Audio Research Ref: CD8

Actually a point of clarification. The CD8 has a new power supply. Which the CD7 can be retro-fitted to real close. ARC tells me it's a rather large sonic improvement.
But the DAC in the CD8 is totally new. The CD7 can not be retrofitted with the new DAC.
I'll report here once I get my CD7 upgrade back from ARC, next week.

Does this mean the CD7 is being discontinued? The CD7 has a "Reference" designation so it doesn't seem the CD7 and CD8 can coexist. What is the price
of the CD8?

I guess four years ago ARC hadn't figured out that a larger power supply would make a "rather large sonic improvement".
(insert Sam Kinneson scream here)

Dweller nailed it. I've owned alot of ARC gear, including the latest reference stuff...I'm not hostile, just having flashbacks from all of the MK's I went through in the 90's:)

Probably feel the need to match up with WPs numberings 7-8-? to stay in the game.. =)