Quick advice !

[Gbeer7]

Was surfing around on the bay and seen what looks like an amazing offer on a new Audiolab 8000q pre-amp. £229 brand new !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audiolab-8000Q-Audiophile-linelevel-PeAmplifier-NEW_W0QQitemZ170461433804QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Aud ioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item 27b04b0fcc

Now i've only just got my 8000s (Cost me £345). Would i be mad to see this and buy the pre-amp ? Bought the 8000p yesterday, waiting on delivery ! Would the 8000q make much sound difference from a 8000s ? What are you thoughts ?

The wife will think i'm mad for sure!!

Cheers,

[Gbeer7]

Don't worry guys, i want one in the black but they only sell them at this price in the silver.
Why are the silver so much cheaper ?

Is the 8000s and 8000p close to the 8000q + 8000p ?

[colorved]

consider also Croft Micro 25 Basic preamp - You may get more music from it...

interesting here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4162&highlight=croft

[Gbeer7]

Does sound good. But thinking of sticking with my audiolab's....:)

[DSJR]

Croft Micro Basic may not be currently available brand new...

The Silver 8000Q preamp is Chinese (?) made current stock, NOT the slightly better cased Huntingdon-made model from the mid-late 1990's.

I can't comment on the differences between old and new, but the old 'un was a good general purpose grands worth of preamp of high neutrality and clearer in sound than the 8000C which it all but replaced. The new one may sound identical but the lower price will put audiophools off and cheapen the name (shows that good far eastern manufacture of a good product can knock 75% of retail prices).

Current Audiolab looks like old product and doesn't seem any better - just cheaper. Think about the price increases Naim have had in the last fifteen years, churning out much the same gear year in, year out and with price rises at least in line with inflation every April 1st (Fools day........).