Hei sifu here is anyone listen to audiolab 8000 dac before. How it sound? Is it worth to get it for a second hand dac for around RM1,200? or get those Tian yuan dac better?

Hi,

before you get, please read the online review of the audiolab dac. what character of sound u prefer. diff gear sound differently.

in dac, they are basically 3 types ..

1. NOS. Non over sampling
2. Oversampling. most majority dac is this.
3. Upsampling.

For RM 1,200 , u can get very good DAC liao.

dont waste your money, use the DAC that come with the AV receiver that you will be upgrading to sooner or later.

save for that.

IMHO, Audiolab DAC is 1 bit dac technology, So don't expect it sound detail & dynamic, extension Of both end is good. But the vocal & music presentation will more casual, relax & easy to listen.
But I prefer old multi bit DAC, 16 bit, 18bit & 20 bit.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 21 2008, 02:55 PM

I have listened to it before, the sound is very good but nowadays, this Audiolab DAC is very hard to find already, I still remember this 8000DAC was a product of year 1996-7. And the price was around RM3000-4000 then. For the technology, kkthen said it is a 1bit DAC, 1bit or multi-bit won't have any effect for the sound since both technology was created during CD era. 1bit is from Philips and multi-bit is from Sony. Just listen to it and if you like it, just buy it.

I know what DAC chip is inside and its perhaps the best 1bit DAC. Yes I know because I've owned 3 of them (2 left now, one sold long time ago). Sorry, but I don't like the newer so called 24bit capable chips from Cirrus, BB or AD. China made DAC's actually messed it up with bad layout, pcb design and it doesn't sound better than a budget hifi CDP.
Anyway, for the TS, go listen to it and if it suits you..buy it. Its potential also depends on the rest of the system.

This post has been edited by bsl555: Jun 21 2008, 02:12 PM

Hi, bsl555 what is the DAC chip inside this DAC. I have listen to it using Marantz CD5001 to (coaxial cable audioquest VSD-2) audiolab 8000 DAC (interconnect audioquest sidewinder) to soundstage 1.5 to (speaker cable QED silver anninversary XT)Mordaunt short Mezzo 6. Is this matching Ok or not. The sound is sweet. vocal is good. like kkthen say vocal & music presentation will more casual, relax & easy to listen.

Yes, it is a 10 years ago technology and the items is around that age. So is the RM1,200 worth or not? caused I don't have listen to other DAC before. Unless ccschua lent me his DAC. HaHa.

One more question is the DAC have long lifespan?

This post has been edited by mysghooi: Jun 21 2008, 05:41 PM

Actually, I feels that synergy do quite important in decision making, if you wanna add more energy and spark to your current setup, of course it's better for you choose modern 20bit & 24bit DAC chip which tend to extend better at both end and more dynamic. If your felt that your current system is sluggish and you still wanna introduce relax and less dynamic 16bit or 1bit DAC into, it may sounds worse to your ears

So maybe you speak out which aspect you wanna improve on your system. and you current setup. So we could give you the remedy straight to the wounds

Actually I like soft music and vocal. Any recommendation.

Emmm ... how you think your current system doing both soft music and vocal so far? warm and emotional enough? and your current CDP model? If possible you go borrow mr. ccschua's ZERO dac for audition LOL That's usually how modern dac chip sounds like, see it's match your expectation, if it still sounds too bright for you, you gotta go for lower bit DAC

go for audiolab dac.

DAC don't spoil easily and I know Audiolab has good electronic parts and design implementation inside. The circuitry is more elaborate unlike budget DAC where corners are cut and save on parts. It has 6 single channel opamps at the analog section. Budget DAC have only 1 or 2.
Its a great DAC with multiple digital inputs and best of all a balanced input if you have a hi-end CD transport. Not many DAC's offer this now.
Ok.. The DAC chip is a Philips Dual Bitstream TDA1547...perhaps the best and most expensive DAC chip Philips have made. The shortlived hi-end Marantz SA1 used 4 of these dac chips.

higher bit DAC doesn't really mean it will be bright.i had heard some 24bit DAC with a lot of detail, yet very neutral sound.
most DAC i test has very less characteristic on bright / warm. but different detail / spatial / accuracies when it come across different type of DAC/ different bit rate DAC.
from what i recall, there are some 24bit DAC sounds warm too, but that i will put it into catogories of "not so good" design DAC as it has too strong characteristic, which in the end, imho it's a compromise by creating special taste to suit certain customer taste within lowest budget, not quite an all rounder.
my suggestion is. since u loved the audiolab. go ahead. as audiolab is a proper designed DAC. as compared to lower budget DIY class DAC .


