Audio Research Ref: CD8

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

I know you think that the CD7 had an upgrade in power supply. In fact it was a revision due to problem with the two regulator tubes.

The problem can be noticed when you use the unit via SE outputs if you increase the volume you can here a huge hum.

Revision 5 kit killed the hum, but also killed the sound quality. Now the revision 7 (5881 tube) brought the sound back but the also, the hum, after some use.

I had my unit upgraded. And now the hum is back. I will call ARC I think they will have to change all units again, problably using a 6550 like in CD8.

So I ask you to test your units and call ARC if you have a hum in SE output.

Gave up on CD7, after 2 units and a lot of power supply problems upgrades. My last unit showed the SE Hum again even with the 5881 tube.

I went to a CD8, 3 hours only, in it for now. I will post about it later.

Anyone have any further observations/updates? Thanks!