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Offered is „CD8 tube CD player“ by Audio Research as second-hand device from the category „CD Player“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 2323355353 ends on 30.11.2026 at 13:20 o'clock.
Against 110 recent comparable listings, the median is €6,161, with the lower quartile at €3,845. At €4,200, this sits just above the 25th percentile: not an outright bargain, but clearly below typical market and a strong buy if the condition is genuinely good.
The CD8 remains a serious high-end player, combining a top-loading Philips PRO mechanism, balanced analogue output, and a tube-based analogue stage that gives it a natural, dimensional presentation without sacrificing focus or bass definition. Its robust architecture and long-lived tube complement are genuine strengths. Check that the loading lid, magnetic puck, display, remote, and both analogue outputs work properly; otherwise, this looks like a very attractive way into Audio Research’s Reference digital design.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Audio Research Corporation, founded in 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by William Z. Johnson, traces its roots to his pioneering work in custom audio electronics during the 1950s and his operation of a specialty retail store through the mid-1960s. After a brief stint selling his designs to a larger firm, Johnson regained independence to establish ARC with a singular mission: advancing the state-of-the-art in music reproduction. From modest beginnings in the back of his shop, the company evolved into one of America's oldest continuously operating high-end audio manufacturers, now housed in a state-of-the-art 48,000-square-foot facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
ARC specializes in performance-driven electronics, renowned for vacuum-tube amplifiers, preamplifiers, and electronic crossovers that emphasize sonic purity over flashy features or aesthetics. Drawing on circuit designs rooted in the 1950s, the brand integrates tubes into modern contexts, delivering what it calls "high definition" sound through genuine technological advances. While not venturing into speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables, ARC's focused lineup prioritizes amplifiers and preamps that set benchmarks for musical realism.
Positioned at the pinnacle of high-end audio, Audio Research is hailed as a true originator of the genre, commanding respect among audiophiles for its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. Enduring the 1970s tube revival against solid-state dominance, ARC thrives via elite specialist retailers worldwide, standing alongside peers like Conrad-Johnson as a vintage-inspired yet forward-thinking force in the niche boutique market.
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