This post has been edited by PcWork: Jun 21 2008, 09:45 PM

I also forgot to mention that Audiolab have already paid attention to the internal clocks to reduce jitter which is why the tonality is never harsh nor aggressive, moreover quite a natural tone. There's hardly any mods to this DAC as its already seen as an excellent design. IMHO, if CDP's and DACs are a subject to various mods, that can mean the design is either flawed or compromised due to cost. Anway, the rest of your rig also plays its part in giving its best.
Oh well, its a love or hate affair with this DAC. I'm keeping mine for good which my other updated one have a HDCD digital filter and decoding.

Never listen to Audiolab8000 DAC b4, but i owned Audiolab 8000A until it retired 1.5 yr ago, I suggest you go for Zero DAC with Opamp627 combination.

there is a few versions of this dac as the dac had been improved over its product life, try to get the latest version b4 it was discontinued. The Mk I has all rca connectors instead of bncs in the later versions...for $1.2k u shd be getting the latest version as older versions are going as low as $800...I've used & sold a few units myself...if u need a dac that sound as good but cheaper, I have 1 unit. PM me if interested....

This post has been edited by Boxer: Jun 21 2008, 11:25 PM

Since you like vocal, you may not go wrong with audiolab Dac. Audiolab DAc is audiophile grade DAC, their internal Parts & design is far better than cheap dac. Unless you care more about hifi effect like Drum Hitting, exciting instrument music, then you better get dynamic multi bit dac. I got my friend sell his multi bit MSB’s 24/96 Link DAC & get meridian bitstream 203 dac( chip is same as audiolab), Because he feel it more musical & vocal is better. So most important, you better plug the audiolab dac in your system & let yourself to decide this new combination is suit your taste or not? But please use good digital cable for testing.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 22 2008, 08:15 AM

just my personal opinion, get a decent cd player instead of getting a cd transport, dac, digital cable, xtra power cable to power up yr DAC. Just too much hassle and been thinking bout it. In the end, its all about enjoying the music.
Ended up with a Rega Apollo and i am happy with my decision.

This post has been edited by bose00: Jun 22 2008, 12:31 AM

Yes, Agree. Life is more easier.

This post has been edited by kkthen: Jun 22 2008, 01:57 AM

Ok, now seller let me to try it for 1 week. 1st listen to it the vocal is very sweet and enjoyable. Will test it kau kau before get it.

the Audiolab 8000DAC was one of the decent mid-range DACs in the 90s during the sunset era of the then hi-fi scene.

Back then, the accuracy of the digital chips are nowhere near the precison and performance of a modern day DAC from say Burr-Brown or Wolfson. HOWEVER, the Audiolab DAC, it being a no nonsense "hi-fi" piece of equpment, also means thats its build with the intended standards and a "tender loving care" as expected in a dedicated piece of hi-fi gear.

Likewise, you would find really modern DAC chips in AV amps and PC/Audio soundcards but when really put to critical listening, does not quite cut it as audiophile (at least of the old school) grade.

As there is much more to building a good DAC that just the schemes employed (1 but, Multibit, hybrid, etc etc) but also how clean is the power supply, how well are the digital filters implemented, clock/crystal accuracy (jitter) , the analogue stages (and this probably influences alot more on the sound than most people might admit), etc etc...

An example would be the DAC in modern day iPods which uses a really good Wolfson D/A chip. But due to space contraints, the analog circuitry in an iPod is just about sufficient for "acceptable" sound on earphones and not much else. On the other hand if you could stream the digital portion of the iPod into a say.. Theta DSPro Generation V DAC, the sound would be at a whole new level of quality and dimension. (Mind us all, the Theta ProGenV is already about 10+ years old in terms of technology and in PC-shelflife terms, its way gone beyond obsolete... !)

.... But personally, the 8000DAC is still worth a try , as with Hi-Fi gear of yesteryears, the built-quality is the saving grace.



p.s. , excuse my typos and rotten grammar, was typing in a less than ideal condition just now...

This post has been edited by mugenfoo: Jun 23 2008, 12:10 AM

Well, i wont be so quick to say the DACs in the AV amps might be better than the Audiolab 8000DAC just yet .... Some of these AV amps' DACs are really harsh and nasty sounding ... unless u got something like a Krell Showcase system or a Theta Casablanca system or the likes...

Thanks for mugenfoo, so I have more opinion. After I have listen to it. The sound is sweet and not harsh. It more musical compare to my marantz CD5001. I continue to test it for few more days to see the result.

Well for RM 1200, why not consider buying a good CDP and sell away the 5001 to top up..

in that case u get RM400 + RM 1200 = RM 1600 and u can get a really nice CDP (like CEC 3300, I know there is one selling less than that with balanced output).

This post has been edited by ccschua: Jun 23 2008, 06:34 AM