Following the introduction of their very expensive, tube/FET hybrid SP11 preamplifier, there were rumors that Audio Research was working on a hybrid tube/transistor preamplifier targeted to cost less than $2000. The rumors were confirmed when ARC showed a black-and-white photo of the SP9 at ...
Audio Research is now endeavoring to show that transistors can do most things better than tubes—at least in the front end of a power amplifier. The M300 monoblock power amp uses FETS from the inputs through the driver stages; only the output devices are tubes. Audio Research describes it...
Choosing to use several small capacitors instead of a few large ones, Audio Research again focuses on the sound: "We use them because we have found that large quantities of small caps usually sound better than small quantities of large caps." In spite of using eight output tubes, the VS...
The only features missing on the SP14 (found on the SP15) are absolute phase, phono high-pass filter, and front-panel impedance selection for cartridges. This last can be accomplished on the SP14, though, with a little soldering. I asked Audio Research about this somewhat awkward arrangement...