Audio Research CD8

 

PRICE $12,000.00

 

  • Silver/Black Face Plate

  • New Stock

  • 2009 - RRP US$9,995.00

  • Made In U.S.A.

  • Worldwide Shipping

 

Before you buy it, you think it's expensive. After you use it, you think it's a bargain.

From my preliminary testing, Audio Research's new top of the line vacuum tube CD Player is possibly the best sounding CD Player available today at any price. This level of performance from CD is revolutionary and it's musicality is very analogue sounding. So far is the harsh CD like sound removed from any digital source I have ever heard this really sets new limits.

The new 24-bit, 192-kHz chipset is cutting edge and to my knowledge a world first for a CD Player the power-supply regulation uses a 6550C vacuum tube!!! This is the same as is used in the Reference 3 Line Stage.

One of my favourite CD's is 'Blonde On Blonde' (Columbia Records -1966) by Bob Dylan. This particular CD is also a SACD which has a dual layer. Unfortunately for Dylan fans it is an almost unlistenable album on every CD Player I have auditioned it on.

The CD8 is the first player that pushes this album all the way from harsh and thin sounding with an overly sharp edge to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. I have been so impressed with what Audio Research have achieved I have changed from my previous reference player being the Marantz SA-11S2 to the CD8. For those of you out there that have some CD's that are just a bit 'too much', the CD8 will amaze you with the way it transform what I believed previously to be inferior recordings.

 

Beautifully designed and crafted this is my new Reference CD Player of choice.

 

Can be fully controlled with basic operations from manual front panel buttons.

 

Beautiful display is ever so clear and easy to read in all lighting levels.

 

Top loading unit with a well ventilated top panel for heat.

 

The ARC CD8 uses 3 separate power supplies for total noise isolation and current control.

 

Philips PRO2R — still the best dedicated CD mechanism available today.

 

Philips PRO2R with cover attached.

 

Special ARC designed and developed coupling caps.

 

Cap storage array - Nichicon power supply.

 

Digital output with both Coax and AES/EBU connectors.

 

As you would expect, balanced and single ended outputs.

 

Here's there the magic starts, 6550C & 6H30 Vacuum Tube Power Regulation!

 

6H30 vacuum tube output stage.

 

Massive over spec primary power supply.