Audiolab 8000s for B&W P6 speakers

[BowserWilkens]

I've been offered an Audiolab 8000s for 300 euros (about 250pounds).

It should drive my B&W Preference 6 front loudspeakers & will be used purely as a power amp - I will connect it to the preouts on my denon 4311 receiver.

My intention is to both improve stereo sound quality & lighten the load on my denon when watching movies in 11.2 surround.

Does anyone have experience of this amp & would you say it's a good match for the P6's?

Feedback would be greatly appreciated as I don't have long to decide whether to buy it.

Thanks in advance.........

 

[plastic penguin]

Only had experience of the Audiolab 8000S in pure stereo mode. One thing that struck me about the amp (connected to my old MA RS6 speakers) was how detached it sounded. The only thing I could point it to was it didn't make good bed fellows with hard domed tweeter on the Monitor Audios. I know the B&Ws I've heard over the years have a similar tweeter, so I would be cautious with the combo.

If the person you're buying from accepts returns then by all means give them a go, otherwise I'd be looking at a different amp.

This is just a personal point of view and they could be great, so my views are erring on the safe side.

 

[BowserWilkens]

Hi there, thanks for the feedback - I thought nobody would answer.......

I've bitten the bullet and bought the audiolab - it sounded warm and meaty when I auditioned it in the hifi store. I've got a few weeks to test it (can get my money back) and a year's guarantee (it's a used model).

I'll let you know how it sounds coupled to my denon.

Thanks again.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi there, thanks for the feedback - I thought nobody would answer.......

I've bitten the bullet and bought the audiolab - it sounded warm and meaty when I auditioned it in the hifi store. I've got a few weeks to test it (can get my money back) and a year's guarantee (it's a used model).

I'll let you know how it sounds coupled to my denon.

Thanks again.

Good stuff - What speakers did you hear them with in the demo?

 

[BowserWilkens]

I listened to the audiolab through some older B&W 683 floorstanders. It was the closest the store had to my P6's.

Managed to wangle a high quality power cable bundled in with the audiolab too.

The good news: after much auditioning at home, I'm besotted with the 8000s.

Started by listening to my set up as it used to be & played a bunch of tunes (CD,SACD & ALAC) in Pure Direct Stereo on the denon.

Hooked up the audiolab to the pre-out front left/right on the denon & reassigned the denon's amps to take care of the 9 other speakers.

The same tunes, especially the blaxsplotation jazz I love, sounded far more authoritative, warmer and more dynamic. The denon sounded nice enough, but the 8000s is a great improvement. The P6's seem to have come alive and are much happier - they really sound fuller and tighter. I also watched a demo bluray before switching & and afterwards. While not the giant leap in SQ I noticed in pure direct, there was a definite step up on 11.2 surround too. Not only were the P6's more confident and more present, the front heights & other surround channels seem more alive. I guess taking the load off the denon, via the audiolab, allows it to breathe more grunt into the other speakers.

All in all, I'm pretty damn happy.

 

[plastic penguin]

I listened to the audiolab through some older B&W 683 floorstanders. It was the closest the store had to my P6's.

Managed to wangle a high quality power cable bundled in with the audiolab too.

The good news: after much auditioning at home, I'm besotted with the 8000s.

Started by listening to my set up as it used to be & played a bunch of tunes (CD,SACD & ALAC) in Pure Direct Stereo on the denon.

Hooked up the audiolab to the pre-out front left/right on the denon & reassigned the denon's amps to take care of the 9 other speakers.

The same tunes, especially the blaxsplotation jazz I love, sounded far more authoritative, warmer and more dynamic. The denon sounded nice enough, but the 8000s is a great improvement. The P6's seem to have come alive and are much happier - they really sound fuller and tighter. I also watched a demo bluray before switching & and afterwards. While not the giant leap in SQ I noticed in pure direct, there was a definite step up on 11.2 surround too. Not only were the P6's more confident and more present, the front heights & other surround channels seem more alive. I guess taking the load off the denon, via the audiolab, allows it to breathe more grunt into the other speakers.

All in all, I'm pretty damn happy.

:cheers: :dance:

 

[BowserWilkens]

Ok, so nearly a week has gone by since I added the audiolab to my ever evolving set-up.

I am very pleased with the results & have noticed how my listening habits have a changed as result too.

I used to listen to my music via pro-logic x or z, or via multichannel stereo. In both cases I was making use of all 13 speakers in my set up.

