Audiolab 8200CD
Digital Audio  DAC
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Add your own review for: Audiolab 8200CD
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 This has been a hard review to write. Not because I don't like the Audiolab 8200CD, but Instead because I actually like it.
How do you write a review for a piece of gear that does not make itself known, or announce it's presence? This thing just plays music.... Notice I didn't say "it's musical"; it imparts no flavor, no impressions of its own of what it thinks you should be hearing. It simply reads the 0s and 1s and sends them to you the way they were laid to disc.
Neutral.... Let's call it neutral. Not in the way that the Bryston DAC is neutral, and relentlessly analytical. This DAC won't leave you feeling cold like the BDA-1 can.
Did I say DAC? This isn't a CD Player? .... Audiolab likes to call the 8200CD a DAC with a built in CD Player. I like that...
Speaking of that, I haven't tried the 8200 as a DAC, but I have utilized the ESS Sabre DACs while using it as a CD player (obviously). It's good - really good! There's also about a half dozen built in digital filters that sound subtlety, but noticeably different. I agree with most reviews; the "Optimal Transient" filter is the best.
Construction wise, the 8200CD is utilitarian and solidly built. As a added extra bonus, the remote also controls my Cambridge Audio 840A as well!
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Review added by: dmitchell
Added On: 4/25/2012
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Add your own review for: Audiolab 8200CD
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Comments
Added By: N1ck
Hey Dave. You planning on testing it as a DAC? I see a solid state music server in your near future. lol.
Comment Added: 4/26/2012 8:05:05 AM
Added By: Hey Nick.
I've read some forum posts where people said that the 8200CD sounded better spinning discs than used as an outboard DAC from a PC. Not really sure about that, probably a lot of that would depend on how good/how well the music server was set up.
I'm still happy with my CD collection.
Comment Added: 4/26/2012 9:10:31 AM
Added By: N1ck
Figured you were bud. Sounds like my kind of source though.
Comment Added: 4/27/2012 5:14:24 AM
Added By: Rea
The analog itupns are a dual differential 24/192 pro quality A/D convertor set. The first analog input can be assigned as a straight analog input, or an entirely customizable phono input. Analog input 2 can be set as phono 2, but thats not a customizable input. If you email them, Devialet engineers will create and post a file that perfectly matches the electrical characteristics of your individual cartridge you can download, save to your SD card and update when you power up the D-Premier. With that degree of fine tuning, your analog performance will equal any digital itupns performance. The press just hasn't had this long enough to get experienced in this aspect of the company or the product. Jeff - email France and tell them your cartridge - they will match it perfectly.
Comment Added: 6/17/2012 9:52:18 AM
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