Every time I listen to my system and I love it:
Opera Audio Consonance Reference 2.2 CD Player - upgraded: Auricaps, power supply, tube, etc.
Opera Audio Consonance Reference 2.2 CD Player - upgraded: Auricaps, power supply, tube, etc.
Another offering from Taiwan: The ARRIBA P-1008 and P-2008 with two 12AU7 tubes in each unit. I auditioned the P-1008 three years ago. It's quite good. The spec page is mandarin with no option to translate into English. http://www.kcr.com.tw/archive/image/edcontent2/editor/Spec9_P1008_2008.jpg http://www.kcr.com.tw/edcontent.php?lang=tw&tb=2&id=38 |
I have a California Audio Labs Alpha DAC that I used with computers. It uses two 12AX7. It's has a warm presentation. I bought it to take the edge on of those early CD's. I hooked it up not long ago and was surprised how well it performed, given it's age. If I were looking at tubes for digital I'd be searching for a Tube Buffer device. |
I owned a tube ARC Ref CD-8 for about 9 years. It sounded ok to me, but I never compared it to anything else. I just stepped up to a new tube Ref CD-9SE, which should be delivered on Monday. Kinda' curious how the redbook CD side of the CD-9SE compares to my old Ref CD-8. Of course, the CD-9SE has a DAC side that can be used for streaming. I guess I will learn how to stream now. One good thing about ARC tube CD players is that they help to keep one's listening room warm in the winter. lol |