News

For those looking at upping their Audio Research high-res digital/Redbook game, the Minnesota-based company has just announced the CD9SE and CD6SE transport/DACs which feature fully-redesigned faceplates to match ARC’s Reference and Foundation Series.

Featuring ‘Natural silver’ or black anodized finishes on the thick alloy front panels and handles, new interfaces/button layouts, illumination and black plexiglass displays, the new transport/DACs integrate a uniform look across the latest component platforms, matching up with current models like the DAC9, LS28 Foundation tubed line stage, and Reference 160M tubed mono blocks.

According to the company both the new SE units come equipped with the latest V3.0 USB audio card with “state-of-the-art FPGA design that re-clocks data and formats appropriately; firmware updates are not required.” The audio card supports “macOS, Windows 10, and any Linux-based system that supports ALSA devices. This feature allows full streaming capability from products like Aurender, or Roon’s Nucleus.”

For all the bits-heads, the CD6SE drops one of the TOSlink inputs from the CD6 adds an AESEBU input and keeps the unbalanced and USB inputs. The CD9SE digital-input design remains unchanged, now matching the CD6SE.

Retail on the CD6SE will be $10,000 USD and the CD9SE will be $15,000 USD. Orders can be taken now with units shipping immediately.

Specifications for both models include:

• PCM Sample rates up to 192kHz
• 16, 24 and 32-bit depths supported
• MacOS sample rates to 192kHz
• SPDIF (RCA), TOSlink, AES/EBU (XLR) and USB 2.0 digital audio inputs
• AES/EBU (XLR) and SPDIF (BNC) digital audio outputs
• MacOS, Windows, Linux compatibility for USB 2.0 digital audio input