Hi-Fi: Audiolab 8000CDE CD Player and 8000SE Integrated Amplifier – 72

It seems that legendary British hi-fi companies aren’t that hard to find these days, even if they have had colourful lives in one form or another.

Take Audiolab, for instance. The company was extremely well regarded with the original 8000A integrated amplifier and other electronics, so much so that that well known hi-fi rag What Hi-Fi? used a brace of 8000M monoblock amplifiers and the matching Q pre-amp as part of its reference system.

For reasons unknown (seemed like a good idea, perhaps?) the company was purchased by Tag McLaren, and after a few years’ developing some quite beautiful higher-end products (the Tag McLaren Calliope, for example), the audio company was sold to IAG. Yes, the owner of Mission, Quad, Wharfedale and, lately, Castle Acoustics.

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that Audiolab has returned to its roots with a range of components that look eerily similar to the pre-1997 range.

It should come as no surprise. Audiolab’s glory years were spearheaded by products such as the 8000A, so the fact that the new components look the same is a bit of a no-brainer really.

I was lucky enough to have heard the 8000A some years back when I was shopping around for a new amp; it sounded great but in the end I settled on the ravishing Pioneer A400 instead — mainly for financial reasons (it was considerably more affordable).

Now Audiolab is back with a new distributor, so I was chuffed to get my grubby mitts on the new 8000SE amplifier and partnering 8000CDE CD player.

They’re attractive components in an industrial sort of way, with controls on both the amp and CD player kept to a minimum, even to the point of omitting remote control operation on the amplifier.

Conservatively rated at 60wpc, the high-current 8000SE is able to drive four-Ohm loads with ease, so it’ll power most speakers on the market without a worry. The 8000CDE is equipped with 24/192 upsampling ability, which is de rigueur for players costing considerably more. Build quality on both components is very good with strong, well-finished casework, and sturdy control knobs and buttons.

The humble stereo amplifier and CD player combo represents the grassroots of hi-fi, and it is still refreshing to hear music through a good-quality two-channel system in this age of home theatre and the iPod. Luckily for me I had a few good nights to acquaint myself with the spunky Audiolabs.

I drew on the services of the elegant new Mission 796 (reviewed in this issue) as well as my trusty but excellent Wharfedale Opus 1s, while support from Nordost cables (Superflatline MK2 speaker/Blue Heaven interconnect/Shiva power) meant I was exceptionally well connected.

After a weekend of burn in, listening commenced in earnest and I was soon able to rediscover the Audiolab sound, updated for the new millennium.

Audiolab’s dynamic duo produced a fast-paced, involving and vibrant sound that suited all the discs I played through them. Tracks from Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled album were immediate and punchy, with only a slight lack of control in the bass betraying the modest amplifier power. Mid-range detail on songs from Herbie Hancock’s The New Standard was also a highlight, as was the ability of the Audiolab combo to produce a seamless soundstage. After chilling out with Herbie, into the 8000CDE went Radiohead’s gorgeous In Rainbows album, and I enjoyed every track through the Audiolabs, especially ‘House of Cards’, the pairing managing to make this track sound quite spooky with its excellent 3D-like sound-staging. Significant here was the system’s ability with rhythm and pace; the music just seemed to motor along and kept me grooving (well, on the couch, anyway).

I’d descrive the Audiolab electronics as fairly neutral in terms of presentation, with a cleanly transparent midrange and upper treble. A change of discs meant I was soon listening to Damien Rice’s delicate O album and it was here the aforementioned attributes shone through with an extremely involving and emotional portrayal of the Irish singer/songwriter’s trademark sound. Guitars on the recording had realistic body and timbre, while vocals hung in space between the speakers very nicely indeed.

Heavier stuff such as songs from Disturbed’s Indestructible also fared well via the Audiolabs. The duo cut a swathe through the dense and exciting mix to reveal hidden detail and very good dynamic ability, proving to this reviewer that these components are not for culture junkies only.

I really enjoyed my time with the 8000SE/CDE combination. They are a fast-sounding pair that will prove worthwhile partners for most loudspeakers and certainly provide excellent value for money. A strong recommendation is the only conclusion from this reviewer.

GARY PEARCE

SPECIFICATIONS

AUDIOLAB 8000SE

Integrated Amplifier

Type: Class A preamplifier with dual output

Rated Output Power: 60wpc into 8 Ohm, 95wpc into 4 Ohm

• Headphone socket
• Digitally-controlled muting
• Toroidal power transformer
• Gold-plated phono connectors/relay contacts
• Six line level inputs and three tape loops
• Sorbothane sonic isolation feet

Finishes: Silver or anodised black

AUDIOLAB 8000CDE

CD Player

DAC: 24-bit 192kHz, 5th order delta sigma

Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz +/-0.5dB

Signal to Noise Ratio: >100dBA

Connections: RCA

Finishes: Silver or anodised Black

Pros

• Very high quality sound for the price

• Well made

Cons

• Slight lack of bass control at high volumes

Verdict

All-round performers and bargains to boot

This review is from Tone issue #72.