Audio Research Reference DAC

[ariess]

Anyone with a natural colored Ref DAC who might want to swap their silver faceplates knobs and buttons with my black ones?

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[tane0019]

I do not understand this, why can't ARC DAC USB input be made USB audio class 2 compliant ??

This will make almost all media server and streamer able to play on it.

Or any one know if there is a firmware available (or coming soon) by ARC to upgrade this ??

[loctorwabbit]

HI! I'm new to AA and want to say that this is a great forum with such mature, knowledgeable and friendly opinions!! Fantastic!

My query is whether DSD is necessary in a new ref dac in view of the very interesting article on master quality authenticated (Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound. page 50 issue May/June 2015). If streaming companies start streaming in this lower res and apparently better format than DSD, is it necessary to develop the DSD tech? Would we ARC owners crave for MQA even when DSD was made available?

I tried to write to tidal about their intermittent streaming issues and asked about whether there was really a consideration in using the MQA format, but got no replies specific to that question.

We live in exciting times from the DAC point of view!

Dave

AMR DP777, ref5se, ref75, Guarneri evolution, wire world platinum IC/USB, audionote ksl-vzII spkr, shunyata black mambas and hydra.

[2fastdriving]

loctorwabbit, welcome to AA!

[Alki]

Welcome to AA loctorwabbit.

[Still-One]

Welcome to AA loctorwabbit


You will have to decide whether DSD capabilities are important for you. I have found no DSD content that interests me so far. It really is the same for Hi Rez and I am guessing it like that for MQA when it available, we get what they release not necessarily what we want. The question is will any of these formats ever be more than a niche to resell "audiophiles" the same content again. Sure I want to cover all options but my priority is to get great 16/44 playback.

[loctorwabbit]

Thanks so much for the welcome guys!!!

I too don't have any DSD content (as i don't have a DAC that reads it natively). Having done quite comprehensive listening comparisons on the sounds of Devialet 200, AMR DP777, Aesthetix Romulus, PS Audio Direct stream DAC, ARC CD 9 and a mytek, my listening buddy and i concluded that even without DSD, a hi resolution file played on the ARC CD9 dac still had the most enjoyable character in reproducing lush, sweet, beguiling vocals, with a very good, open sound stage. Only the Romulus had a more extended and airy/bloom that made it more ambient, albeit it abit more clinical.

Would i be happy with this quality of music from HD tracks and ripped from my redbook cds? Absolutely. The frustrating lack of DSD content and its sluggish take-up by producers almost gives me the impressions like it is an insincere format that is being marketed.

That article about MQA is such an encouraging hope of achieving vinyl in digital if there ever is such a thing.

Dave

AMR DP777 | Ref 5SE | Ref 75 | SF Guarneri Evolutions | Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB | WW platinum eclipse XLR | Audionote KSL-VZII SPkr | Shunyata Hydra 8 | Shunyata Black Mamba | MBPro 15"

[jpgr4blu]

Hi Dave:
Welcome. My experience is that a well mastered sacd (or dvd-a) betters a well mastered redbook--all other things being equal which they almost never are. There are plenty of crappy scads (too many) and plenty of well recorded, well mastered redbooks (not enough) that leave me not wanting more. I'm dying to hear MQA as well.
I have not joined the streaming crowd yet but will soon. I expect I'll say the same about dsd and hi-rez vs 16/44.1. But how will MQA do? Will the market accept it so that it will become a standard that we can rely on and toss the rest? Well, 10 years ago I thought it all would have been sorted out by now. But, until it does, I will have to search for the best sounding format in each album/song I play.
Once again, welcome.

[loctorwabbit]

Thanks jpgr4blu! : )
interesting that you're at the crossroads of going over to streaming.
i sold my electrocompanied CD player and got the AMR thinking i'd 'cleanup' the house and never need to buy another cd again.....
It didnt work!!!! At the back of my mind, and confirmed on listening to the aesthetix romulus and CD9 comparisons with their on board DAC vs on board CD player, the CD player always wins. whether it be streamed tidal or ripped redbook. so i still have all my cds.

one thing tho, streaming has been frustrating in that Tidal still has issues with dropped connections repeatedly, and in songs (which is a lot of what i listen to) which they don't have on their primary server, you'll get pretty sucky connection and often slow or 'unconnectable' choices to your selection. And i'm on high speed fibre connection. The quality is miles better than premium spotify for sure, but i've not had an unblemished listening session with tidal unless its on their 'latest' list or is a very popular album which i rarely listen to. I've written to them a multitude of times and its been 'upgrading in progress' so far, and no reply on whether they'll ever use MQA. well, at least they give you the chance of a free month of usage to try.

[Masterlu]

loctorwabbit... Welcome to AA!