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EAR Acute

Heard the Acute today and fell in love with its sound immediately - such glorious midrange and deep layering; full of details without causing ear fatigue! Must be the tube output stage...

Would have bought it on the spot but the build held me back. If it costs $2000, no problem but at $5000, I expect better build quality.

Is there a CDP out there that shares the EAR's glorious sound but better built in the same price range to recommend?
celebrer_le_temps343b
marcosmana
4 posts
 
Hi Rja,

Any idea which Arcam the Acute is based on? I presume one of the earlier ones that used a Philips CDM 1 (or 2) Pro?

Cheers.

Marco.
rgd
656 posts
 
according to a thread over at the digital BB on AA its a modded Arcam 73

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/128171.html
rja's avatar
rja
2,356 posts
 
I'm not sure "modded" is the correct term here, depends on your definition of the word I suppose. The case, DAC chips and transport are the only things retained with everything else replaced. Maybe "severe mod" would be appropriate. All reports so far indicate a superb sounding unit but I have not had an opportunity to hear one.
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