Audiolab 8000T: good for DXing?

[Nick_G]

Hi all.

I've been thinking about this tuner recently and would love to try one out. My main reasons are:

- Great ergonomics - I'm fed up of push-button tuning and the rotary tuning dial on this looks gorgeous
- Superior audio - I'm also a bit of an audiophile. So far the best tuner I've used for audio is a Yamaha T-85 but I'm guessing the Audiolab might be even better
- Good specs. The specs for sensitivity & selectivity look very similar to the Yamaha tuners, if not slightly better
- There's a socket labelled 'RDS/MPX OUTPUT'. Never seen this before and it means I should be able to hook it up to an external RDS decoder, very helpful for IDing stations.
- They seem to be selling for reasonable prices on eBay at present

So in summary my dream tuner has audiophile sound, good DXing potential and superior ergonomics. The Audiolab looks like it might tick all those boxes.

I know Audiocellar who service these tuners should be a fairly easy drive from here too if I need to get one checked out.

So, worth getting or not?

Thanks in advance for any help on this.
Nick

[The Grand Wazoo]

I'd be going for something a bit older than that myself. You'll get a better performance from something from Japan from the '70's & you'll pay a lot less too.

[Reid Malenfant]

I haven't seen that said for a good while, lets just make sure we are on the same boat :eyebrows:

When you say DXing do you mean long distance & possibly over the horizon radio reception? That's what DXTV is about & the same goes for amateur radio ;)

If that's the case then you'll need good sensitivity as you say, good selectivity & adjacent channel rejection. The RDS might be handy but in all honesty i have no idea if European stations use it, could be handy though.

Get yourself a big yagi & rotator & you are in business :) Then just wait for the right conditions in the Troposphere :eyebrows:

I might be a mile out, apologies if so.

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi
I have one of these and a few classic jap tuners,in my opinion the old ones are better,and the audiolab will definately fail as they all do.As far as I know there are now no spares available.A Sansui ,Sony or Pioneer from the golden age of analogue would be far betterin my opinion.I bought a Sony 700 es for a tenner from the second hand shop and I think that beats the Audiolab.
Dave.

[Spectral Morn]

The Audiolab is a good tuner, a very good tuner but as has been mentioned there are potential major issues with them and sadly they sell for way too much imho.

I have one and it is good and I did imho pay a tad too much for it. There is an issue with one of the display bulbs should be easy enough to sort but the other issues are not going to be easy to sort if at all, assuming they ever materialise....I hope they don't. The Audiolab was a complicated design.

The nicest tuner I have got recently imho would be the Sony ST 6A a 7 gang tuner, or a Revox B760 or a Pioneer 9100 or 9500 mk2 (the Mk 1 is okay but the mk2 has the edge imho)

I personally think the Audiolab 8000T is a tad over-rated imho.

There is of course the safe tried and tested option of a Leak Troughline Mk2 or Stereo but you will need a very good aerial as in fairness so will they all to get the best from them.

There is also Accuphase but if one comes up anywhere and I see it, you will have a major fight on your hands........ as it is the last tuner type/make I am after.....no more tuners for me after I get an Accuphase. Just thought I should say.


Re DXing imho the Audiolab is not good enough the Revox B760 destroys it for sensitivity and selectivity with my Magnum Dynalab signal sleuth switched off (power off) the Revox still goes to full quieting and stereo; were all my other tuners pick up nothing.


Regards D S D L

[hifi_dave]

I agree with the above comments. IMO the Audiolab is an OK tuner but not adequate for serious DX'ing. For that you do need a good 1970's tuner.

Soundwise, the 8000T is so, so. We always used one to sell re-furbed Troughlines back when the Audiolab was current.

[DSJR]

of the new tuners available in the mid nineties, the 8000T was amongst the best. 1970's jap tuners were still being used by their original owners back then and few from the top tier came up as I remember.

I'm not going to mention the names of the better 70's Japanese models as this always pushes prices up..

[Spectral Morn]

of the new tuners available in the mid nineties, the 8000T was amongst the best. 1970's jap tuners were still being used by their original owners back then and few from the top tier came up as I remember.

I'm not going to mention the names of the better 70's Japanese models as this always pushes prices up..


Tuner info network and HiFi World have already done the damage Dave.

Having got the Audiolab I must say I was a tad disappointed with it. Tuner info rate it very highly but I would not place it as high up the list as they have.



Regards D S D L

[Nick_G]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Yes by DXing I do mean over-the-horizon reception, either tropospheric (high pressure) or ionospheric (Sporadic E). I have a Yagi above the roof here and I plan to have a rotator installed before next summer. And RDS can be very useful, particularly if you can get the PI code displayed.

@Dave Hewitt: I'm surprised that a Sony 700ES beat the Audiolab (I presume you mean sonically). I used to use a Sony ST-SA3ES and while it sounded good it wasn't as good as the Yamaha T-85 I currently use.

I've read about problems with the Audiolab but some people seem to put more emphasis on them than others. One potentially serious one I've heard about is the caps leaking and ruining the PCB so perhaps a service could end up being expensive.

@Dalek Supreme D L: I know you've used a Kenwood tuner (the KT-5020 I think). I've heard that the KT-7020 is even better so perhaps I should go for one of those? They are common on German eBay and go for peanuts. But would they sound as good as a proper high end device? I'm after something that sounds as good or better than my Yamaha T-85.

Regards,
Nick

[Spectral Morn]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Yes by DXing I do mean over-the-horizon reception, either tropospheric (high pressure) or ionospheric (Sporadic E). I have a Yagi above the roof here and I plan to have a rotator installed before next summer. And RDS can be very useful, particularly if you can get the PI code displayed.

