Project "Stealth" Tubes (ARC) and variety is the spice of life...

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Serge,
I'm talking about EL34 : Corton- Charlemagne Q
The Corton Q is EL34 based.
The Corton 80 is a KT88 based amp.

Ah, yes, the "Q" version. That would do!

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Ah, yes, the "Q" version. That would do!

Group buy ! ( well, a group of 2 ! 4 amps though ! )

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Group buy ! ( well, a group of 2 ! 4 amps though ! )

Jerome, how's it going with the REF5? Are you going to try it?

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Jerome, how's it going with the REF5? Are you going to try it?

beginning of september.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

beginning of september.

So we'll have the REF5's at the same time. It will be fun to compare notes.

[PHC1]

CD8 nude. Philips PRO-2 transport, serious tubage and capacitorage going on inside. Anyone here spend any serious time listening to it yet?

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by PHC1

CD8 nude. Philips PRO-2 transport, serious tubage and capacitorage going on inside. Anyone here spend any serious time listening to it yet?

Serge...great idea on the ARC stack

As for CD8, I have heard it a bunch of times. Great CD player. Has a bit more bass depth than my CD7. It's also a bit more resolving and 3-dimensional. Overall, it's highly resolving with great instrumental separation and ability to hear deep into the mix but all-the-while being very easy to listen to with a natural presentation. The tube output stage delivers natural sounding timbres, a liquid presentation (but again with all the detail and resolution retained), and a 3-dimensional, holographic sound (not only in terms of soundstage width and depth but also in terms of 3-d images with body and not a flattish image). I think you will like it. I have not heard the DAC-8 and since that is a SS unit, I do not know to what extent it retains the same sonic signature as the CD8

Enjoy the experiment/audition. Also looking forward to your impressions of the Ref150. I think you will find it a different animal then the Ref 210s you had briefly. Everything I have read suggests more body and heft than the traditional transparent ARC sound (which has been a bit on the thin side for your liking). My guess is you will get closer to the Lammies meat/textural qualities while retaining the ARC transparent, resolved, and 3d presentation.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Serge...great idea on the ARC stack

As for CD8, I have heard it a bunch of times. Great CD player. Has a bit more bass depth than my CD7. It's also a bit more resolving and 3-dimensional. Overall, it's highly resolving with great instrumental separation and ability to hear deep into the mix but all-the-while being very easy to listen to with a natural presentation. The tube output stage delivers natural sounding timbres, a liquid presentation (but again with all the detail and resolution retained), and a 3-dimensional, holographic sound (not only in terms of soundstage width and depth but also in terms of 3-d images with body and not a flattish image). I think you will like it. I have not heard the DAC-8 and since that is a SS unit, I do not know to what extent it retains the same sonic signature as the CD8

Enjoy the experiment/audition. Also looking forward to your impressions of the Ref150. I think you will find it a different animal then the Ref 210s you had briefly. Everything I have read suggests more body and heft than the traditional transparent ARC sound (which has been a bit on the thin side for your liking). My guess is you will get closer to the Lammies meat/textural qualities while retaining the ARC transparent, resolved, and 3d presentation.

Cyril, good stuff! Thanks for the description of the CD8 and if the 150 really does have more meat and body, I will be very happy. How were the reviews on the DAC8?

[cmalak]

Serge...this is the only one I have been able to find:

http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/SSHiFi-ARC%20DAC8.pdf (Soundstage Reviewer's Choice award)

There are plenty of CD8 reviews. If you go to Audio Research and go to the Reviews link, you will see a comprehensive list (not all but most) of reviews for all their product lines. There are plenty for the CD8, Ref 2 phono, Ref 5, and the one for the DAC8 (I searched online for other DAC8 reviews but couldn't find anything else). No reviews yet obviously on the Ref 150, so most of what I have read has been user feedback on forums on the Ref 150 or impressions from show reports from the audio press. Hope this helps

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Serge...this is the only one I have been able to find:

http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/SSHiFi-ARC%20DAC8.pdf (Soundstage Reviewer's Choice award)

There are plenty of CD8 reviews. If you go to Audio Research and go to the Reviews link, you will see a comprehensive list (not all but most) of reviews for all their product lines. There are plenty for the CD8, Ref 2 phono, Ref 5, and the one for the DAC8 (I searched online for other DAC8 reviews but couldn't find anything else). No reviews yet obviously on the Ref 150, so most of what I have read has been user feedback on forums on the Ref 150 or impressions from show reports from the audio press. Hope this helps

Thanks Cyril.