Audio Research PH-3SE in Excellent Condition!

We all move on in the quest for our own personal ideal music system, and in doing so it is time for me to sell my Audio Research pre-amps. This listing is for the PH3SE Phono Amp; it's partnering LS16 Line Stage is also listed. This was the last of Audio Research's affordable phono stages to feature the classic look of toggle switches in the middle of the faceplate and the 6922 tube. It was also the last phono stage to have the full input of ARC founder and chief circuit designer Bill Johnson. He used his favorite small-signal tube, the 6922, to provide 54dB of gain, enough for all but the very lowest and highest output phono cartridges available. I have settled on a very high output (5mV!) cartridge for my remaining years (I'm old), and it needs an amp with less gain or I'd keep it. The 6922 tube allows you to fine-tune the phono amp to your system; need a little more this-or-that? Swap tubes!

The PH3 has taken on the status of being one of the ARC classics, much as the SP-3, SP-6b, and SP-10 before it. I owned both an SP-3 and SP-6b, and the PH3 is by far the best phono amp of the three. I could never afford an SP-10, and now would not care to have a pre-amp with as many tubes as it has! This PH3 is the SE version, with upgraded parts, chassis damping, and other assorted tweaks added to the basic PH3 circuit in the interest of making the best phono stage ARC knew how to at the time of it's introduction. It is still an excellent sounding phono amp, fully competitive with any other anywhere near it's selling price.

This PH3SE is in outstanding condition, very clean save for one nick in the bottom edge of the faceplate, just outside the right hand rack mount handle. Barely noticeable, but it's there. Other than that, it could be considered Near Mint. It's clean!

The amp comes with it's owners manual, bag of loading resistors, and power cord, and will ship in it's ARC double-box carton to any Continental U.S.A. destination for $50. I can accept Paypal (with 3% added for their fee, sorry) or a USPS money order.

UPDATE! Sorry, the LS16 sold in about two hours, and has already shipped to it's new owner. Don't wait too long on this PH3SE, or it will be gone too!