@Dave Hewitt: I'm surprised that a Sony 700ES beat the Audiolab (I presume you mean sonically). I used to use a Sony ST-SA3ES and while it sounded good it wasn't as good as the Yamaha T-85 I currently use.

I've read about problems with the Audiolab but some people seem to put more emphasis on them than others. One potentially serious one I've heard about is the caps leaking and ruining the PCB so perhaps a service could end up being expensive.

@Dalek Supreme D L: I know you've used a Kenwood tuner (the KT-5020 I think). I've heard that the KT-7020 is even better so perhaps I should go for one of those? They are common on German eBay and go for peanuts. But would they sound as good as a proper high end device? I'm after something that sounds as good or better than my Yamaha T-85.

Regards,
Nick


Its the 6040 that gets the raves not the 7020. I think that the 5020 is not as good as the 3050 which I prefer.


Regards D S D L

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi
My first tuner was a metrosound in about 1969,sounded superb to me at the time.If I use that tuner today it does'nt sound brilliant ,perhaps the broadcast quality is not as good these days and thats why 70,s tuners sounded so good.
Dave.

[Nick_G]

Its the 6040 that gets the raves not the 7020. I think that the 5020 is not as good as the 3050 which I prefer.


Regards D S D L

Thanks. I have been curious about the 6040 but the one thing that puts me off is poor build, or so I've heard. But maybe I should try one.

I'd prefer a digital synthesised tuner if possible because it's more convenient. Do you think the 6040 is up there with the very best for audio quality? I know it's popular with European DXers.

Regards,
Nick

[Spectral Morn]

Thanks. I have been curious about the 6040 but the one thing that puts me off is poor build, or so I've heard. But maybe I should try one.

I'd prefer a digital synthesised tuner if possible because it's more convenient. Do you think the 6040 is up there with the very best for audio quality? I know it's popular with European DXers.

Regards,
Nick

Having had a 3050 and 5020 apart I can assure you that the build quality is about the same. As the 6040 is the model up from the 3050 I think it a safe bet.....problem is that the world and his wife want them and they sell for too much....at times crazy money.

I had been thinking about a 6040 but to be honest more interesting older tuners came up at the same time.....I opted for them rather than the 6040


I have not heard a 6040 but if its better than the 3050 and it should be then it will be very nice indeed.

Have a think about a Revox B760 its digital with VU meters and a digital scale too. You can adjust the tuning steps as well. Sound quality is very good but not as good as some older Jap tuners.


Regards D S D L

[The Grand Wazoo]

Agree with all of the above, except for this bit Neil:


There is also Accuphase but if one comes up anywhere and I see it, you will have a major fight on your hands........ as it is the last tuner type/make I am after.....no more tuners for me after I get an Accuphase. Just thought I should say.

For some reason, they're not such a good bet if DX'ing is yer bag. Well, at least the T100 & T101, through to the T106. After that, well if you can afford it, then maybe!

[Spectral Morn]

Agree with all of the above, except for this bit Neil:



For some reason, they're not such a good bet if DX'ing is yer bag. Well, at least the T100 & T101, through to the T106. After that, well if you can afford it, then maybe!

I missed the DXing bit in the OP so I wasn't suggesting nor would I suggest Accuphase as being suitable. Sound Yes, Dxing No


Regards D S D L

[Barry]

If you're interested in DX'ing, I would look at American tuners. They tend have very good sensitivity and selectivity, necessary for long distance reception.

I assume you have a suitable aerial. You will need a high-gain, directional aerial, that is also steerable using an aerial rotator. If your aerial is not up to the job, and a good aerial is essential for DX'ing, suggest you contact a good supplier such as http://www.ronsmithaerials.com/ .

The AoS Library article: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7000, should, I hope, be of some help.

Regards

[Nick_G]

A further idea occurs to me: as I like the Yamaha T-85 a lot, perhaps I should look out for a Yamaha TX-1000 or 2000. Better ergonomics with the rotary tuning dial and I think more presets as well as a remote for the TX-2000. The TIC says that internally they are identical but there's a guy on Audio Review who thinks that the TX-2000 has better internal shielding. Hmmm...

The TX-2000 certainly looks gorgeous.

[baguadao]

My LED display panel only shows 3 digits with maximum value of 288. Even though I Auto up or down the number willl run up or down but never exceeding 288 or Less than 100.

My last station was FM92.40. Because I accidentally dislodged the power plug the panel showing FM92.40 went down to showing 288 or less in value and nothing more.

Have tried pressing the P buttons and several others ut unable to recover the normal panel display.

Any one any idea where a spare LED Display panel is available never mind if it is used.

Thanks you.

[Hammer]

Try Kevin Green he's a top man for audiolab gear. The last email address I had for him was kevingreen@Tesco.net hope this helps

[DSJR]

Tesco.net no longer exists and was totally closed last October..

For Audiolab parts, even older UK made ones, have a look at their website for service details. If the display is available, I'm sure they can help you. Good tuner I remember.

[Pharos]

This thread coincides with my considering whether or not my tuner is good enough.

As Dave knows, I have an AVI S200 Mk II, and have the Mk I to sell, but after the acquisition of my new speakers, with tweeters which are apparently beyond reproach, FM is gritty and spitchy from the sibilant frequencies.

Have I been victim to the AVI sales person, and should I consider getting abetter tuner?
BTW the guts of the Mk II are minimal, mostly air.