I started playing with this stuff in 1958 when I was 13. I converted the brand new "box" record player my folks bought me to stereo. The rest as they say - is history.
I bought an ARC SP-3 tube preamp in the early 70s but continued to "roll" components for a few years. I stayed with various models of the ARC SP-3 tube preamp from the early 70s until about 2000. I retired then and wanted to upgrade my system from the mid 70s to the late 80s or later. It was a great learning experience for me as were the years before 1974. I liked the SP-8 Rev 7, but it took me months and $$$$ to get it tubed for my likes - and even then there was just "this something" I couldn't get use to - but I kept trying.
Moving on to the amp - in December 2002 after listening to a few amps fell in love with the sound of the ARC D400MKII. It was a tough decision to replace my faithful MC2300 that was purring away for over 25 years. But the D400MKII seems to make the higher part of the lowest notes sound better to me. I don't think we're into mid freqs, but rather higher - low freqs. In general everything else it does just sounds a notch better to me than the MC2300 although that's still an excellent amp.
But still . . . the SP-8 just wasn't doing what my old SP-3A-1 did. I was fortunate to run into the gent who bought my old 3A-1 and he was looking for an SP-8 Rev. 7 so we worked out a trade. He sent the 3A-1 to ARC for me and they upgraded it to the 3C. I just can't believe my ears. I know you've all heard that before and I've said it myself more than once. This is it though - all the things I liked best about my system are restored and a notch better with the SP-3C, D400MKII and Creek CD50Mk2 - I'm a happy camper.
The Maggie Tympani 1Ds will be here until they die or I do. If they go first, I'll probably go with a new Mag model.
Someone with more experience and better ears then me suggested that I try AudioQuest Cobra interconnects since they're supposed to "bond" really well with ARC components. I rounded out the system with those and he was right. The Cobras removed tiny annoying things I never knew existed and put new life in the whole system.
The turntable is acceptable but considered a "toy" to hard core audio people. I play an LP once every six months so it works for me!
If you're into early ARC SP tube preamps - take a look at this link.
