I jumped from a CD-2 to the CD-7, also with a Ref 3, so you all can imagine the improvement I experienced. On the subject of amps, I had been running Audio Physic Virgo II's with Pass Aleph 2 100 watt mono amps. I then went with Vandersteen Quatro speakers and auditioned the ARC Ref 210's and the ARC VM-220's, among other amps. The Quatro's are very easy to drive because they have their own internal subwoofer amps. With that caveat, I thought the VM-220's were a better match for the Quatro's. With them, the VM-220's have a very clear and open mid-range and a sense of great ease; clipping is almost unnoticeable. Like the other new ARC gear we are talking about, they seem to disappear into the music. For me, the Ref 210 had a more controlled, tighter sound which I found to be more intrusive with the music.
Review: Audio Research Reference CD-7 CD Player
Category: Digital
I have now made the progression through Audio Research cd players. I started with the CD-1. Then the CD-2. Next came the CD-3 Mk II. At each step along the way, there were marked improvements soundstaging, realism, low level detail. Most recently, I upgraded to the ARC Reference CD-7. While the others were measured steps in improvements, this was not. It was a giant leap.
My musical tastes run mainly to rock and jazz, with a little of everything else thrown. The CD-7 seems to handle it all with equal aplomb.
To me digital has never been able to get the bass right. There was always something missing on the drums. Analog has always seemed to get the timbre right, but it lacked that last little bit of oomph. Not so with the CD-7. There is an almost analog "rightness". And there is loads of oomph. And the rest of the signal spectrum has that same rightness to it.
The CD-7 comes with 7 vacuum tubes. Which may explain some of the improvements I'm hearing. Yet, even after extended playing, the top doesn't get uncomfortably hot.
I have it hooked into the ARC Reference 3 preamp. The literature says they shae the same input stage. There does seem to be a certain synergy there. My next step will probably be to upgrade to one of the new Reference power amps.
The only weakness I've noticed is the outrageous price. Still, if you have the wherewithal to afford it, I highly recommend.
Associated gear
Click to view my Virtual System
Similar products
ARC CD-1
ARC CD-2
ARC CD-3 Mk II
I have now made the progression through Audio Research cd players. I started with the CD-1. Then the CD-2. Next came the CD-3 Mk II. At each step along the way, there were marked improvements soundstaging, realism, low level detail. Most recently, I upgraded to the ARC Reference CD-7. While the others were measured steps in improvements, this was not. It was a giant leap.
My musical tastes run mainly to rock and jazz, with a little of everything else thrown. The CD-7 seems to handle it all with equal aplomb.
To me digital has never been able to get the bass right. There was always something missing on the drums. Analog has always seemed to get the timbre right, but it lacked that last little bit of oomph. Not so with the CD-7. There is an almost analog "rightness". And there is loads of oomph. And the rest of the signal spectrum has that same rightness to it.
The CD-7 comes with 7 vacuum tubes. Which may explain some of the improvements I'm hearing. Yet, even after extended playing, the top doesn't get uncomfortably hot.
I have it hooked into the ARC Reference 3 preamp. The literature says they shae the same input stage. There does seem to be a certain synergy there. My next step will probably be to upgrade to one of the new Reference power amps.
The only weakness I've noticed is the outrageous price. Still, if you have the wherewithal to afford it, I highly recommend.
Associated gear
Click to view my Virtual System
Similar products
ARC CD-1
ARC CD-2
ARC CD-3 Mk II