esoteric K 03x
Upgrading cd player
I thinking about upgrading my Rega Isis CDP. I’m thinking about the Audio Research Ref 9se or the McIntosh MCD1200. Can anyone give me any thoughts / options on this ? Also I heard that Audio Research stopped production on the Ref 9se due to not being able to get the lasers anymore / that Phillips stopped making them ? I would also rather stick to a one box unit than separates. Ty. Also if anyone else can recommend anything also I would appreciate it. My budget is up at about 12k
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- 66 posts total
@tattooedtrackman -Have you explored purchasing a replacement Phillips laser assembly from ARC? I'm deciding on getting the REF CD6SE after learning I can get a laser assembly from ARC for about $500. |
OP,
Correct, ARC stopped making CD9SE’s because their supplier stopped making the transport. I am sure they have lots for repairs. But these days transports tend to be pretty reliable. They used to be terrible. While I do not know this, I suspect ARC will not invest in producing another CD player… it is a market that is contracting quickly. MacIntosh and Audio Research are on very different sides of the sound spectrums. Mac typically lacks detail compared with Audio Research. Their house sounds are very different. |
@ghdprentice Thanks for the update about that transport. I thought I heard that. I originally did want that CD9se. But now I’m not so sure if I can’t get another transport years later. Also thanks for that information on the Mac. I figured they would be in very different sides of the sound spectrum. Never owned Mac before. I am going to demo the MCD12000 cdp next week but it will be on all Mac gear. So the sound will be very different on my system which is all ARC. I asked the dealer if u could take home the Mac to demo on my system and he said he can’t do it. So I don’t even know if it’s worth hearing it on their Mac system. |
@wharfy I’m gonna email ARC and ask them about that CD9se laser assembly. |
- 66 posts total