I can't help with a real comparison, because I don't have an actual Arcam CD23. What I do have is about four months use/experience with the 308T and two years experience with an Arcam CD92. My system is Cary SLP2002, V12i and B&W N804s. With a powersnake Viper v2 and Luminous Audio Synchestra Signature ICs, the Arcam was a great Cd player.Initially, after 30 hours with stock tubes, the only thing the Cary brought to the dance was better deeper wider soundstage. Tried NOS Siemens 5814As and got better tighter bass. Switched to Mullard NOS "long plate" 12AU7s and was captivated by midrange to die for. All this with same cords as were on the Arcam. After about three weeks, I began to miss "something" that I suspected was the PRAT and detail of the Arcam. Took the Cary and its cords to a friend's house that has a slightly more revealing system looking for his opinion. Nice, but a slight bit too laid back. It sounded pretty much the same in his system that it did in mine.
Got home and resolved to either change it's character or sell it. Thank God for tubes. Changed the Mullards for NOS Bugle Boy 7316s and the Viper for a TG Audio SLVR I had been cooking about six weeks on my office PC monitor to use on my preamp. Much better, bring on your Arcams. Same great soundstage, but detail and PRAT and shimmer off high hats that slowly fades into the distance.
