(let's see if this appears as my last few posts haven't)
The loading machanism on my Marantz CD10 is becoming problematic *again*, so I decided that I'd go and see what all the fuss was about with the Audiolab 8200CD as i felt it might be worth considering getting something 20 years newer rather than having to regularly open up and re-belt.
Local Audio T were happy to accommodate me so off I went with bag of CDs and my 15 year old lad in tow.
I'd not expected the Audiolab to blow my socks off (as I've already got a decent system), but I'd hoped it would be sufficiently comparable with my existing box that it would make an acceptable replacement.
I was somewhat surprised to find that I was finding it slightly lacking in detail, a little harsh and somewhat over enthusiastic in the lower registers. Most of all, I found that I couldn't sit, relax and listen to the music. I did have a fiddle with the filter settings to make sure it was set to "optimal transient".
After reading so many great reviews of the Audiolab, I decided that it was probably the fault of the Rega Brio R amp or Spendor A3 speakers rather than the CD player and decided that I'd probably have to dem it at home to hear its' full potential.
As we were packing up, my lad mentioned that he'd never really listened to vinyl, so I decided to make the most of the opportunity and spin up the Rega RP3 sat alongside. Immediately, I got the sound I was wanting. Detailed, open, smooth and - in simple terms - a pleasure to listen to. The tension went out of my face and I was able to sit there, relaxed, enjoying the music. An utter joy.
The one thing it did make immediately clear is that there was nothing at all wrong with the Brio & A3 combination, and the RP3 was wiping the floor with the 8200CD.
As if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared and asked how I was getting on. He wasn't at all surprised with my conclusions, though did suggest that it might still be worth trying the CD at home with my own amp & speakers. He went on to say that at the moment they are selling nearly 10 times as many turntables as they are CD players.
The day hadn't turned out quite as I'd expected when I left home.
The loading machanism on my Marantz CD10 is becoming problematic *again*, so I decided that I'd go and see what all the fuss was about with the Audiolab 8200CD as i felt it might be worth considering getting something 20 years newer rather than having to regularly open up and re-belt.
Local Audio T were happy to accommodate me so off I went with bag of CDs and my 15 year old lad in tow.
I'd not expected the Audiolab to blow my socks off (as I've already got a decent system), but I'd hoped it would be sufficiently comparable with my existing box that it would make an acceptable replacement.
I was somewhat surprised to find that I was finding it slightly lacking in detail, a little harsh and somewhat over enthusiastic in the lower registers. Most of all, I found that I couldn't sit, relax and listen to the music. I did have a fiddle with the filter settings to make sure it was set to "optimal transient".
After reading so many great reviews of the Audiolab, I decided that it was probably the fault of the Rega Brio R amp or Spendor A3 speakers rather than the CD player and decided that I'd probably have to dem it at home to hear its' full potential.
As we were packing up, my lad mentioned that he'd never really listened to vinyl, so I decided to make the most of the opportunity and spin up the Rega RP3 sat alongside. Immediately, I got the sound I was wanting. Detailed, open, smooth and - in simple terms - a pleasure to listen to. The tension went out of my face and I was able to sit there, relaxed, enjoying the music. An utter joy.
The one thing it did make immediately clear is that there was nothing at all wrong with the Brio & A3 combination, and the RP3 was wiping the floor with the 8200CD.
As if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared and asked how I was getting on. He wasn't at all surprised with my conclusions, though did suggest that it might still be worth trying the CD at home with my own amp & speakers. He went on to say that at the moment they are selling nearly 10 times as many turntables as they are CD players.
The day hadn't turned out quite as I'd expected when I left home.