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  #1  
Old 04-09-2012, 10:28 AM
microstrip microstrip is offline
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Default ARC CD8 upgrade?
Although it is not often referred in the net, IMHO, the CD8 is one of the best achievements of Audio Research. In an all ARC system it is very hard to beat, unless you are prepared to spend a lot more. And most of the time, you will get more detail with the more expensive player, may be better bass, but you will loose the musical and seamless integration that rewards you with the directness I usually associate with analog master tapes.

As far as I know ARC did not present a SE version of the CD8. Do you know if the CD8 can be fitted with the new output capacitors used in the SE versions?
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  #2  
Old 04-09-2012, 11:58 AM
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cmalak cmalak is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by microstrip View Post
Although it is not often referred in the net, IMHO, the CD8 is one of the best achievements of Audio Research. In an all ARC system it is very hard to beat, unless you are prepared to spend a lot more. And most of the time, you will get more detail with the more expensive player, may be better bass, but you will loose the musical and seamless integration that rewards you with the directness I usually associate with analog master tapes.

As far as I know ARC did not present a SE version of the CD8. Do you know if the CD8 can be fitted with the new output capacitors used in the SE versions?
What they should have done is fit the CD8 with digital inputs and something akin to the SE upgrades on the Ref 5 and Ref Phono 2 (primarily use of the teflon caps) and called it a day. Instead they left the CD8 untouched and brought out the Ref DAC which to me is overpriced and has a host of functionality (networking and streaming) that is not ARC's strength. Missed opportunity in my opinion.
Last edited by cmalak; 04-09-2012 at 12:14 PM.
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  #3  
Old 04-09-2012, 12:05 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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I called ARC when the SE upgrades were announced and was told there were no plans to upgrade the CD8. Moreover, the statement was that "some of our customers still want a single box unit" suggesting that redbook CD players may not the the major direction for ARC that it once was.
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  #4  
Old 04-09-2012, 12:12 PM
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Masterlu Masterlu is offline
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djcxxx... Welcome!
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MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES
Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #5  
Old 04-09-2012, 12:18 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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Thanks for the welcome! I've followed this forum for a long time but didn't really have anything substantive to add until now. I've been an ARC fan since the late 1970s. Started w/ an SP6 and D52B running Magnepan MG1s. Current system includes: ARC Ref3/VT200MkI/CD8/PH5 driving Magnepan 3.7s. My analog set up is all Clearaudio, Avantgarde Magnum/Unify 9"/Concerto.
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Old 04-09-2012, 01:17 PM
jwhite613 jwhite613 is offline
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djcxxx... Welcome To AA!!!

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Old 04-09-2012, 08:27 PM
Ritmo Ritmo is offline
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Welcome djcxxx!

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  #8  
Old 04-09-2012, 09:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djcxxx View Post
Thanks for the welcome! I've followed this forum for a long time but didn't really have anything substantive to add until now. I've been an ARC fan since the late 1970s. Started w/ an SP6 and D52B running Magnepan MG1s. Current system includes: ARC Ref3/VT200MkI/CD8/PH5 driving Magnepan 3.7s. My analog set up is all Clearaudio, Avantgarde Magnum/Unify 9"/Concerto.
I think it's time to show us some pics.
__________________
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FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
CAPE COD
MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES
Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
Last edited by Masterlu; 04-09-2012 at 09:25 PM.
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  #9  
Old 04-10-2012, 10:16 AM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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Thanks again for such a warm welcome! I will post some pictures of my set up this evening, but except for the CD8 (which I purchased as a demo) my ARC gear is all rather "vintage". I've remained loyal to both Magnepan and ARC since the late seventies for a variety of reasons. Quality of construction, reliability, value for the money, consistency of service, and overall audio quality are characteristics of both companies. Many high end companies have come and gone in the last 30+ years, and many companies offer products surpassing ARC and Magnepan in various aspects of performance, but these two have stayed the course much better than most and have earned the loyalty of their customers.
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  #10  
Old 04-10-2012, 09:09 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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Some photos of my system.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg L1000529.jpg (93.6 KB, 146 views)
File Type: jpg L1000547.jpg (93.1 KB, 144 views)
File Type: jpg L1000548.jpg (90.5 KB, 135 views)
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