Audiolab coming soon

[Spur07]

http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messag...81/644532.html

Just seen this courtesy of PFM. It seems John Westlake will be back with a bang. Don't particularly need a CD player myself, but the Pre/Dac is very interesting.

[Stratmangler]

Link not working for me Paul.

[Ali Tait]

Linky no worky?

[Krisbee]

Is it this?

http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/644532.html

[Alex_UK]

There's also a full ad on the back of this month's What HiFi? "Check Out That Rear" showing the connectivity. There's been a lot of buzz about it on other forums, and the "Q" at £900 (built in preamp) hooked up to a P (new 8200P coming soon?) would probably be a great compact system, if it sounds good... I love Audiolab kit, so will be very interested to see how these do.

EDIT: So as not to upset the active ppeaker fans, an 8200CDQ hooked up to a pair of actives would be even more compact, let alone any other possible benefits...

[Gbeer7]

Awesome, I love my audiolab gear ! Shame i've got no money !!!

[StanleyB]

From what I gather it's a CD player with a DAC in it and variable outputs. Is that correct or not?

[lurcher]

Looks like its ticking a lot of boxes, Async USB, ESS DAC. £700 looks a good price as well if it delivers.

[Alex_UK]

From what I gather it's a CD player with a DAC in it and variable outputs. Is that correct or not?

Or maybe a DAC with a CD player in it? ;) Yes, pretty much, though I think only the Q version is a pre-amp too, with 3 analogue inputs, headphone amp (all class A). Both are based around an ESS Sabre DAC.

I find this really interesting:

The user can control the media player on his/her PC or Mac via the Audiolab remote, with the control signal transferred back to the computer via the USB port. This facility is driverless (in other words, it is built into the operating system) and is compatible with all media players -- Apple iTunes, Windows Media Player etc.

One of my biggest issues (not wanting to spend money on an iphone or touch) with computer audio is not having remote control.

I think it will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, and at £600/£900 is pretty competitive if it sounds as good as the blurb suggests...

[Spur07]

Sorry about the dysfunctional link guys, thanks for that Krisbee.

I don't really understand the reasoning behind including a CD player but from what I gather they consider it more a Dac/CD player, or at least that's the blurb. JW reckons it's the best Dac he's heard, but then he would. Implementing a Pre could swing it for a lot of people, I wonder how easy it will be to demo one though?

I'm also very interested in the remote concept Alex - controlling something like itunes via the unit remote. A great idea imo.

[DSJR]

This is the kind of crossover product that hopefully should succeed very well I think, updating on the older Quad 99 CD player with digital inputs (and possibly the Cambridge 840C as well).

This looks to be the first truly NEW product range from Audiolab since the original UK company (the previous models looked to be refinements of the TAG stuff in the Audiolab styled cosmetic). It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out :)


I and I suspect many others, like the tactile thing of manually holding the software and playing each disc individually. I also appreciate that there's a whole new generation (and a good few oldies) to whom this is a chore and they'd rather press a few buttons and have their entire music collection on tap. Until I cannot play discs the old fashined way, I'll stay as I am I think.

[Gbeer7]

I'm with you DSJR. I like the physical medium of the CD. Keeps the romance in music. The sleeve, notes and flicking through your collection deciding what to listen to.
I would love a new Audiolab player to replace the one I got a few years ago. Even though I love the sound of it, its the excitement of the new model !

[Spur07]

Again, butchered from PFM, here's what Audiolab are meant to be bringing out:

8200CDQ: CD player, digital decoder and preamp in one box.

8200DQ: DAC/preamp – basically an 8200CDQ without the transport mech

8200A: 2x80W integrated amp

8200P: 2x100W stereo power amp

8200M: 125W mono power amp

8200MB: 250W mononlock

So there will be an independent Dac/Preamp, but might not come in at the original estimation of £399

[Gbeer7]

Only just bought my 8000m's in the past few months as well. Ho-hum.

[Alex_UK]

The Audiolab website (http://www.audiolab.co.uk/Product.aspx?lang=En&Tab=4) now has details of the following:

8200A (Integrated amp)
8200CD (CDP/DAC)
8200CDQ (CDP/DAC/Pre)
8200MB (Monoblocks)
8200Q (Preamplifier)

Note, there doesn't appear to be an 8200P as yet, so only option would appear to be 2 x 8200MB's - they are quite different sized to the old 8000Ms though, so look like they would fit the same "footprint" of an 8000P in that they are half-sized.

Hope this is of interest to some.