Audio Research LS-5 Mk II preamp Black, good condition

*** SALE PENDING ***

Good condition used Audio Research LS5 Mk II preamp.

These very rarely come up for sale - they are considered by many to be one of the best preamps made by Audio Research. They are a full tube preamp, not a hybrid like many of their later models. They require 10 6922/e88cc/6dj8/e188cc tubes, 5 per channel. Fully balanced preamp with XLR inputs and outputs.

I happen to have 2 LS5 Mk II preamps, one of which is still my primary preamp in my main system (this is my final preamp I believe), along with many other preamps, and some of them have to go.

This preamp does not have the remote control option.

I have included 10 strong tubes, of the same type supplied by Audio Research with all their equipment (russian e88cc equivalent tubes, which are very reliable). However, almost all ARC equipment responds very favorably to 'tube rolling', and the sound, while already fantastic, can be improved to a new level by using vintage tubes. Because of this, I actually prefer this preamp to almost all their newer preamps. I used to own an SP8, and I still own an SP6 (extensively modified) and an SP10, this is head and shoulders better than all of them as a line stage. At the current price, its a steal, especially compared to the SP 3/6/8 lineup, which are now trading for about the same money.

NOTE: While this is a fully balanced, pure tube design, it can be used single ended, using XLR to RCA adapters (pretty cheap here on ebay). In fact, this is how I use the LS5 Mk II. See the last picture. Using it this way gives (to my ears) a cleaner and more detailed sound than using the later ARC balanced preamp models that had RCA connectors as well, as those models use opamps to convert the signal to balanced at the input, and then again at the output to unbalance it, and this additional processing and insertion of silicone and sand in the signal path does not sound good or natural to me. To me, this is the pinnacle of ARC preamp engineering and sound.

If you want to use this preamp purely as single ended, you also don't need to upgrade all the tubes. 4 to 6 tubes can be omitted from the upgrade process. Ask me for details on this.

There are a few very minor scratches on the back of the faceplate - but overall, the condition would be a 7 or 8 out of 10.

It has never been repaired.

I have the manual, and an ARC double box from an LS5 Mk III, in which it will be shipped.

Please be prepared to pay immediately with paypal. I will only ship Fedex, insured.