Upgrading cd player

@mahler123  But u are really talking about finances. And I un what u are saying. Just about all of my equipment is ARC. Ref 750s. Ref 6SE. I did purchase on Thursday the new McIntosh MQ112 equalizer which is a very nice addition to my ARC. But as far a ARC is concerned I believe that their financials are behind them. 

I think u have or we have a miscommunication. Arc parts are available with Arc themselves. It’s the Phillips laser that I believe Philips is not maki g them no more. That’s why Arc stopped making the CD9se. Now I’m not 💯 but it’s what I thought I read. But if they did stop making the laser ( Phillips ) then yea I would definitely reconsider the Arc ref 9se CDP. I was hoping someone had some first hand experience in those 2 models the Arc and MC. Which one is the better unit. 

@ghdprentice  Yes. I am not worried about ARC going out of business or parts for service of older equipment. I recently sent my Ref 6 to upgrade to 6SE. Very fast turnaround time. I’ve heard excellent reviews on the Ref 9 se CDP but I also heard that they discontinued it because Phillips stopped making the laser / transport or something like that for the 9se. Do u know anything about that ? Also have u heard the McIntonsh MCD12000. I’ve read and seen reviews on it and it’s supposed to have a world class DA converter. Also it’s a very beautiful player also with 2 L meters and a green window showing the tubes in the front. 12k. A lot of videos on UTube of it. 

@akg_ca  I have the Rega isis SS CDP and I’ve read a lot of people prefer the SS over the valve. Plus I’m really looking to upgrade and get away from the Rega Isis. 

@ghdprentice Thanks for the update about that transport. I thought I heard that. I originally did want that CD9se. But now I’m not so sure if I can’t get another transport years later. Also thanks for that information on the Mac. I figured they would be in very different sides of the sound spectrum. Never owned Mac before. I am going to demo the MCD12000 cdp next week but it will be on all Mac gear. So the sound will be very different on my system which is all ARC. I asked the dealer if u could take home the Mac to demo on my system and he said he can’t do it. So I don’t even know if it’s worth hearing it on their Mac system. 

@wharfy  I’m gonna email ARC and ask them about that CD9se laser assembly. 

@nonoise   Thanks for the info. What do u think of the Mc  MCD12000 ? 

@mahler123   Thanks for the response. I also was thinking the same as u said. About if I can’t demo the Mac at my home in my system then forget it. It’s a 12k. CDP and the least they can do is have me demo it with my rig. It’s definitely gonna sound different with their Mac equipment hooked up to it. And my whole system is ARC so I know the sound. I read a lot of great reviews on both the 9 and 9 se. I do really liked the looks of the Mac with the meters and green display lit up showing the tubes. 😂. But it’s a lot more than looks. Plus I do love the top loading players. 

@cleeds  Exactly. I actually live about 15 min from this Mac dealer in NJ. And last week I also bought the Mac MQ112 from him. The Mac dealer also said the MCD12000 is too expensive for it to leave the shop. 🤷‍♂️When I need to demo ARC equipment my dealer is Audio Connection John Rutan. And I don’t know how many times he let me bring home equipment to demo. I asked my ARC dealer if I can Demo the Ref9 or 9Se cdp and he told me yes. So I will be picking it up soon to demo in my system. 

@nonoise   Exactly. Please read what I responded to Cleeds 

@soix  Yes exactly. He also told me that the Mac MCD12000 is too expensive to leave the shop. 😂. Last week I purchased the Mac MQ112 equalizer from them for 3k. I literally live 15 min away from this Mac dealer also. Cmon. He is really being ridiculous. 

@cfa88  Yes I do know that already. But that really is not important to me. I don’t even own 1 SACD 😂. So that alone would not make me buy it. It’s more which will sound better in my system. I’m leaning more towards the CD9SE cause I have the Ref 6SE and Ref 750s. 

@wharfy  👍👍👍

@wharfy  Are u in NJ also ? 

@mbmi   I love the MQ112. It’s an awesome unit. I’m very glad I didn’t purchase the Schitt Loki max. I was going to until I heard about the MQ112 right before I was gonna buy the Max. Then found a Mac dealer very close to me and went in to hear it and LOVED IT. Also the Mac really fits in better with all my ARC high end gear. The Max seems to be more of low to mid fi unit IMO. What didn’t u like about the Loki max. ? I’d like to know. 

@jafant TY bro. I’m really looking forward to it arriving Tues. May it have a safe cross county journey from Ca to NJ. 👍

@mbmi U are going to really love the MQ112. Please let me know how u like it. 

UPDATE. Well I pulled the trigger and bought the Audio Research Ref9 CDP. I did a lot of comparing and even thought of separates with the Audio Research Dac 9. And a few transports. Looking forward to getting it delivered next Tuesday. 

@ghdprentice TY  I really believe I made the right decision and I’m very confident that I will absolutely love the sound. Will be a very nice addition with my ARC Ref 750s and Ref 6SE. 

@wharfy TY. I love the Ref6se. Do u also own the Ref9cd ? 

@jafant   Thanks I did read and review most of them on utube. But u didn’t mention the cd8. I was watching a good review of it also. Anyway I’m really looking forward and excited for the arrival of my cd9 on Tues. 

@jafant  Would u say that the best that u heard from those is the CD9 ? And why ? Because of the tubes ? 

@jafant TY. That was a great answer. So in ur opinion what is the one that u liked the best to have and why. I’m asking you this because u got to hear all 3 of them and I never heard one of them in person or in my system. I chose and bought the cd9. And also was thinking that newest model would really fit and sound great in my system. I’m really sure that I made the right decision. Thanks for all your great input about them. 👍

@wharfy Sure that makes sense. The only way for me to reply to that is what I heard between my Rega Saturn R and then My Rega Isis. The Rega Isis does more of it also. Now I can’t wait to compare the ARC CD9 when it arrives on Tuesday to my Rega ISIS. I will also be selling that and listing it soon. 

@jafant TY. For your knowledge in these great arc cdp. Really looking forward and excited to getting it on Tues. I will definitely do the comparison bet the ref 9 and the isis. 

@wharfy Christmas 🎄 came all through the year. Very grateful. 👍