New Dac?

[Nacho]

Hi all. As i see, ARC's website has left out the Dac8. Anyone with information about new releases on that way?

[Still-One]

If I remember correctly during a discussion with Dave Gordon at Paragon's Fine Sound Event back in November he indicated that it would be some time before a DAC8 replacement would be released but they were working on a updated card for the digital pre-amp or REF DAC>

[Ritmo]

+1... My understanding as well. I believe an upgrade is planned for their Ref DAC.

[Alki]

Not sure why ARC is dragging their feet in putting out a replacement to the DAC 8. It came to market in 2010 and IMO it is time for an upgrade. I have trouble believing they are selling many of these. I would not buy one knowing the age. Technology has moved forward in the DAC market.

If they are planning an upgrade to the REF DAC then it seems even more strange that they are upgrading an item that came out in 2012 and not upgrading the DAC 8 that came out in 2010.

[Elberoth]

Too bad ARC made the DAC-8 on a single PCB - it makes upgrading impossible.



They should have followed the Metronome route, that placed the digital part and USB input on daughtercards on the Metronome C-8 DAC, which now allows them to offer upgrades (better USB input + DSD capability) to C-8 Plus status.

[Biggar]

Originally Posted by Alki

Not sure why ARC is dragging their feet in putting out a replacement to the DAC 8. It came to market in 2010 and IMO it is time for an upgrade. I have trouble believing they are selling many of these. I would not buy one knowing the age. Technology has moved forward in the DAC market.

If they are planning an upgrade to the REF DAC then it seems even more strange that they are upgrading an item that came out in 2012 and not upgrading the DAC 8 that came out in 2010.

I was hoping for an upgrade too. Since I was unable to wait and because I got the deal of a lifetime, I just purchased a DAC8. I had listened to four other DACs and despite "knowing its age" IMO, the DAC8 topped them all. As we all know, good reproduction is lss a matter of the age of the technology than it is about its execution. In the case of the DAC8, it produced a good analogue signal four years ago and it does the same thing today. For $2500, I'm not complaining!

[chessman]

Biggar, welcome aboard!

[Alki]

Originally Posted by Biggar

I was hoping for an upgrade too. Since I was unable to wait and because I got the deal of a lifetime, I just purchased a DAC8. I had listened to four other DACs and despite "knowing its age" IMO, the DAC8 topped them all. As we all know, good reproduction is lss a matter of the age of the technology than it is about its execution. In the case of the DAC8, it produced a good analogue signal four years ago and it does the same thing today. For $2500, I'm not complaining!

First off, welcome to AA.

As I needed a DAC I went with a Bryston BDA 2 for the time being, but to be honest I have fallen in love with this DAC. I do poke around a little but am in no rush to purchase a replacement. I will look back to ARC when they do replace the DAC 8.

[Biggar]

Originally Posted by Alki

First off, welcome to AA.

As I needed a DAC I went with a Bryston BDA 2 for the time being, but to be honest I have fallen in love with this DAC. I do poke around a little but am in no rush to purchase a replacement. I will look back to ARC when they do replace the DAC 8.

Thanks for the welcome!

I don't change my gear very frequently and perhaps that's why I can more than live with the DAC8. For 30 years, until six weeks ago, we were an all Quad household. I switched to an Ayre amp/preamp setup and then just added the DAC8. Unless I have inadvertently caught the upgrade bug (I can see how contagious it could be!) anything that I buy will be old hat by the time that I sell it and move on.

Having said that, is there any consensus on the "best" input to the DAC8? I used the balanced output for the first ten days. My wife complained that she was unable to listen to some of her favourite music. She said that violins were too high as were some saxophones. Last night, I changed and used the RCA. My wife says that things are much better now. Frankly, I think that she's imagining things - I cannot make out any difference and indeed why should I hear any difference based on choice of input?

[deho]

I've heard from my dealer (one of the largest ARC reseller in France) that we could see sometimes later this year or next year appearing a DAC9, just derived from the CD9 without its drive part ... Information or hoax ? No idea ....
If true, it's not a big technical deal, just the box to modify and probably some minor changes to the inside.