Question Audiolab 8000S & 8000SX - best modern bi-amp speakers to match?

[JulianDH]

My Audiolab powerhouse has come out of venerable retirement and seeks matching pair to enjoy mutual interests including classical, opera, rock etc etc. Will be streaming based Tidal HiFi as well as FLAC AAC library. What do we think? Anybody got experience of old Audiolab and modern speakers? Keep safe and 😃

 

[Al ears]

For what it's worth I wouldn't bother with the bi-amping bit, just run speakers from the SX, but that's just me.
How do you plan to stream to this amplifier?

 

[JulianDH]

I run PiCorePlayer and LMS ( Logitech Media Server). Have various headless players off that system

 

[mikeyc38]

Hi JulianDH

This is exactly the setup I have but I am currently running Mission 782 bi-amped and wow -weight, power, dynamics and authority. However, I suspect the mid-range units on the Missions are failing so I am considering the Ffyne Audio F303 which are biamp-able for around £700. I love the sound of my system with the missions, which I may fix by getting replacement mid-range units from Audax...

Hope this helps

Michael

 

[moomonkey]

I'm obviously very late to this thread, but for anyone coming this way in future…

I also have a pair of 8000S and SX amps, and would wholeheartedly recommend bi-amping them.

I really enjoy mine with some Neat Mystique II speakers (small floorstanders), and have actually spoken to Bob Sturgeon (founder of Neat) about this. He asked me what I was running them with, and when I told him Bob said "bi-amping does make a difference, doesn't it".

These days a lot of manufacturers seem to be of the view that bi-amping doesn't make any difference. Maybe their designs are different, but with these 20 year old amps, the difference is quite noticeable. Subtle, but noticeable.

Coincidentally, I also use LMS with piCorePlayer (such a wonderful system) and also used to have a pair of Mission 782 floorstanders! They were great, but too big for any of my lounges. Hence the Neat's.

 

[Al ears]

Just for information the OP has not been seen since his first post over three years ago.

 

[moomonkey]

No probs Al, I wasn't writing it for the OP, more for anyone curious about pairing an SX with their S for a spot of bi-amping.

 

[Al ears]

No probs Al, I wasn't writing it for the OP, more for anyone curious about pairing an SX with their S for a spot of bi-amping.

I feel sure if there were people interested in doing that then there would be more replies in this thread.... 🙂

 

[moomonkey]

I think you can probably expect 1 or 2 in every 100 people who come across a thread to bother signing up for a forum, just to comment in a dead thread. I feel 99% would just read the comments and move on with their research, elsewhere…

 

[Clothheadhq]

I too have this configuration. 8000s and 8000sx bi amped. Purchased in 98. Paired with Castle Severn 2 speakers- which I have refitted by the amazing team at Winslow audio with scanspeak drivers etc.

Recently the 8000sx has developed a clicking - it’s the amp sounding like it switching input by its self randomly- rather than a click sound through the speakers/audio. And now getting these amps refurbed too.

So after almost 30 years of daily use these amps owe me nothings and have been brilliant.

My only temptation is do I add another second sx ? For mono blocks ?

Or if I had to replace- I would have no idea on what the market is doing.

Great stuff.