DPS

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is soooooo funny. After searching high and low to find a decently priced tube pre amp to match two brand new Nad C272's, I finally settled on a fourteen year old mint condition LS7 that I paid $1000.00 dollars for from a Canadian on line used hi fi site. After auditioning at least six or seven current models starting at three times the price of the LS7 I decided to buy the LS7 based on my knowledge of it's sound and ARC. I figured if the LS7 didn't cut it I'd resell it. Guess what I'm keeping it. Some time ago I decided to quit spending stupid amounts of money for very little gain ( thus the system of "value" high end products).
If you can still find one , it won't take long to realize ARC built these to last and were way ahead of their time when these were produced.
System
ARC LS7 pre amp
Nad C272 amps x2 (mono)
Cambridge Audio 840c CD
Magnaplanar MMG
Mye Sound MMG stands
PNF Audio cables

Price Paid:  $600.00 from ebay

Summary:
Thought I'd take a chance with Audio Research since I was so disappointed with other preamps I had tried. The LS7 looked good at $600. Well, I was not impressed from the very start. The was sound was thick and veiled, with ponderous and slow bass to boot. Remembering that with tubed preamps it's not the chassis, circuit board, or the resistors and capicators that make the amplification but rather the tubes, I pitched the Sovtek 6922's (all four of them) and waited until ebay had some premium tubes for sale. After a few painfully long weeks, I finally won some white label Amperex USA made 6922's. To say they made a major improvement is an understatement. The Amperex's made the preamp sing. I can now hear the vocalists breathe before each word sung. The bells, violins, and cellos are in my living room. Bass is quick and immediate. The ugly ducking grew into a swan. This is a superb preamp. Feed it the best tubes money can buy. It deserves the best. (Amperex 6922's go for about $50 a piece (used) on ebay--and worth every penny. Don't even thing about buying a LS-7 without feeding it some good tubes for about $200. The LS7 is a keeper.

Similar Products Used:
McCormack MLD and RLD-1, Adcom 750, and Placette Passive

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Eleksys audio

Summary:
Bought the LS7 in 95'. Upgraded from Adcom 565. Amazing transformation of sound. You know the old saying "you dont know What your missing till you try it" Well the electronic haze and grain was gone, the music bloomed, sound stage, more bass,better imaging the music flowed. I am using a B&K EX442 amp, and Polk Monitor 10B speakers, on sand filled and spiked standesign stands. Plus I like the combo of s.s. and tubes, best of both worlds. Upgrading the Polks to B&W 802's Should get them in a week Cant wait . Digital is an EAD T-7000 transport w/ aDSP 7000 AQ Ruby between the pre and amp.

Strengths:
Sound staging Air ,detail.Bloom

Weaknesses:
Non detatchable cord. no tone or balance Dont need em anyway A/B with LS-2. LS2 slightly better. Longer decay on music tonally similar.

Similar Products Used:
Adcom gfp 565

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I first heard the LS 7 matched up with the Audio Research VT 60 power amp. Together, these two pieces created one of the most musical and satisfying presentations of recorded sound that I have ever heard. The soundstaging was amazing with a wonderful bloom around vocals. It was simply liquid and beautiful. Unfortunately, my speakers are not sensitive enough for the 50 watt VT 60. I decided to go with a Conrad Johnson MF2300A power amp, and PV10A preamp. The sound was very good. The soundstage was very deep behind the speakers and came forward to the speakers. After listening to this for a couple of months, I tried using the LS-7 instead of the CJ pre. There was a lot to be heard! The LS-7 has more bass, not overblown by any means, but dynamic and amazingly rhythmic. The soundstage moved forward to be in between the speakers with the 3D stage in front and to the sides of the speakers. The LS-7 is also VERY quiet and very detailed in comparison to the CJ. In the end, the CJ was better at soundstaging, but I prefer the detailed and dynamic presentation of the LS-7. With the VT 60, the LS-7 would win on soundstaging as well. With the prices these preamps are going for (about 550-700), I can not think of a better introduction to high end sound. The tubes last a long time and warmup time on both preamps of just 90 seconds. If you prefer lush 3D soundstaging or need to tame some solid state gear, go for the CJ PV10A. If you go for dynamics, rhythm and deep bass, go for the ARC LS-7. Either way you will be getting a great preamp. If you don''t like the sound, they both hold their value well and can be resold without a loss.

Strengths:
Detailed rhythmic presentation.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Conrad Johnson PV10A.

Summary:
I bought it because it found a mint used one at very good price. It matches well with Classic30. I replaced the output capacitors(Rel Cap) with Infini caps. The midrange improved considerably. I highly recommend the LS7 owners to replace the equipped caps with better cap like MIT, Hovland, or Infini caps. Recent Audio Research's gears are priced way too high because of the balanced circuit topology. This is a single-ended only gear and it's good enough. I own subjectively better sounding preamplifiers and they are much more expensive. This is one of the best valued gear I've ever experienced.

Strengths:
Excellent Soundstage, dynamic. Very good value for used unit.

Weaknesses:
Tonal balance is on dry side. Taking very long to warm up.

Similar Products Used:
Audio Research LS2B MkII