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DAC vs CD Player for cd playback with computer audio - Help old timer out

Getting back into the game after along time away.  So much has changed!

I think I want to stick with Audio Research for a number of reasons, nostalgic and otherwise.

I want to play CDs and also to play files from my computer. Streaming would be nice.  How would that work out with the following setups?

1. If I have a CD player is it POSSIBLE that I could use the DAC in THAT CD Player to play my computer audio?  For example an Audio Research CD 8 from 2008.  

2. Can I use a CD transport (like the Audio Research CD2 from 2002) with an Audio Research DAC 8 (from 2012) AND run computer audio into that DAC?

Which option makes more sense for CDs and Computer audio?  How about CDs, computer audio AND streaming?

I have a headache just writing all of this out.  

Thanks in advance!

kublakhan

Showing 1 response by audphile1

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,443 posts
 

@kublakhan Audio Research is excellent. I’m a huge fan. I used to own CD3MkII. 
A word of caution on the older ARC cd players - the Philips transports that old have a high probability of failure - you can find a replacement and swap it yourself if you’re handy; There are other parts in those older CD players that can fail and potentially brick the unit permanently as ARC may not have replacement parts and no one will be able to fix it. 
On ARC DACs - keep in mind their USB cards are not linux compatible unless you opt for the latest DAC or confirm the DAC you are buying has an upgraded USB card. This matters if you are using Apple computer or any of the modern streamers and use USB as interface (using computer to stream music is not ideal to begin with). 
This CD9SE has an upgraded USB card. If you look at pictures you will see the sticker Audio Research placed above the usb input https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650115598-audio-research-dac-9-se/

Alternative solution to your case would be  separate CD Transport, streamer and DAC. Depends on your budget you can get a really nice setup. 
 

 

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