Reference DAC ?

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by markmck79

We've beat this horse dead before. The REF DAC isn't coming anytime soon. Search previous posts on the ARC forum.

So there is really a hole in the line.
If only the REF CD8 had digital inputs, I could be interested because I'm not interested in a SS dac like the DAC 8....

[VT Skier]

Couldn't someone pose the question to the ARC folks in attendance at RMAF? Seems an easy way to answer this.

[markmck79]

Originally Posted by VT Skier

Couldn't someone pose the question to the ARC folks in attendance at RMAF? Seems an easy way to answer this.

I posed the question to one of ARC's digital engineers a few months ago while providing feedback on the DAC8 drivers. They are more focused on products like the DSPre for now. You are more likely to see a DAC included in a REF pre in the future than a REF CD player that includes USB input.

At this point they feel that they've optimized their DAC design in the DAC8 (see its inclusion in the DSPre).

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by markmck79

I posed the question to one of ARC's digital engineers a few months ago while providing feedback on the DAC8 drivers. They are more focused on products like the DSPre for now. You are more likely to see a DAC included in a REF pre in the future than a REF CD player that includes USB input.

At this point they feel that they've optimized their DAC design in the DAC8 (see its inclusion in the DSPre).

So only "cd spinners" will have access to an ARC tube based DAC with the REF CD8 ?

[TMcD]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

So only "cd spinners" will have access to an ARC tube based DAC with the REF CD8 ?

That is what I need, a quality CD player with inputs to access the DAC. I really do not want to get into a stand alone DAC, it means another set of interconnects, power cord and I just do not have room in my rack. Although computer based audio does interest me, I have too many CDs to not have a good player as well.

[Etunes]

Originally Posted by TMcD

That is what I need, a quality CD player with inputs to access the DAC. I really do not want to get into a stand alone DAC, it means another set of interconnects, power cord and I just do not have room in my rack. Although computer based audio does interest me, I have too many CDs to not have a good player as well.

Ayre DX-5 might be an option.

[TMcD]

Originally Posted by Etunes

Ayre DX-5 might be an option.

Thanks and that is true as would Esoteric. No chance to listen to them in Vancouver.

[PHC1]

I hear you guys on the tube cdp with access to DAC's. I don't want to listen to CD's and streaming any other way. Therefore I now have 2 of such things. Ayon CD2S and the EAR/Yoshino Acute 3 CDP's. Both outstanding in performance and very musical.

[Priaptor]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see, within a year, a REF DAC 8, with tubes. My best guess.

Incidentally, for those of you who feel you need a CD player, I was in that camp for a year. I still have my PS Audio transport, which is a superb transport but given how superb the DAC 8 is via USB, I have to say, I have used my transport in close to 4 months.

One thing I have noticed is that much of the "high res" stuff from HD Tracks just doesn't cut it for me and I have flushed much money down the toilet thinking their "high res" variants of what I have on redbook would be better only to find that cutting good quality redbook in fact sounds better. I have not had one instance where what I cut with dbpoweramp didn't sound as good or better than the original CD.

Just my opinion.

[Etunes]

sounds like we will have some more details on this after CES.
who is going to get the skinny?