Ticking noise in Audio Research Reference CD7

Amuseb, I used to own the CD-7, and now the 8. If you check my System, I'm all ARC. I strongly recommend that rather than take the unit apart and fiddle with stuff you probably know very little about, that you call Calvin at the factory. He's there to help folks who own ARC gear. He will be able to diagnose the problem and advise you on what to do. It may be that the unit has to go to a service center or back to the factory. Dunno -- but Calvin will.

Amuseb, I checked the on-line manual. As an owner of the ARC CD-8, a $10,000 piece of gear, I would need to have my head examined if I fiddled with the Phillips transport -- or anything else in the CDP innards for that matter. Maybe for someone with experience and training, repairing the CD-7 is a "no brainer." But for me -- if I had concerns, back to the factory the CDP goes. I'm not even sure the problem with your CDP is a job for an ARC service center.

Amuseb, I rarely if ever have posted negative comments on A'gon, but I can't help but being surprised this OP has gone on so long. Unless you have experience and training, and after having checked the Phillips manual, I am puzzled why you want to fiddle with the CD-7. It's an expensive piece of gear that still commands respect in the audio world. I gather that Euro repair costs are expensive. Sorry to hear that. But there's an expression used in the States that goes, "cheap can be expensive."

Sorry to harp here, but I realize that I answered your OP about dropping a 6550 tube into the CD-7 power supply. Again, I am surprised. As I said in your other OP, I used to own the upgraded CD-7. The upgrade calls for a 5881 tube in the power supply. Why would you drop the wrong tube into the player unless you checked first with the factory??? Maybe the Euro upgrade is different if your country line current is 220v???? Or maybe the fcatory said ok. If so, my apologies in advance.

I have an idea. If the Phillips transport can be easily pulled without messing with mechanical or electronic connections, perhaps it would make sense to either order a new transport and drop it in, or if that is too expensive, just send the transport back to the ARC factory in the States or maybe the Phillips factory in Europe.

Sorry to wax on and on here, but I have great respect and pride for the American workmanship that goes into making ARC products. As I said above, it's a shame to fiddle with a fine instrument like the CD-7 if you are not trained and experienced.

I sincerely apologize if I am coming off judgmental and negative. I mean no disrespect. I just love ARC gear -- that's all.

Cheers

Amuseb, sorry if I came off as the "Ugly American." Sorry also about your trouble.

My experience in the States is that the ARC organization has bent over backwards to provide excellent service and support. Check my thread where I passed along a situation where my amp, still under warranty, had a blown bias resister. ARC sent the local authorized service rep to my home that night and fixed the amp in 45 minutes. My cost -- zero! I tipped the tech for his coutersy. Some service, huh??

I suggest that you call Cal back and tell him what's going on. I know he'll do what he can to help out. Unfortunately, your problem is that you live across the pond so to speak and that complcates everything and makes even the ordinary cost $$$$.

Please report back how you make out. Tell Cal that Bruce sends his regards and ask if the timing has changed regarding when ARC will start doing the Ref 5 SE upgrade. LOL

Cheers and good luck.

Amuseb,

You should have mentioned that your wife's family hails from Allentown. That's practcially in my backyard. I live in the Philly burbs. Don't know how feasible this idea is but here goes.

The ARC service rep I'm thinking about lives in Elkins Park, PA. Cal can give you his contact information. The tech's first name is Dan and he works with Cal and Chris all the time.

So here's the idea. I bet Dan can fix the unit and do the upgrade too. He is very accomodating. Anyway, check with Cal and talk to Dan. If your in-laws can bring the CD-7 back to the US with them, it's about a 45 minute drive from Allentown to Elkins Park. Heck, Dan might even drive up to Allentown if you pay for his time and miles.

After the unit is fixed, your in-laws can either ship it back or bring it back on their next visit. Hopefully, replacing or fixing the affected parts in the transport may not be too big a deal. This may hurt a bit, but it might just be easier to buy a new replacement from ARC and have them send it to Dan. He can bring the new transport with him to Allentown and one, two six, he's done. I gather the PS upgrade is a snap and the drop in of the transport a 30 minute or less job. I bet Dan would spend more time in the car then with the CD-7.

If this doesn't work, maybe something in the middle, like Dan fixing just the transport and have the PS upgrade done where you live. Anyway, talk to Cal and Dan and see what you can arrange.

Let me know how this works out for you. As you see, the ARC community is a like family.

Good luck.