Quote:
Originally Posted by JBT
Go with the DAC9. It's about 5 thousand cheaper than the Reference CD9! and ARCs first tube DAC since the DAC3 which I own and have boxed up in storage
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Hi JBT,
I did a direct comparison of the Ref CD-9 and the DAC9, and overall I preferred the Ref CD-9 by a substantial margin. I preferred its body, bloom, texture and soundstage. It provides an ease and delivers subtleties that just sound more like real music. This advantage is being driven by its analog gain stage of four 6H30 dual triodes and power supply of one 6550 rectifier tube and one 6H30 dual triode. However, the DAC9 closes the gap somewhat with its new dual mono digital circuit with the latest Burr Brown DAC chip, which delivers lower distortion, lower noise and greater stereo separation. These improvements are audible in the form of purer timbres and more air around instruments and vocalists. What I really want is the new DAC9 digital circuit in the Ref CD-9 and Ref DAC. YMMV.
Best,
Ken