Audio Research LS3 Preamplifiers
Audio Research LS3 Preamplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Nov 12, 1999]
David Schultz
Audiophile
Strength:
Good detail, fine soundstage, always musical.
Weakness:
Bass not quite as deep and full as it could be. Highs nice Available on the used market for $700 or so, the Audio Similar Products Used: NYAL Minuet, Joule LA100, VTL Ultimate |
[Nov 22, 1999]
Bob Sazz
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Dynamic musical and transparent This is one of the best value-for-money preamp anyone could get in the used-eqpt market. One of the most noticeable characteristic of the LS3 is that it gives rythm to the music. It sets my foot tapping and I greatly enjoyed the LS3 with the Sunfire amp; they were an awesome combination and I could just feel the power oozing out from them. Similar Products Used: LS9 |
[Mar 14, 2001]
Pete Denham
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Clarity,
Weakness:
Captive mains lead. Industrial looks. Compared to the LS8 there isn't any comparison, no mucking about with valves, altering this aspect and that aspect of the sound. ( take a look at the LS8 reviews to see what I mean! ) The sound we want is totally subjective, the gear we use must be able to play the type of music we like to hear as we want to hear it, so what I have to say could well be utter rubbish to another listeners ears. Similar Products Used: A.R.C. LS8. Counterpoint. |
[Feb 07, 2001]
JACK1 MAC
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
TUBEY CLASS A SOUND BEST SOLID STATE ARC MADE.
Weakness:
NO TUBESBANG FOR THE BUCK CAN'T BE MATCHED BANG FOR THE BUCK, CAN'T BE MATCHED .SMOOTHER AND MORE DETAILED THAN THE LS 7,BEATS PRE -AMPS COSTING TWICE THE PRICE.I AGREE WITH STEREOPHILE'S CLASS A RATING.FOR THE PERSON COMMENTING ABOUT THE POWER SWITCH,"IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LEFT ON STANDBY ALL THE TIME. IT'S NOT A TUBE DESIGN THAT YOU TURN ON AND OFF. SOLID STATE ALWAYS SOUNDS BETTER WHEN LEFT ON, IT GIVES THE CIRCUTS A CHANCE TO FULLY STABALIZE. MY LS 3 IS NEVER TURNED OFF.DOWN THE ROAD I HOPE TO REPLACE THIS PRE AMP WITH THE EXCELLANT SOUNDING LS 25, |
[Jan 22, 2001]
Santiago
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
clarity, neutrality, focus, big soundstage, dynamic
Weakness:
can't find any (at least at the time of review) I was surprised how much I missed in music until I hooked up this equipment. |
[Mar 21, 1999]
Gary Okada
an Audiophile
I should have checked the reviews here before I bought. I paid $699 for mine, which has no remote option, and this is a year after the review which gave the $800-$1000 range, dependent upon the presence of the remote option. But on to the positives, which are many, superlative, and unanimous for the rest of this review. The LS-3 has a remarkable soundstage. Incredibly wide, very deep, incredibly detailed...the listener is transported to the performance venue that the sound engineer intended to portray. In a system in which it is mated to a SMcAudio modified McCormack DNA-1 Revision Level A amplifier and a pair of personally modified Infinity RS-9A Kappa speakers, there is incredible resolution. Every change in speaker cable and interconnect, good, bad, or tie, is heard as pronounced changes. Even the difference between a 1M pair of AudioTruth Diamond x2 interconnects when compared to a .5M pair of the same AudioTruth Diamond x2 interconnects is definite, however neglible the difference may be. And, like the reviewer who described rainbows of change, I notice pronounced changes in sound with 1/4" (0.25 inch) changes in speaker position. The difference is like hearing the same band on a different night when the coffee shop decided to accomodate a larger audience by moving some semi-permanent structures. I won't tell you about putting quarters on the speakers and components, because I'm not going to glue the darn things on at the optimal locations. The LS-3 has slam in the deep end and is quick and tight there as well. I hadn't realized the extent of the veiling that my former preamp, the McCormack ALD-1, in passive, direct mode was imposing upon my system in that area. I had always known that it was smearing the highs to some extent. But let's be fair here. The difference in the bottom end, especially, could be due to the low output of the DAC, the Muse Model 2 with the Bessel Analog Reconstruction Filter option. Comparing a passive preamp with an active one in this case can be unfair, even if the 1 volt outpupt should be more than enough for the remarkable ALD-1 Revision Level A. And I really hadn't noticed much of a lack in the bass region. Who knows? I've been really busy since the time that I added the LS-3 to my system. Perhaps I'll go to a live concert and wonder why there isn't enough bass! Until then, I will be happy with the image of a trumpeteer swinging his head with the music, getting different reverberant signatures from the room from his spot way over there...well, what would be way over there if the wall of the room were not there and if I really WAS listening in the performance venue while the Buena Vista Social Club was performing... |
[Jul 14, 2000]
Rich
Audiophile
Strength:
Everything including build quality
Weakness:
None I found this used gem at a local hi-fi shop about 2 weeks ago and this is exactly what I was looking for in a preamp. I didn't realize how much I was missing in music until I put this preamp in my system. I am sure there are better preamps out there but you would have to spend quite a bit more money to get an appreciable improvement. This can be had on the used market for the price of a mid-fi preamp which makes it a downright bargain. Very dynamic, clean and clear sound overall and the build quality is excellent. Five stars. Similar Products Used: Carver CT-3 |
[Dec 01, 2000]
DAN
Audiophile
Strength:
PRICE TO PERFORMANCE RATIO
Weakness:
COLORATION THIS IS WHAT I BOUGHT TO DRIVE MY MONO TUBE HEADS AND KEPT IT FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS. FOUND THAT ONLY THE "DIRECT" INPUT WAS SUITABLE FOR CRITICAL LISTENING. THE SOUND "COLOR" OF THIS PREAMP IS "DARK". DEFINATELY "UN-SWEET" SOUNDING. NOT THAT THAT'S ALL BAD, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY HAS A TONAL COLORATION. I USED KIMBER SILVER .5 METER CABLES SO IT WASN'T THE CABLES ADDING COLORATION. I WAS CONVINCED THAT I WAS HEARING EVERYTHING ON THE CD, THOUGH, ALBIET "DARK AND BROODING". I WAS HAPPY WITH IT UNTIL I DID AN A-B TEST AGAINST ANOTHER QUALITY PREAMP ON MY GEAR. |