DAC`S

I own a Audio Research Reference CD9SE which I use for its DAC. I have compared it in my system directly with a new $22K Berkeley Reference Alpha 3. The sonic differences were absolutely minuscule… but when under real detailed analysis I preferred the ARC to the Berkeley because it was ever so slightly more musical while the Berkeley was a tiny, barely perceptibly more detailed. I was fully prepared to buy the Berkeley.

I have been a long termed fan of Audio Research and thought of them as preamp, phono stage and amp people. But after owning, and then comparing it to other contemporary DACs I went back and read reviews of previous ARC DACs… they have been fantastic since the beginning.

However, a thirty year old DAC? I would think going back fifteen years would purchase an great DAC… but not that far back.

@sheridanmartinj ,

Digital has progressed by leaps and bounds in the past decade, the ARC is pretty much a dinosaur.

A used Ayre Codex would be a more contemporary, as well as competent, albeit at $850.

You could also get a Schiit Bifrost, not as good as the Codex, but very good for the money.

Bob

I thank everyone who made good suggestions I will follow up thanks.

@sheridanmartinj

I own ARC DAC2 and DAC3 MKII. DAC2 is built-on one of the best DAC chip Ultra analog D20400 chip, 20-bit implementation and it is solid state. DAC3 is tube DAC built on a delta-sigma 1-bit DAC from Crystal Semiconductors. DAC3 uses 4 7308/6922 tubes. I believe DAC1 uses Ultra Analog D18200 chip, 18-bit implementation. DAC 1-20 uses D20400. Both DAC2 and DAC3 are excellent performers. I would recommend you look for DAC2 which will be better than DAC1 and DAC3 is some aspects. On good recordings, both DACs performs very well. However, DAC2 can make some of the older recordings and not well recorded material sound musical. In other words, DAC2 is more forgiving than DAC3.

These are my observations and I use both DACs. I have a Cary Audio 300/200 CD player with Burr Brown 7308 multi bit DAC as a reference. Some times, I don’t hear a difference between DAC2 and Cary CDP. DAC3 is a slightly a different beast due to tube stage. When it gets it right, hard to beat that tube sound. I use 4 Amperex 7308 NOS tubes.

I would track down a AR DAC2 if I were you.

Thank you Pwerahera your the guy I wanted to hear from great info.