I recently completed a switch from a full top of the line ARC system (Ref 10 Phono Pre, Ref 10 Pre, Ref 750SE Amps), to a full CH Precision system (P1 Phono, L1 Pre, M1 Amps), and the result has been great, well beyond my expectations. As a background, I only use a turntable (TW Acustic, TW Acustic & Kozma arms, Atlas, Proteus D and Madame Snakewood carts) as a source, and have had many pieces of ARC gear, mostly top tier, for the last several years. I have been a happy listener with that and never found anything SS that remotely catch my attention, or digital for that matter. Early this year, for convenience reasons because of my location, I started to consider alternatives to tubes, and eventually after research and listening, choose CH Precision as the right choice. Still, even though in theory it was the right choice, I was waiting until I actually hear it in my room to confirm whether or not I made the right choice or a (very costly) mistake.
Now I can say that it was not only the right decision, but one that open a new range of experiences that I was not aware were there. Before going into the sound, the first thing is the initial experience, which was almost traumatic. With ARC your setup is basically turning it on or off, and that is mostly your range of choices (save for phono pre). With CH you have so many functions and choices that at the beginning I was confused and a little bit saturated. Fortunately most of the features and choices are self evident and in no time you figure them out.
As for the sound, after setting it up correctly, I have all the positive characteristics of the ARC sound, plus more. More in the sense of control, air extension both ends, definition and precision in soundstage. There is no area were I miss anything I had before, and many areas were get many sounds and spatial clues that was not aware were there before. Not that ARC is bad, it is great and still love it, but CH is a new higher level for me.
If I can put an example, ARC is like a famous chef, which prepares one dish excellent, like the best in the world could, and everything you get in the restaurant revolves around that flavor. It is good, comforting and familiar, and everybody would love it as it has a very easy going, warm feeling. CH is like a 3 star chef that can do that dish, improve on it, but then the menu also brings a few more surprises you would love and did not know it could be done (actually this example came to mind after a recent culinary experience in Piemonte, Italy, which was like that).
After some more listening I will post on the excellent P1 and the current and voltage inputs. Incredible what it can get out of the carts.
Now I can say that it was not only the right decision, but one that open a new range of experiences that I was not aware were there. Before going into the sound, the first thing is the initial experience, which was almost traumatic. With ARC your setup is basically turning it on or off, and that is mostly your range of choices (save for phono pre). With CH you have so many functions and choices that at the beginning I was confused and a little bit saturated. Fortunately most of the features and choices are self evident and in no time you figure them out.
As for the sound, after setting it up correctly, I have all the positive characteristics of the ARC sound, plus more. More in the sense of control, air extension both ends, definition and precision in soundstage. There is no area were I miss anything I had before, and many areas were get many sounds and spatial clues that was not aware were there before. Not that ARC is bad, it is great and still love it, but CH is a new higher level for me.
If I can put an example, ARC is like a famous chef, which prepares one dish excellent, like the best in the world could, and everything you get in the restaurant revolves around that flavor. It is good, comforting and familiar, and everybody would love it as it has a very easy going, warm feeling. CH is like a 3 star chef that can do that dish, improve on it, but then the menu also brings a few more surprises you would love and did not know it could be done (actually this example came to mind after a recent culinary experience in Piemonte, Italy, which was like that).
After some more listening I will post on the excellent P1 and the current and voltage inputs. Incredible what it can get out of the carts.