Audio Research Ref: CD8


I understand from speaking to Audio Research there is a CD8 now. CD8 has an upgraded power supply and DAC from the CD7. I have my CD7 at ARC for the power supply upgrade now.

Does anyone know more about the CD8?
wsill
CD-8 review (by Roy Gregory) has appeared in HiFi+:

http://www.audionord.se/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/arc-cd8-hf_-iss64small.pdf
http://www.audionord.se/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/arc-cd8-hf_-iss64small.pdf
Microstrip

How is sound of the CD8 now?

Dou you think that the Cd8 is still closer anologue presantation than the cd7?
Turko,
Difficult question - no CD is close to analogue presentation. I own a SME30A/2 and I can not say that the CD8 is closer to the analogue sound than the CD7 or vice versa. The type of sound of the CD8 is quite similar to the CD7, but has a more defined bass and more detail in the higher frequencies. You can have much larger differences in analogue with the same turntable and tonearm just changing cartridges.
I have not compared the CD8 with the CD7 with the upgraded 5881 power supply - the friend who got my CD7 had it modified and told me it was a considerable improvement.
Even long term A/B comparisons are not absolute - you just testing if a piece matches your system better than the other.
In my opinion comparing analogue with digital in the same system is unfair - you are just establishing if this system is optimized for analog or digital. Unhappily I never saw a system optimized for both, the best analogue systems I heard were a disaster with CD and the best digital ones were un-interesting with vinyl.
I am in the process of having my CD 7 power supply upgraded and was thinking about changing the 5881 tube for something like the Gold Lion KT66 or the Tungsol 6L6.

Would anyone be able to confirm if either of these would fit in the unit?

Many Thanks