The more the merrier, if you've got 'em use 'em & why have so many speakers & not enjoy them all? These used to be the rationales in my thinking; I remember, as a young boy, watching Live Aid in the 80's and bringing all our family's radios (to my parents chagrin) into the living room. One radio in each corner. Early days. I wanted to recreate the stadium feeling in my young mind - it was messy but I was a happy 9 year old at the time. This was my first baby-step into surround sound.

With the audiolab, I keep switching to Pure Direct now - just stereo - no dynamic EQ, no dynamic volume, no subwoofer help. Every time I switch to multichannel sound, I quickly go back to this mode & smile. I still use multichannel surround for music, but only if I have friends round to play darts or play poker. For movies, I love the denon I have for dts HD master tracks and it complements the big picture provided my projector perfectly. My music collection, however, is begging me to switch to Pure Direct. It's irresistible now.

I guess it's rather like having a good SUV that rides just fine, but also having a little Lotus 2 seater for real driving fun.

I saw a Music Fidelity X10v3 tube buffer on offer in the store in which I bought my Audiolab; it's going for 100euros. Would it make sense to snap it up too?

I intend to get a DAC in the next few months for my mac mini - I'm thinking about the Arcam irDac, Nad 1050 or the new Denon dac. One of these would sit between my mac mini & Denon 4311. Any thoughts on these & would it make sense to pick up the X10v3 too and place it between the DAC & the denon?

...& yes I have been diagnosed with a heavy case of upgrade-atitis :doh:

 

[BowserWilkens]

:wave: *bump* oke:

thoughts on the Music Fidelity X10v3 for my set-up?

thoughts on best dac for my set-up?

see above post.

Thanks in advance.

 

[plastic penguin]

:wave: *bump* oke:

thoughts on the Music Fidelity X10v3 for my set-up?

thoughts on best dac for my set-up?

see above post.

Thanks in advance.

Don't know TBH. Really depends whether you want to warm the sound a little or if you want that Audiolab sound. If it's the former look at Arcam rDac or Rega Dac. If, however, the latter, then Audiolab's M-Dac should fit the bill. As always, an audition will decide.

 

[BowserWilkens]

Thanks for the reply Mr Penguin,

I'll surely have the chance to try out the X10v3 before having to pay & keep it.

I was told that placing the Music Fidelity between the denon 4311's pre-outs & the Audiolab's power-amp-in connection would improve the sound by adding, as you also mentioned, some warmth to the music.

I am still enthralled by the audiolab's SQ, but any chance of improving it further is of interest to me. I think 100euro for the x10 is a bit of a bargain.

Has anyone else had experience of the MF X10v3 (tube buffer)?

As for the DACs, I'm going to wait a little. I listen to mainly funk, r&b, hip hop & jazz - my set up can be seen below - anyone else have advice for me on choosing between the irDAC, Nad 1050, Audiolab M or the new Denon Dac?

Thanks again

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks for the reply Mr Penguin,

I am still enthralled by the audiolab's SQ, but any chance of improving it further is of interest to me. I think 100euro for the x10 is a bit of a bargain.

Has anyone else had experience of the MF X10v3 (tube buffer)?

As for the DACs, I'm going to wait a little. I listen to mainly funk, r&b, hip hop & jazz - my set up can be seen below - anyone else have advice for me on choosing between the irDAC, Nad 1050, Audiolab M or the new Denon Dac?

Thanks again

With the M-Dac it acts as a preamp, which may give you slight lift in performance. Think, though, it's a case of suck it and see.

If the MF Dac is only 100 Euros then if you don't like it, you should be able to sell it on and not lose money. Just a thought.

 

[BowserWilkens]

thanks once more,

I'll follow your advice on the DACs.

However, the music fidelity x10 v3 isn't a DAC at all; it's a tube buffer - analogue in/analogue out.

here's a link to it:

Musical Fidelity X-10 v3 Tube Buffer***SOLD*** Photo #243970 - Canuck Audio Mart

Does anyone have this tube buffer, & if so, would you recommend it between my denon and audiolab?

 

[plastic penguin]

I've not heard of a tube buffer before, but have found some threads on this forum.

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/how-do-i-connect-a-tube-buffer-stage-between-my-preamp-and-power-amp

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/mf-x10-tube-buffer-for-lp

There are a couple without replies, so not the value of adding a buffer.