Audio Research LS8 Mk.II

SOLD $2,500.00

JUN 2008

• Mint condition

• Silver Face Plate

• 1999 - R.R.P. US$2,495.00

• Owners Manual/Original Box

• Made In U.S.A.

• Worldwide Shipping

Introduced in 1997 as an affordable, yet reference-caliber single-ended tube preamplifier, the original LS8 model has been reengineered to Mark II status. This change takes advantage of some of the same advancements introduced in our more recent and costly preamplifiers, including the LS16, LS25 and Reference 2.

The new LS8 MKII is a pure Class-A circuit design with a large, fully-regulated power supply and is hand-assembled to the same critical standards as other Audio Research products. MKII component improvements include new regulator FET devices, higher-quality resistors, new Infinicap(r) coupling capacitors and our latest selected 6922 twin triode vacuum tubes. Mechanically, the MKII incorporates new chassis isolation feet, extensive internal chassis damping, and the proprietary clear tube damping rings also used in the LS16, LS25 and Reference 2 models. The cumulative sonic gains are exciting: less smearing with tighter focus of individual instruments, more lucid and natural-sounding upper frequencies, better sorting out of complex orchestral programs, improved dynamics and better bass control and impact. The overall sonic presentation is smoother, more extended in range and more convincingly authoritative.

External appearance and operational controls -- Gain, Input Select, Power On / Off, and Mute / Operate -- are unchanged except for the identifying MKII designation on the rear panel (which sports a removable IEC-type power cord). A factory update to MKII status is available to owners of original LS8 units. Suggested retail for the update is U.S. $495, plus shipping to and from our factory. Updates must be prescheduled through your authorized dealer or through the Audio Research Customer Service Department.

We believe the new LS8 MKII actually outperforms the recently discontinued LS15 when driving a power amplifier with single-ended inputs. There is simply no other preamp in this price range which is better able to provide such refined resolution, musicality and naturalness in a simple-to-operate, easy-to-own package.
 

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