[ti33er]

Great, keep us posted...although I have gone back to a McLaren DP now as the Audiolab remote turns off my Tag Amplifier modules at random..grrr!!!

May see an 8000AP in the classifieds if my friend doesn't take it soon!

[Micromecca]

How much will you be looking for if it doesn't go to your mate? I could be interested for my 2nd system.

rgds
Marty

[ti33er]

Hi Marty

I would need £500 as the DP just cost me a whack more, and I think the DPs display may need some TLC from Kevin (Audicellar) which is going to cost me further...argh

I'll put up an Ad if interested, it's in mint condition from what I saw last night removing it from the rack ...it's not very old, maybe 18 months max - I swapped it with someone (who had it from new) about 6 months ago for my brand new Rotel 1565 + £100 cash, so it cost me £650 + Diesel to collect it an hour from London. It's in the same condition it was.

Paul

[Micromecca]

Cheers for the quick response Paul, have IM'd you .

rgds
Marty

[Micromecca]

Doesn't look like I'll make Manchester tomorrow due to other commitments that I had forgotten about, so if anyone else is going please try and confirm 8200AP spec with them however, THIS has magically appeared on the Audiolab website yesterday as pointed out on the 8200AP thread.

[ti33er]

Did anyone go to the Manchester Show out of interest? :-)

[Bossk128]

No, I didn't make it sadly. Interested to see the 8200AP up on the Audiolab website.

I can't believe I missed the 8000AP on the 'bay that went for £360 though!

[Micromecca]

I didn't miss it, what a bargain

[ti33er]

My 8000AP is on fleabay. Have someone in France interested it seems, working out courier ATM.

That one for £360 was a bargain, but worth noting the Ad said it was 4 yrs old with old HDMI firmware (Audiolab fee to return/repair upgrade) and rattling remote from what I gleaned?

The sound quality of the 8000AP is about the same as the Tag DP, however it is a much better match with my Kevin-Green-enhanced 100:5R Amplifier...the LEDs dim according to the Processor, and in two channel mode the other 3 amp modules switch off :-) woohoo!

[BobbyMac]

Originally Posted by ti33er

I'll put up an Ad if interested, it's in mint condition from what I saw last night removing it from the rack ...it's not very old, maybe 18 months max - I swapped it with someone (who had it from new) about 6 months ago for my brand new Rotel 1565 + £100 cash, so it cost me £650 + Diesel to collect it an hour from London. It's in the same condition it was.

Paul

Probably best to edit your Ebay advert, unless you have 2 Processors for sale

Purchased 6 January 2010 from HiFi Corner so it is not very old, and is pretty much like new condition - there no marks on the fascia so it looks very good. There may be some small superficial marks on the case, but hard to see (see pictures) them so being pedantic.

AUDIOLAB 8000AP Cinema Dual Processor (successor to Tag McLaren AV32R DP) | eBay

[Micromecca]

Originally Posted by ti33er

That one for £360 was a bargain, but worth noting the Ad said it was 4 yrs old with old HDMI firmware (Audiolab fee to return/repair upgrade) and rattling remote from what I gleaned?

Spot on mate, it was 4 year old but immaculate other than a small mark that's invisible unless you have your nose pressed up against it, operating firmware already updated to 4.2 and HDMI firmware is 4.5 so not too old and works flawlessly! as well as rattling the remote was quite tatty too but no big deal when you own a Harmony One, all in all a fantastic deal for my second system.

Originally Posted by ti33er

Did anyone go to the Manchester Show out of interest? :-)

Come on, someone must have made it

rgds
Marty

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Bossk128

No, I didn't make it sadly. Interested to see the 8200AP up on the Audiolab website.

I can't believe I missed the 8000AP on the 'bay that went for £360 though!

Well, it's sort of up. A very unfinished web site. The MDAC page starts well and then drifts off to burble on about the 8200MB.

Not very professional, IMO.

[Bossk128]

Yes, I was hoping the details would be finalised this morning, but still no pics or other information (8200AP) other than the ad blurb.

[ti33er]

Bobbymac, that is where it was purchased from and I have the original receipt which will go out with it, it is in mint condition! :-)

[Wull]

Originally Posted by ti33er

Did anyone go to the Manchester Show out of interest? :-)

Did not make it Paul, I ended up working all weekend

[ti33er]

I spoke to Steve Hughes recently (buying a new display and spare remote for my reinstated DP) and he said the 8200AP Designer was in the building and was going to ask him when who how what where, but I had to get back to work and couldn't hang on, argh.

I may one day move to the 8200AP if I want 7.1, for the BYPASS and Triggers options. Suspect LPCM is still the only 'decoding' option for high res formats, even though the Audiolab Website suggests literally all of them lol.

