Has anyone heard that ARC discontinued the Ref CD-9SE?

Or perhaps, ARC may think that the CD media is passe and they squeezed as much juice from that media source as they could.

Bingo!

The "powers that be" want to eliminate media you own and control. That way, they can monitor what you watch to determine the quality of your "citizenship" to determine your trustworthiness (already being done in china).
They also want to eliminate cash money forcing you to use credit cards for everything. Again, to snoop on your transactions and make sure you are being good "boys and girls".
Just sit back and let it happen.

The ARC CD9se has been discontinued because their CD transport manufacturer stopped making the transport. My dealer told me and said he could give me back full price for mine (it’s only a few months old) if I wanted to upgrade to the Berkeley Alpha 3 DAC. I compared them in my system and while very close, the ARC sounded better. 
.

No conspiracy theories needed to explain. 

Fortunately there are a couple of rogue transport manufacturers who are not following the dictates of the international cabal.

The "powers that be" want to eliminate media you own and control. That way, they can monitor what you watch to determine the quality of your "citizenship" to determine your trustworthiness

Just get some audiophile rhodium plated tin foil hats.  Yeah, that's the ticket. ;)

Unfortunately for you, they don't make pointed tin foil hats...
Russia accused of using secret microwave weapon to attack CIA agents in Australia (news.com.au)

dweller
On Target!

bifwynneI am shocked as well. The CD9 has been out for several years. For ARC to choose not stocking those drives/optical blocks is criminal. Especially, to the faithful customers and price-point of spinner.
Happy Listening!

I am not sure that ARC has not stocked up a bunch of drives for warrantee work. Manufacturers call for last buys from customers. Any reputable companies will stock up for many years of repairs. I believe they only discontinued selling new CD9se and the less expensive one.

Jafant and ghdprentice .... I do not know if ARC has spares for repair.  I hope they do because the transport is a mechanical device and it will wear out in time. 

I used to own the Ref CD-8, which also uses the Pro 2 transport.  Last year, the transport started to develop glitches; I heard some CDs scrap something in the transport.  ARC lifted the spindle by using shams, but it didn't work.  After 2 tries, I gave up and picked up a CD-9SE. 

The CD-9SE works well and I hope it gives me at least 10 years of trouble free service.  Ironically, it may be that redbook CD media  goes the way of the DoDo bird.  Hence, it may not matter all that much if my CD player wears out in 10 years if there are no CDs to spin.

I may have to break down and get into the world of streaming music.  Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the technology and the lingo, so I have resisted making the move.  

I have an open question for the Forum:  is anybody pressing new CDs or are we just buying and trading old stock? 

BIF

New CDs are still being made.  

And transports are too.
https://www.suos-hifi.com/#

Did a web search for companies that sell Phillips Pro 2 transports.  I found one company that may have spares:  enco.  
I passed this along to arc.  They probably know, ... but just in case ....

Agreed-
New CD and SACDs are being pressed. There is the used market as well.

Happy Listening!

jab

Good to see you.   Happy Listening!

Jab, ... ARC could have fixed my CD-8 if I sprang for a replacement transport, which I recall they had in stock at the time.  However, the repair/replace cost was in excess of the value of the CD-8. 

I was able to pick up an almost new CD-9SE for a reasonable price, which made more sense than repairing a 12 year plus old CD player.  If I get 10+ years out of the CD-9SE, it will be worth the investment, especially since it has DAC capabilities which the CD-8 did not have.

That said, Jab you are right.  If the transport in my CD-9SE goes, I may be out of luck big time.  Hopefully, I'll have a good run with the CD-9SE.  But all mechanical devices are subject to wear over time, ... even the Phillips Pro 2 transport.           

OP,

The ARC CD9se is a spectacularly good DAC. I recently had my audio guy drop off a Berkeley Alpha 3 DAC for me to compare with my ARC CD9se. I was able to balance the loudness and switch between them. I had it for a couple weeks. The difference was microscopic... with the ARC sounding ever so slightly better (ARC ever so slightly warmer in the midrange and bass.... more listenable, the Berkeley a tiny bit more detailed). The Berkeley is a $22K DAC know to be one of the best currently on the market. Obviously I was comparing music streams. I have 2,000 CDs but can’t think of a reason to play them. They are more inconvenient and frequently of lower resolution than what I get through streaming. So even if I own the CD, I will stream it. .

For the price of one CD per month you get access to a nearly infinite ♾ amount of music through Qobuz or Tidal, much of it are higher resolution than red book. So, the time to switch has come. I dabbled for years and now that I own a good streamer there is no going back.

Jab, for some reason, $1500 comes to mind.  If it was $500, I would have kept the CD-8 and replaced the transport.

ghdprentice, ... I really should try the DAC side of my CD-9SE.  Your experience is pushing me.

Thanks

BTW, I traded some emails with ARC over the last day or so.  Fear not.  ARC will not abandon us.  They are working on sourcing backup transports.  Give ARC a little time.  If I learn anything, I'll pass it along.  But I trust that ARC will not let us down.  BIF

bifwynne

ARC re-placement transport(s) are in the $1000-1500 neighborhood.
The regular CD9 had a killer DAC (if this is your thing) as well.

I hope the company will stand behind Critical parts for these newer spinners?

Happy Listening!

Jafant,

I am confident that ARC will stand behind their new (as yet to be released) CD players and equally confident that ARC will stand behind their "old" CD players that use the Pro 2 transport. Not sure what ARC will do, but I am sure that ARC will figure something out.

BIF     

I trust ARC. The new owner is putting effort into running it even better than before. My dealer has spoken to him multiple times and I have received great feedback from him.