All ARC vs All Pass Labs vs All CJ system compare

@oldrooney 

That one didn't get by me, but sometimes I have to be selective. He normally practices good spellling and grammar.

Yup…

Had

PasLabs XA25, and XP20 

Pros: XA25 was a master grip on my PMC Twenty26. Great bass mids and clear trebs 

Cons: the XP20 was boring. Despite upgrading to seal noise and dampening. Didn’t combine with Esoteric K03Xs CD/DAC, too transparent showing edginess of the Esoteric. A little underpowered for the replacement speakers (MB2SE).

Got

ARC Ref CD9, LS10, D240

Pros best DAC CD player ever. Sweet transparent no edginess just wonderful easy to listen to for hours. Red book CD’s sound like SACD on anything else. Whole set up is EMI RFI sealed. connected using XLR, fully balanced end to end. Just amazing. Detail, tonality, punch and feel. Listening through large horns with 2x12” woofers.

Cons not much I’ve got the tv connected via optical and stream Tidal or YouTube. It sounds great too. 
Cheaper gear used and fabulous sounds.

I’ve had Luxman cd 6u, M900u, and lots of other gear. This ARC gear remains the best set up for me.

johnread57

I will second the ARC CD9. A very fine player indeed.  I also love my Luxman D-03x.

Happy Listening!

frozentundra

I would like to see CJ build a robust Control (integrated) Amp. The CAV 45 S1/S2,  is very nice, could use a measure more Current and Power.

Happy Listening!

@johnread57 

+1 My  Audio Research Reference CD9SE CD / DAC is the best I have heard and I have heard much more expensive.