AUDIOLAB Marketing Dept is very poor, let's down their Products IMO. ;(

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Bossk128

Yes, I was hoping the details would be finalised this morning, but still no pics or other information (8200AP) other than the ad blurb.

Well, they are getting there...... The MDAC page looks finished now, and there are some basic details on the 8200X7 and 8200DQ pages.

[jb001e9634]

I've been considering upgrading my set-up recently and been focusing on a better power amp (Rotel 1095, 1575 or something similar) but reading this thread it's made me consider if I'm approaching this in the best way currently.

What kind of improvement would I expect to see if I replaced my Yamaha 2065 as processor with the Audiolab?

Thanks,
JB

[Darkstar_surfer]

If you already have the Rotel 985, as per your signature, I would definitely look at upgrading the processor side of things next. Just be warned the 8000AP is lacking in video input capabilities but is absolutely brilliant as an audio pre/pro. I need to add a DVDO VP50 to help it out on video duties, upscalling and additional HDMI inputs.

[jb001e9634]

I'd be using it with TiVo and a WD TV Live both on hdmi, so 2 hdmi inputs is ok. I assume I wouldn't be able to watch any ripped films from my NAS in HD audio and would have to revert to the DD or DTS audio?

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by jb001e9634

I'd be using it with TiVo and a WD TV Live both on hdmi, so 2 hdmi inputs is ok. I assume I wouldn't be able to watch any ripped films from my NAS in HD audio and would have to revert to the DD or DTS audio?

Yes, you would be limited to DD or DTS unless the WD TV Live can decode to LPCM, in which case the Audiolab can do its thing with the HD audio.

[ti33er]

jb001e9634

Combine an 8000AP with an OPPO BDP-93 NuForce NXE ...that combination through the ANALOGUE BYPASS is really something special ...if you can get yourself a good monoblock based amplifier, like a Tag McLaren 100:5R - or - NAD t955 (not ROTEL, too etchy and dry imo), you will not be sorry...very hard to beat that without spending £10 000 or more! :-)

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Well, they are getting there...... The MDAC page looks finished now, and there are some basic details on the 8200X7 and 8200DQ pages.

Bit by bit the web site is getting finished. The 8200AP pages look complete now, with photographs. The 8200X7 and DQ pages are done except for the photographs.

[Thatsnotmynaim]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Yes, you would be limited to DD or DTS unless the WD TV Live can decode to LPCM, in which case the Audiolab can do its thing with the HD audio.

I'm not sure the WD can, I use a HDI Dune as that can, had a Popcorn hour before and that couldn't do it.

[Thatsnotmynaim]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Bit by bit the web site is getting finished. The 8200AP pages look complete now, with photographs. The 8200X7 and DQ pages are done except for the photographs.

And the manual is now online, no HD audio direct decode, needs BluRay player to decode to PCM, which is ok for most BluRay players, but just a bit of a pain if you watch normal DVD's and have to keep switching the player to output PCM for BluRay and then DD/DTS for DVD's. Also not ideal for many streamers, although doesn't bother me.

[ti33er]

Thatsnotmynaim - as far as I know, if the Bluray Player decodes DTS to LPCM (PCM) it is the same as sending Bitstream to the Processor? I am disappointed that they have not included the DTS-MA Decoding etc. but it does not make this Processor obsolete by any means ...to be honest, having the Source (Player) decode the Audio may actually the better thing anyway, less to go wrong in signal transmission i.e. data loss imo.

[ti33er]

Playing with my Tag DP there are SO many options in the setup to distract me; I do miss the simplicity of the Audiolab AP! ...just good sonics, simple! ...still, get an OPPO BDP-93 to mate with this guy, great aesthetic and sonic match ...

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Thatsnotmynaim

I'm not sure the WD can, I use a HDI Dune as that can, had a Popcorn hour before and that couldn't do it.

Fair enough. I have a Netgear NeoTV 550 which can decode everything to LPCM if required, and I can choose by codec, so can bitstream some codecs and decode others. Not that I have any HD audio material!!

[Micromecca]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

I have a Netgear NeoTV 550 which can decode everything to LPCM if required

Hiya, I looked at this unit for a friend quite recently and its specs state that it can indeed unpack Dolby True HD to LPCM but can only Bitsream DTS HD MA, has a firmware update enabled this? it could be an option for him again if so

regards
Marty

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Micromecca

Hiya, I looked at this unit for a friend quite recently and its specs state that it can indeed unpack Dolby True HD to LPCM but can only Bitsream DTS HD MA, has a firmware update enabled this? it could be an option for him again if so

regards
Marty

Hi. I don't know off the top of my head, but I'll check when I get home this evening and post back what I find.