Specifications

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Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player with Built-In Preamplifier

Written by Brian Alvarez

Monday, 30 May 2011 00:00

Introduction to Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player

Early adopters live in a world of potential. We latch on to a new paradigm shift significantly ahead of the

adoption curve. As such, we’re often saddled with legacy methodology or products. Solutions are never simple

or straight forward. We push ahead and often have to improvise. Eventually the mass marketplace catches up

and products appear addressing our needs. Audiolab markets a CD player called the 8200CD. THe 8200CDQ,

reviewed here, also contains a built-in preamplifier that can deliver 4 volts RMS through its fully balanced

outputs. This eliminates signal loss in cables that would normally connect a CD player's outputs to the

preamplifier.

Having used either a computer or music streamer for the past 8 years, I’ve waited for the ancillary components

to catch up. I’ve had fantastic sounding products that never fully exploited the fundamental functionality of

using a music server. I was forced to kludge together multiple boxes to achieve my desired outcome. I’ve

yearned for the elegant solution of computer, DAC, powered speakers. Only recently have products come to

market that fully exploit the power and flexibility of computer/streamer based systems. We’re at the tipping

point and manufacturer’s such as Audiolab are responding accordingly.

The CD player is dying off and I doubt it will get the resurgence Vinyl enjoys. The future is clearly digital

downloads. For the moment in lossy compression, soon enough in lossless and eventually high resolution. Not

everyone is ready to abandon their silver discs. It makes sense for Audiolab to offer a transitional product like

the 8200CDQ. Described by Audiolab as a DAC with an integrated CD transport. It bridges the gap between the

needs of those still using CDs as their main format, and giving these individuals a way to play their digital music

files through the digital outputs of music streamers as well.

The 8200CDQ is truly a landmark product, one which I’ve personally waited for quite some time. A top tier

DAC with multiple inputs (including USB), an analog pre-amp with home theater bypass functionality, and a

headphone amplifier, lest I forget a CD transport thrown in.

Specifications

Design: CD Player with Preamplifier

Digital Inputs: Two Optical, Two Coaxial, USB (Asynchronous)

Analog Inputs: Three Single-Ended RCA inputs (All Configurable for HT Bypass)

Digital Outputs: One Optical, One Coaxial

Analog Outputs: RCA (Max 2 Volts RMS), XLR (Max 4 Volts RMS)

Sample Rates Coaxial: Up to 24 bit/96 kHz (including 88.2khz)

Sample Rates Optical : Up to 24 bit/96 kHz (including 88.2khz)

Sample Rates USB: Up to 24 bit/96 kHz (including 88.2khz)

DAC: 32-bit ESS9018 Sabre32

32-bit/84.672MHz Oversampled/Upsampled, 512 Element, Multi-bit Array DAC (Four DACs per

Channel) ESS9018 Sabre32

1920x Oversampling with 44.1kHz Source from CD/USB

High-current, Single-ended and Balanced, Discrete Class A Output Stage

High-performance, Direct-coupled, Discrete Class A Headphone Amplifier

Custom CD Servo Design – with Ultra-Low-Noise PSU for OPU

34 Regulated Power Supply Rails

MSRP: $1,399 USA

Audiolab

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player with Built-In Preamplifier Written by Brian Alvarez Monday, 30 May 2011 00:00 Introduction to Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player Early adopters live in a world of potential. We latch on to a new paradigm shift significantly ahead of the adoption curve. As such, we’re often saddled with legacy methodology or products. Solutions are never simple or straight forward. We push ahead and often have to improvise.
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14 Ultra-Low-Noise Discrete Regulators User-selectable Digital Filter Settings – Software Upgradeable via USB Port Master Clock Jitter Less than 3 psec Short Term Dimensions: 3" H x 17.5" W x 13.8" D MSRP: $1,399 USA Audiolab Design of the Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player Audiolab has a long history in British hi-fi. I can recall wanting an 8000A integrated amp when I put together my first hi-fi system. Unfortunately for me it was out of my price range at the time.
PAGE 3
John and Dominik have also implemented several digital filters including three that offer zero pre-ringing. Zero pre-ringing filters address one of the main problems with digital audio low pass filters. They introduce “ringing” before the attack of an impulse. These types of filters are usually not found on equipment anywhere near this price range. Though recently this has changed with the new Rega DAC having a similar filter.
PAGE 4
Theater Mode, and Display Brightness. Input level trim is only available if the input is not in Home Theater bypass mode. The level of adjustment is +/-24db. Home Theater Mode is adjustable for each of the three inputs, it’s not likely to be used with more than one input, yet the flexibility is appreciated. The Display Brightness functions the same regardless of input. The Headphone amp operates in class A and sounds fantastic.
PAGE 5
microphone in millimeters from each singer. Every instrument, vocal, synth, beat, you name it, occupies a distinct place in 3 dimensional space, the dynamics of each never obscuring the other. Overly dynamically compressed music shines through the Optimal Transient filters. It’s as if you’re applying a reverse multi-band dynamics processor.
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Conclusions about the Audiolab 8200CDQ CD Player I spent nearly three months living with this player, listening to hundreds of hours of music. Never once did I regret purchasing this player/DAC. From day one, cold, no break-in this player just astonishes. It’s musical, detailed, fun and engaging to listen to. The flexibility of having analog inputs, home theater bypass, multiple digital inputs, a fantastic sounding USB input and a built in transport put it in a league of one at this price.