Audio Research Reference DAC

[enatai252]

Originally Posted by mbovaird

Your dealer has a REF 10? Interesting. They are very hard to come by (as I found out).

Mike....had one for a special event... Was very well received

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by enatai252

Mike....had one for a special event... Was very well received

Cool. I'm kind of surprised you liked the 40 better. Even ARC admitted the REF 10 is a step above. Who knows? Everyone hears differently. Maybe the REF 10 wasn't broken in??

[enatai252]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

Could you go into more detail about the improvements of the Ref DAC over the DAC8? Do you feel the price difference is mainly justified by that improvement or the addition of the line stage pre-amp? Thanks.

I will will find some time to write down detailed notes. I would definitely say that the DAC8 is a better bargain....and there are some interface changes I would love to see changed on the Ref DAC....but if you have a very revealing system...the difference is clear..whether that is worth it...is a personal decision.

Will try to put thoughts down over the holidays while listening

[enatai252]

Originally Posted by mbovaird

Cool. I'm kind of surprised you liked the 40 better. Even ARC admitted the REF 10 is a step above. Who knows? Everyone hears differently. Maybe the REF 10 wasn't broken in??

Mike..I liked both and to be honest would not say they was a clear victor...my 40 is more broken in


I do however prefer the simpler fascia of the 40 over the 10.... And I liked the Ref 2 pre fascia better than the 40.... But in that case the sound difference won out

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by enatai252

Mike..I liked both and to be honest would not say they was a clear victor...my 40 is more broken in

I do however prefer the simpler fascia of the 40 over the 10.... And I liked the Ref 2 pre fascia better than the 40.... But in that case the sound difference won out

Agreed. It's all so good at this level. ARC is really on a roll these days.

[enatai252]

Originally Posted by mbovaird

Cool. I'm kind of surprised you liked the 40 better. Even ARC admitted the REF 10 is a step above. Who knows? Everyone hears differently. Maybe the REF 10 wasn't broken in??

Both can be considered in a very small group of great preamps. I also still love my KXR too.

[Portugal]

Is it possible to connect the AR Ref Dac simultaneously and directly to a speakers amp and an headphone amp?

In my Ayre preamp I use the tape out to reach the headphones system...

[Amado]

Originally Posted by enatai252

I have both the DAC8 and the Ref DAC. In terms of sound quality, the Ref DAC is a step function improvement over the DAC8....and I love the DAC8.

Amado with the investment you have in new ARC gear...you would hear the difference you would be missing. I do think the Ref DAC is a bit of a conundrum....it's perfect as the foundation of a digital streaming system direct to amps. I have vinyl and the Ref 2SE phono so for me, the Ref DAC and Ref Phono go into a Ayre KxR pre before the REf 250s. Not sure how they are selling....but it sounds awesome.

A ado did you discuss with ARC why they put different caps in the 10...I brought my ref 40 into my dealer to compare to the 10 and quite a few of us liked the 40 better...I liked both but prefer the look of the 40 and won't be changing. Paired with Ref 150 and Aidas....which I may be trading my Sashas for

What I don't like of the REFDAC is the line stage, why another one ?
You have to manually put the volume to a desire level.
Can you understand why I'm trying to say ?
I'm a 95% of time a vinyl guy. I have for a DAC a $400 unit (wyred4sound), imagine that.
Most of the time my server first use if for let my tubes warm up or when I have visitors and drinks are a most.
The sound is very good from the MS-1 but not even close from what I got from the analog side of my system.
I now if I use the DaC8 will be something else. How then are connecting your RefDac ?

And thank you for your kind words.

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by enatai252

I will will find some time to write down detailed notes. I would definitely say that the DAC8 is a better bargain....and there are some interface changes I would love to see changed on the Ref DAC....but if you have a very revealing system...the difference is clear..whether that is worth it...is a personal decision.

Will try to put thoughts down over the holidays while listening

A few questions for your review:

Which input(s) did you use for comparisons?
Have you compared inputs?
Did you do your DA only comparisons with the volume set to unity gain?

Thanks
Bill

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by SundayNiagara

Over its 40 plus year history, ARC hasn't made many mistakes, but this may be one of them. There just doesn't seem to be much of a buzz!

Mark if you had come by to see DC and I at your local ARC dealer a few weeks ago you might think differently.