Quote:
Originally Posted by MPS
Sound a lot like differences described between CD7 and CD8. Is ARC going back to similar smoother relaxed sound profile as CD7?
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I hope not ... I have owned the CD7 and now own the CD8 and there was a large improvement when going to the CD8. Bass was much better defined and treble became more airy and extended, but very smooth. Compared with the CD8 the CD7 could sound "coarse". The DAC8 is hyper detailed and does not have the bloom of the tubed units. I preferred its sound using a high quality CD transport - CEC TL1 - using AES/EBU than USB.
IMHO the CD8 connected to the REF40 is really a great front-end - I tried some very expensive players, but stayed with the CD8. I will surely listen to the CD9 when it becomes available.