I am currently planning to purchase either the Audio Research Reference CD-9 Digital Player or the Reference DAC sometime next year. Both components are scheduled by ARC to be updated.
The reason I am interested in these two components is due to their analog-like organic sound and their huge synergy with my Reference 10 Preamp.
I recently borrowed the Reference CD-9 Player and placed it in my system with spectacular results, surpassing even the performance of my beloved Esoteric K-01X. I believe these results are being largely driven by system synergy with my Ref 10, Vandersteen 7 monoblocks and Model 7 MkII speakers. My experience was the equivalent of adding a top notch analog rig to my system.
My difficulty arises from choosing between the two components, which one should I purchase? The Ref CD-9 is very easy. Just drop in a CD and hit play. There is also a built in DAC that will play CD rips and high res. files.
The Ref DAC is a very interesting component as it has all the digital inputs of the Ref CD-9, plus it is a network player with an ethernet input that will enable NAS use, internet radio functionality and USB stick functionality. The negative is that in its current form, the interface functionality is rather clunky, which has consequently limited its sales.
Both components use the Ref 5SE Preamp for their analog stage and have an extremely similar sonic signature. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
The reason I am interested in these two components is due to their analog-like organic sound and their huge synergy with my Reference 10 Preamp.
I recently borrowed the Reference CD-9 Player and placed it in my system with spectacular results, surpassing even the performance of my beloved Esoteric K-01X. I believe these results are being largely driven by system synergy with my Ref 10, Vandersteen 7 monoblocks and Model 7 MkII speakers. My experience was the equivalent of adding a top notch analog rig to my system.
My difficulty arises from choosing between the two components, which one should I purchase? The Ref CD-9 is very easy. Just drop in a CD and hit play. There is also a built in DAC that will play CD rips and high res. files.
The Ref DAC is a very interesting component as it has all the digital inputs of the Ref CD-9, plus it is a network player with an ethernet input that will enable NAS use, internet radio functionality and USB stick functionality. The negative is that in its current form, the interface functionality is rather clunky, which has consequently limited its sales.
Both components use the Ref 5SE Preamp for their analog stage and have an extremely similar sonic signature. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
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