[Dane]

Has anyone heard the new Audiolab monoblocks?

[Collusion]

Originally Posted by Dane

Has anyone heard the new Audiolab monoblocks?

Yes. I actually bought of a pair of them month ago.

I've previously owned a 8000P stereo poweramp and a pair of 8000M monoblocks. Compared to those these new beasts seem to offer little more detailed sound. I always thought the 8000M's were lacking the finest detail in the midrange but now, for example, guitars have more attack etc. Luckily the extra detail didn't come at the expence of smoothness or musicality

And yes, the new Audiolabs sound more dynamic than ever. The 8000M's may be sufficient enough for bookself speakers and light-to-medium-duty floorstanders but these seem to drive even big speakers with ease. I've got a pair of Infinity Renaissance 90 4-way floorstanders (10" & 6,5" woofers in a sealed enclosure) and I am just amazed how dynamic the sound can be. I am living in an apartment house but still from time to time I can't help myself turning the volume up just to see what kind of storm I can create And still the sound remains smooth as baby's bottom.

ATM I'm using a sub par source device ( Lexicon Alpa Studio interface) waiting for the 8200CDQ to be released.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Dane

Has anyone heard the new Audiolab monoblocks?

Haven't heard them, but just for info the new 8200 series amplifiers were designed by Jason Greenslade, formerly of Tag McLaren Audio and Arcam, amongst others.

[Dav1dF]

The new 8200MB's are excellent. They sound great with the KEF Q700's, and over the course of the next month I'll hopefully get to try them out on the more demanding speakers we have on demo, like the ATC SCM40's, KEF Reference 201/2's, ProAc Response D28's, and maybe even see if they can control the bass of the Reference 207's....

[GlennC]

anyone else heard them?

[secastor]

The power amplifier of 8200MB Audiolab is the same as the Tag Mclaren 250MR.

[GlennC]

Originally Posted by secastor

The power amplifier of 8200MB Audiolab is the same as the Tag Mclaren 250MR.

I thought it was a totally new design

[secastor]

I disassembled the 8200MB and 250MR. Both power amps are identical.
The PCB is exactly the same. At the point where it says "Tag Mclaren" he labeled it "Audiolab". It's the only difference.
The two transformers are identical. ELNA capacitors are identical.
The power transistors are the same.
Plug and the cable connecting the control board to the amp are the same.
The radiator, the position of the RCA and XLR connectors, fasteners, all the same.
The power modules of 8200MB and 250MR is the same.
The control board (located on the other side of the radiator) is different. It seems normal because there is no bus in the Tag 8200MB.

[GlennC]

any pics of the innards

[secastor]

I reassembled the 250MR. This week I'm going to mount the 8200MB block of power in my 250X3R .
I do not know how to put photos on this site.
If you have a 250MR you will see that the blocks are the same.

[eaglemmoomin]

The 8000X7 is a 700:7R so given the very similar dimensions of the 8200MB to the 250MR can't say I'm suprised much. It's one reason I've been a little suprised they haven't tried to marry TMREQ to the AP line of processors as they are dual processor. I suppose getting the software to run on modern PC's is not something they feel confident doing, which makes sense given the big changes in OS's access to lowlevel hardware from XP to Vista and onwards.

[secastor]

Originally Posted by GlennC

any pics of the innards

For the pictures

The power amplifier of 8200MB Audiolab is the same as the Tag Mclaren 250MR.

[secastor]

Originally Posted by GlennC

any pics of the innards

For the pictures:

The power amplifier of 8200MB Audiolab is the same as the Tag Mclaren 250MR.

[PeterSEMC]

Hi

I have a pair of these... what was your question?

[Member 513627]

Yeah, was thoroughly impressed by them too.

[Nabs]

Having never heard the Tags or audiolab before how do their amps character in sound compare with the Arcam A38/P38 or the cyrus amps?

[Mr_Orange]

Based on my experience with an Arcam A65+, then an Audiolab 8000X7 and now a TAG 100x5R, I'd say TAG/Audiolab is less warm and more neutral. Some might call it clinical.

[eaglemmoomin]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Based on my experience with an Arcam A65+, then an Audiolab 8000X7 and now a TAG 100x5R, I'd say TAG/Audiolab is less warm and more neutral. Some might call it clinical.

Thats about right I'd say. You can get awesome detail retrieval and the neutrality is mostly a plus point especially with speakers that tend to the sweeter/warmer end of things. I wouldn't say it's a night and day difference it's just slightly leaner than the Arcam sound with plenty of power and drive.