Price Paid:  $1400.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I was just browsing at some of the reviews and noticed this review for my SP11 mkII.
After reading thru all the posts (5), I couldn't agree more with other evaluations of this great preamp. I've tried the Cary SLP-98p (which is a fine amp in its own rite), the CAT, Joule Electra LA-100 MkIII, and a couple of older preamps, and NONE compare to the SP11's linestage and phonstage.

Strengths:
Superaltive soundstage, quick response, non tubey sound yet tubey, 5 cartridge matching positions, etc., etc.

Weaknesses:
1 hour minimum warm up time. Sonics get better the longer the preamp is powered up.

Similar Products Used:
Cary SLP-98p, CAT, Joule Electra LA100 MkIII, many older preamps.

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from Used

Summary:
Man, I hate to be piling on top of all these reviews with another one of the same. However, given its performance, I simply cannot disagree. After having chances to many state of the art preamps (Boulder, Cello, Burmeister, Levinson, CAT, Marantz 7C, Counterpoint, ARC SP-10 MK2, ARC SP-8 MK2, ARC Ref 2, etc.), I still love this bad boy and would not trade it for anything else. Be sure to find a MK2 version and hang on to it!! I think a pristine condition one for $2500 or so is well worth it.

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
WOW I am Shocked,super pleased,audio heaven.The ARC SP-11 has got to be one of the best devices to bring a system into synergy Period. Before I got the SP-11 I was endlessly chasing the sound I was looking for,when the SP-11 got here it not only met that sound it blew way past what I needed in Hi Fi. I had a sonic frontiers line 1 before and boy was I missing the boat,The SP-11 is a wonderful piece of gear that I feel privliged to own if you have a chance to get one do not hesitate,don''t even think about it,you won''t even miss the remote.

Strengths:
The Sound is by far the strength of this unit and I love the seperate gain and level control for volume it allows you to play very low volume with almost all the richness and bloom and shimmer that I would only get at a fairly high level of power,No More.

Weaknesses:
Very few people are willing to sell thier beloved SP-11

Similar Products Used:
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 ARC VT-200

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from (Internet)

Summary:
The SP 11 is a real bargain in a used "tube" preamplfier. I only miss the balanced in- and output, which I prefer.

The sound of the preamp is very accurate, and detailed in its sound reproduction. I haven't heard before a "room" like this. The soundstage is breathtaking. It is incredible how much music I was losing to hear in the past.

I can't give information about the phono stage because I use only CDs. But believe me, the AR sounds also with digital-equipment wonderful to my ears - mated with a transistor amplifier.

If you ever have the chance to go audition one used do it.

Strengths:
Wonderful sound quality, accurate, detailed with a big room.

Weaknesses:
No balanced in- and outputs.

Similar Products Used:
Counterpoint SA-3000. Threshold T2.

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from classified

Summary:
This is one of the all time king of the hill preamp. If you're willing to spend over $10,000 for the ARC reference two then you should really listen to this SP-11 MK II.

Many listeners don't realize the potential of this preamp with different mix of the 6922 tubes ( NOS ) and the different flavor of amps ( solid state or tube .)

I tried it with many setups and my conclusion for this preamp is: excellent pair with tube amps and Jeff Rowland solid state amps.

Okay, why do listeners rate this very high?
I've listened to so many different systems with so many speakers and I always found that SP-11 produce very clean and neutral sound. I then replaced the Sovitek tubes with the amperex and I found a much more dramatic result. The change made the system sound even more dynamic with a good punch. The mids and bass came out alive with the amperex tubes. For the money, you can't find anything that came close to sp-11. Since I don't have a balance system, this is the best value single-ended preamp money can buy and you will not need to look any further. Just spend your money on your music and enjoy the sounds of heaven. The most important thing is to have the right match of your amp and preamp.

preamp: Audio Research SP-11 MK II
pwr amp: McIntosh MC240
interconnect: Audio Note VZ
NBS King Serpent II
Speaker wire: NBS Master
Speaker: ATC SCM 10 with Targent stand
CD player: Marantz CD 67-II SE
Turntable: EMT 930-ST

Strengths:
transparent, airy, acutate sound stage, responsive, detailed, neutral

Weaknesses:
too much trouble switching tubes for different sound.

Similar Products Used:
MFA, ARC SP-10 MKII, Cello, B&K, sonic frontier SFL-2