Audio Research Announces New CD6SE and Reference CD9SE
 

The news release is very brief and doesn't give much insight into what improvements have been incorporated into the new models: http://www.audioresearch.com/en-us/n...ype=all&page=1

The product description of the Reference CD9SE hints at some DAC improvements but otherwise it appears very similar technically to the original CD9 that I own now: http://www.audioresearch.com/en-us/p...eference-cd9se.

I am particularly curious to hear from anyone who has made sonic comparisons between the CD9 and CD9SE.

I really wanted to buy this unit but needed a player that played both CD and SACD. I’m hoping there is some improvement.

I might be mistaken but it doesn’t appear to do DSD via USB input which seems odd in a new reference player with a usb input.

George

Pricey. 15K USD CD9SE and 10K CD6SE.

No DSD and no MQA at $15,000. I was interested in the CD-9SE but may have to look elsewhere...

The original CD9 does not do DSD and neither does the CD9-SE. The technical specs for both units are virtually identical, which leads me to wonder what the differences really are. That's a bit of a mystery to me. The CD9/CD9-SE are a bit of a compromise here in that they are CD players that happen to offer DAC inputs for popular HD formats up to 192 kHz sampling rates, but not all digital formats. They don't offer all the features that a dedicated DAC, like the DAC9, does.

The only difference I notice is that their CD tray mechanisms are different based on the description of the two units. It is possible that the 9 has some other higher end components inside.

Otherwise they both have identical features.

Edward

So ... I would have thought they would have taken the DAC9 ... fixed their hiccup with macOS and android and used that as the starting point for new CD players. The 9 likely has better tube output section or tube power supply or both. With the other players in these price ranges I can’t see these being very popular except among hardcore ARC fans. Just my 2c though. LOL

George

I had a CD7 and it's one of the best Redbook spinners I've ever had. ARC has decided to ignore DSD like Schittz audio.

And in the case of Schittz I can certainly understand that especially at the price point ... I don't think there is anything in that price range that can compete with the sound of the Schittz. Once you start getting over $10k then most people (not all) are going to expect more I would imagine but I could be wrong here. Since they already do DSD in the DAC9 they have only chosen to ignore it in their cd players which didn't make a lot of sense to me. But again thats just my thoughts.

George