[sounddog]

Originally Posted by BobbyMac

Definitely if it's under £1500

At the moment your choice for a 1.4 HDMI processor up to £2k is -:

Marantz AV7005
Emotiva UMC-1
Onkyo TX-NR3009

Or use an Anthem MRX "Receiver" as a processor

Or Rotel RSP1572

[PhilCTTE]

A rep has stated that dealers should get it before Christmas

Yes this year !

[inferno_red]

Any word on an upgrade for the 8000ap?

[sijones]

Just noticed that the manual for the 8200AP has been loaded on the Audiolab website.

Distributor & Dealers - Audiolab website

As expected, there is no mention of any room eq. I still fail to understand why they would leave this functionality out of any new processor. Even if they just implemented something similar to the old TAG McLaren TMREQ, it would be more than worthwhile. As it stands it will lose out on sales with this feature missing.

Kind regards,

Steve

[Micromecca]

Originally Posted by inferno_red

Any word on an upgrade for the 8000ap?

I have just heard back from Steve Hughes regarding the upgrade, he confirms that it will be available 'by the end of the year' and will include the following:

• New HDMI 1.4 PCB with four inputs one output. 1)
• Jitter reduction circuit for recovered HDMI audio clock. 1)
• True Bypass option for all analogue input.
• 7.1 Bypass input.
• Trigger outputs for remote control.
• New Audiolab 8200 series front panel design incl. New Display

1) = These upgrade should be available to existing 8000AP customers and will involve a change of core chassis.

No mention of cost as yet though, I guess that is to be confirmed

rgds
Marty

[Kenny Glasgow]

Can't help thinking that they have missed the boat by two years with 8200AP.

Apart from the lack of on-board HD decoding, there is no USB option, too few HDMI-in's and no dual HDMI-out.

The display is also disappointing, especially compared to the old TAG displays

[Kenny Glasgow]

...and not forgetting room correction ...... (even though I did!)

[Micromecca]

I agree Kenny, and can't help feeling that if Audiolab developed the product just a little further it would be the most popular AV processor going, they deffinately missed a trick there however, for those of us that don't need the extras that would bring, its still the best compromise between AV processor and Stereo Pre-Amp, It's just a shame they havn't made it more universal so that it would appeal to more people.

rgds
Marty

[Kenny Glasgow]

Hi Marty

The on-board decoding doesn't bother me too much although a USB connection that could decode at least 96/24 should be there these days. This is a big miss for audiolab especially with the re-surrgence in music interest now that hard disk storage and streaming have been accepted.

Room correction if done properly can be very good (like TMREQ) and I can see why a lot of people want it.

That display is far too small though!

[Bossk128]

Maybe they will be competitive on price, say 800 pounds?

[sijones]

Originally Posted by Kenny Glasgow

Can't help thinking that they have missed the boat by two years with 8200AP.

Apart from the lack of on-board HD decoding, there is no USB option, too few HDMI-in's and no dual HDMI-out.

The display is also disappointing, especially compared to the old TAG displays

I didn't even notice the lack of HD decoding. They have definitely lost the plot on this one.

Kind regards,

Steve

[Trikky]

Oh dear, what are they doing???

Even if the upgrade is available I'll probably save my money and put it towards a Marantz or Onkyo processor from TUC or CineMike.

Disappointed! I was hoping for a little more - what a shame.

[eaglemmoomin]

Originally Posted by sijones

I didn't even notice the lack of HD decoding. They have definitely lost the plot on this one.

Kind regards,

Steve

Ultimately pay less get less. The amount of money Audiolab would have to spend to develop all of these additional bits of functionality (while leaving the existing functionality) would I supect be prohibitive for the amount of them that they would sell.

Can you guarentee that the sofware/firmware would fit on the space available without a complete redesign of the sw? Is it even possible with the hw architecture that they went for.

How many sw/firmware engineers do Audiolab actually have, how many of them have experience with more recent control processors and DSP's?

I suspect because Audiolab are taking an evolutionary approach with the AP processor the answers to the above questions are prohibitvely expensive, without changing the value proposition of the brand (and we know how that went before) and milking the consumer.

[QRIO]

If you take away the extra HDMI ports and 1.4 for 3D, this processor hasn’t brought anything new. The display is a joke, if they had used the M-DAC size O- led then that would have been good. Being a sound only processor they sound have at least considered room EQ and other sound processing functionality. Maybe it’s a in- between release like a version 2.5?

I can quite easily live with my 8000AP without upgrading, have no intention to wear the latest badge without any purpose.

It looks like Audiolab are still years behind in terms of releasing a product comparable to the AV32R in terms of sound only production.

[Chuck Spin]

i think I dig it.

I'd like one as I ultimately care about sq and not excessive features.

I can emit hd sounds from my marantz ud player and room correction as never helped me out in big time with any of the yamaha, onkyo or pioneer receivers I've owned.

The only grip would be that the old 8000AP could be just as good for a lower price or even the older cyrus master could help me out.

As I've owned cyrus 2ch products I have ever since been compelled on how a 5.1 setup would benefit from the high-pace sound of Cyrus.

Maybe audiolab has a similar referenced sound ?

