Arcam CD82T versus CD72T

The guys at my local audio store swore by the 82T, saying it was much better. I think it was salesmanship because they then demoed 4 units for me, back to back to back:

NAD 541i $500
Arcam 62T $600
Arcam 72T $900
Arcam 82T $1200

They did NOT tell me which units were which, thus allowing me to hear the differences without judgement. Each unit had a diminishing advantage over the last one, as one would expect. Obviously the quality jumps are harder and harder to make as the level gets better. Honestly, I could not hear the 82T's improvement over the 72T and thus bought the 72T. It was also all I could afford (recent college graduate).

Bottom line: the 82T was definitely AS GOOD as the 72T, and probably better, but not worthy my money at this time. If you decide to upgrade your DAC, you won't get anything WORSE than what you have and you'll probably see the same difference as if you had cleaned up your power supply with a new power filter or upgraded your interconnects. Also, if you're like a lot of people on this board (mid life, has money) then go for it because it's not an expensive upgrade... comparatively. (I'm assuming it's between 2 and 4 hundred dollars?)

The 72T is a sleeper and is better sounding than the FMJ. I would recommend keeping the 72 and consider an upgrade at the preamp or amp end. Until you make that move, you will not truly get the most out of the upgrade to the CD player.

I HAD A72T WITH A "YAMAHA 640" AV RECIEVER AND MISSION 753 SPEAKERS. I ALSO HAVE SENNHISER 590 AND RECENTLY 650 HEADPHONES. I FELT THAT THE CD73T DEMOED IN A HIFI SHOP SOUNDED BETTER THAN THE 72T BUT WAS UNCONVINCED UNTIL I HEARED THE CD93T. I THEN DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO THE CD 82T AND CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THE SOUND IS MUCH MORE DETAILED AND CLEARER WITHOUT BEING ANALYTICAL :( WHICH IS A PUT OFF ) HERE IN THE UK THE UPGRADE COST £199 AND TOOK A COUPLE OF HRS.
THE MINIDISC RECORDINGS OFF THE 82 HAVE FAR MORE MUSICAL INFORMATION THAN THE 72. I COULD DEFINITELTY HEAR ENOUGH OF A DIFFERENCE ESPECIALLY WITH THE HEADPHONES WHICH ARE VERY PRECISE. IS IT WORTH £199?: THAT IS A VALUE JUDGEMENT YOU CAN MAKE BUT ONLY ON YOUR SYSTEM AND TASTE IN MUSIC.WITH ROCK, METAL OR GARAGE A BETTER AMPLIFICATION /PRE AMP MIGHT BRING BETTER BENEFITS

Aptly, I spent today auditioning the CD73 and CD82. I spent some time whacking backwards and forwards between the two, testing the same tracks, and it became clear that the 82 had a more transparent, and projected a 'being there' feel. Yes, it was £180 more, but I decided that it was worth the extra cash just to get the best from my ever-enlarging record collection. Irony is, at the moment I'm listening mainly to Scratchy old blues records. Not very Hifi.