC, you will need to move up to the REF 3 to supercede what you already own. If you are not hearing the differences between a CP-700 and something lesser in the ARC line, then there is something wrong with the synergy of the system (speakers, sources, cables, etc). The only ARC preamp that would give your Classe a run for its money, would be the ARC REF 3 preamp, and that would not be by much. In my opinion, definitely not a $3500 difference.

I know all of this equipment well, and would regret to see anyone make a mistake in an expensive upgrade option, even if they had money to burn. In my opinion, there is not a manufacturer that gives your CP-700 a run for its money other than the Einstein. Sometimes it takes a signficant financial investment to receive a true upgrade in system. Otherwise, it appears a unilateral move is being made.

Tboooe, regarding the newest ARC preamp line (LS17 and LS26) with the exception of the ARC REF 3, they are not "tube-like" at all. In fact, they sound very SS. Have you heard these in your system? The only one in their current line of preamps (LS17, LS26, REF 3) that sounds like "tubes" is the REF 3.

I state this as an enthusiaste of the LS26. I do not like the warm, syrupy, slow sound of tubes, so the LS26 is very much to my liking . But you state, "good tube preamps sound fundamentally different from good ss preamps. So while the Cp-700 is indeed a great preamp, it still does not give the sound that tubes do, which is what I am after." If you are after the sound of tubes, the ARC LS17 and LS26 are definitely not your remedy.

Be sure to demo in your system. And, if you think you are hearing tubes with the LS17 and LS26, I would state that it is the power of persuasion that is at work here. These sound more SS or at least equally as SS as the CP-700. Maybe you are just looking for a change of gear?

Best of luck. I really like the LS26 but my ultimate goal is to own the REF 3 unless ... (I'll leave it at that!)