[Chuck Spin]

Audiolab 8200AP Pre Amplifier at Audio Affair

They sell'em. Price point 1249.

[Paul Mela]

Originally Posted by sijones

I didn't even notice the lack of HD decoding. They have definitely lost the plot on this one.

Kind regards,

Steve

Originally Posted by Chuck Spin

Audiolab 8200AP Pre Amplifier at Audio Affair

They sell'em. Price point 1249.

From Audio Affairs description,

The 8200AP offers the latest HD audio decoding and sound modes to get the most from Blu Ray, DVD and Sky HD soundtracks

Am I missing something here??

[Micromecca]

Originally Posted by Paul Mela

Am I missing something here??

Nope, it appears that quite a few retailers just assumed that the 8200AP would have HD Audio decoding on-board, either that or they were misinformed by someone at IAG

rgds
Marty

[Paul Mela]

Originally Posted by Micromecca

Nope, it appears that quite a few retailers just assumed that the 8200AP would have HD Audio decoding on-board, either that or they were misinformed by someone at IAG

rgds
Marty

It doesn't help me make my mind up on a new processor though

[eaglemmoomin]

Originally Posted by Micromecca

Nope, it appears that quite a few retailers just assumed that the 8200AP would have HD Audio decoding on-board, either that or they were misinformed by someone at IAG

rgds
Marty

It'll take LPCM which is all you need and it's still the cheapest HD processor you could walk into a shop and buy.

[Wull]

Is it not Audiolab's 'unfortunate' good fortune with their new range of CD players that the delay for the 8200ap exist?

I have no need for an 8200ap now, but I will be reading with great interest when it is finally launched. I'm pretty sure what ever features it has it will still be a hit..... simples!

[Chuck Spin]

Checking the manual it confirms its only DD and DTS, no HD.

Up to 1080/60 hz is also vague as they could have written 1080/24p/50hz/60hz
compatible or something.

I bet the old cirrus logic are still inside.

This product seems clearly based on older 2004-2007 material only repackaged to fit the new lines and adjusted to newer hdmi protocols.

Still I don't doubt its sonic abilities. And it's cool to own somewhat odd stuff as well.

Edit: OSD is like MSDOS or worse.

[Chuck Spin]

BTW is it equal soundwise to use hdmi output or analogue cabling to send HD-formats?

[cribeiro]

That shop shows a photo of the previous model, though

Originally Posted by eaglemmoomin

It'll take LPCM which is all you need and it's still the cheapest HD processor you could walk into a shop and buy.

Or use the 7.1 analog inputs, like Audiolab says And enjoy real hd sound. Note that many low-end "HD AVRs" will not even be able to deliver the dynamic range of HD... But hey, they decode it

[cribeiro]

Originally Posted by Chuck Spin

BTW is it equal soundwise to use hdmi output or analogue cabling to send HD-formats?

It can be even better, if the DACs of the player make a better job than those in the AVR

I plan to get an oppo 95 to partner my 8000AP, and I will then compare both (if I have the time someday... It has been a challenge to put a couple of cables in a cable tray today while taking care of my daughter)

[Chuck Spin]

Originally Posted by cribeiro

It can be even better, if the DACs of the player make a better job than those in the AVR

I plan to get an oppo 95 to partner my 8000AP, and I will then compare both (if I have the time someday... It has been a challenge to put a couple of cables in a cable tray today while taking care of my daughter)

Ahh ok, thx to remind me the difference.

Then its analogue for me i imagine, my marantz ud8004 should better the dacs in AP8200.

[Chuck Spin]

Also of course not to forget the new 8200 has 7.1 bypass input instead of the old 5.1

[Micromecca]

Originally Posted by eaglemmoomin

It'll take LPCM which is all you need and it's still the cheapest HD processor you could walk into a shop and buy.

Not sure why I was quoted above your comment but thanks and I'm aware of this, I own 2 8000AP's soon to be upgraded

rgds
Marty

[ti33er]

...well I'll say it again ...the 8000AP is good, but the stock (unmodified) OPPO BDP-93 Analogue via the BYPASS does beat the 8000AP HDMI...it sounds a bit more crisp - perhaps with the new HDMI 1.4 it might be on a par (sound equal) !?

However the BDP-93 NXE via the BYPASS absolutely beats the 8000AP, hands down.

The BDP-95 via BYPASS will also beat the 8000AP, no doubt from me...not sure how the BDP-95 sounds agains the NXE as I do not have a BDP-95 to compare, but I suspect the NXE is best, specifically for Bluray (if that is what you are looking for most of all)!

[Darkstar_surfer]

Not sure I totally agree with you there as I have a BDP-95 and the 8000AP and for Blu-Ray there is little difference but for CD playback the 95 is way better using the 5.1 bypass compared to HDMI to the 8000AP. Could be I have just not compared the right Blu-Ray disks but all the CDs I tried were just so much better.

If I get a chance maybe I will try and compare it again over the weekend with some of my Blu-Ray albums as opposed to films. Are there any specific films, preferably one chapter I should try. I normally use Kung Foo Panda and the escape scene, I think it is chapter 10.