Thank you for your in depth reviews of the 8300-series, excellent! I am on the verge of getting my own 8300A together with a second hand Denafrips Ares 2, Its my guesstimate this is an affordable but excellent combo and a worthy upgrade to my musical and engaging 6000A. However, not everybody (like Whathifi) thinks the 6000 and 8300 have a similar sound, the 6000 being way more musical than the 8300, the 8300 being somewhat flat, less engaging. You have listened to them both extensively, to convince me, would you say the 8300A is as musical and engaging as the 6000A!? Love to hear from you Sir M, atb Gerlach Sven.
Thank you for your kind words regarding my reviews of the 8300-series. I'm happy to hear that you're considering upgrading to the 8300A paired with a Denafrips Ares 2. To address your question about whether the 8300A matches the musicality and engagement of the 6000A, I can confidently say both amplifiers have their own strengths and weaknesses. The 6000A typically offers a more musical and relaxed experience, while the 8300A leans towards accuracy and detail. Personally, I appreciate the more mature and resolved sound of the 8300A. Audiolab’s unique sound creates a relaxed sense of space and weight that I haven't encountered with other amps, ensuring musicality is present. It's worth noting that the DAC plays a crucial role in this musical element; the 8300A is a neutral amp that will accurately reflect the DAC's sound without any colouration. I use a Mojo 2 and absolutely love it with my 8300XP. In my opinion, the 6000A might not do justice to the Denafrips Ares 2, so I would recommend going with the 8300A. And then, of course, there's the speaker selection... I really enjoy this hobby! Ultimately, the best way to figure out which amplifier suits you best is to listen to both and see which one resonates with you more.
Thank you kindly sir for your extensive response, as an Audiolab enthusiasts I really appreciate this. By now I am in the process of making a purchase of a reasonably priced demo/open box 8300A model, so I am eally excited! In a month time a will leave an additional comment for future viewers. All the best! Gerlach Sven.
GM☕️🍩 from Toronto . I’ve been running the Audiolab 6000CDT feeding a Denafrips DAC and it’s a great performer. This amplifier looks damn interesting..and a possible addition into my system…I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it. Have a great weekend.
Im now running 2 8300xps in bridged mono, getting a wider soundstage with even more energy and authority at similar or lower volume setting levels, im not sure i even need 2 subs now to complement the music as the amps now really take full contro land grip of the mids and woofers of the main speaker, that extra power and current really controls the sound superbly, Im running these off a schitt kara preamp which in my opinion adds that extra finesse to the chain and music, dont underestimate what a good preamp does, the whole chain is mainly analog now apart from the external dac, chord qutest which takes care of all the fine details going into the amps. All in all i dont think i would be able to build a cheaper system that gives me the performance and musicality this system gives without spending closer to 10k or silly money. Class D amps are now becoming the norm and are improving every year, those hypex nilai, pascal modules and others are no joke and represent great value and specs, but i love class A,B for the smooth calming sound they bring, i see class A as an old v8 or v12 engine and class D as an electric engine they both have their own merits and eventually AB will be relegated to the history books but then again who doesn't love a classic old school car, system. All the best in your hifi endeavours
hi ,ive always been impressed with their amp efforts my first proper amp was a 8000a back in the 80s ,ive still got one lol,ive recently bought a d5 pro transaudio dual mono power amp it truly is a beast and at 300 watts into 4 it controls my 104/2 with total authority this amp would be very similar i guess ..
I am very impressed with the level of control. However, it's not just the control. It's the presence, the smoothness and the gigantic soundstage! It seems your amp has much more power. You must be getting a lot of punch and dynamics!
I told you the 8300xp is a great amp, smooth and sweet so relaxing to listen to and enjoy, build quality is brilliant, no cheap flexi panels, solid like a tank. Im on the fence to get 2 xp's for bridged mono 480w per side 😮 or maybe fixed in a vertical biamp method, im just worried my hifi glass cabinet will explode with the weight of 2 being circa 30kg total. Im sure this would be an end game setup for me. You cant beat a truly well built old school system, compared to these far east modern lightweight very analytical system that measure well, they normally sound good but have no soul and get fatiguing quickly. Welcome to the audiolab family 😂
Hey, you were totally right about the 8300XP! This thing is a beast! The sound is incredible - so smooth and powerful. And yeah, the build quality is amazing. It makes my other gear look flimsy in comparison! That's a cool idea about getting a second one. 480W per channel in bridged mono must be insane! I'm curious, what speakers are you using with it? I bet they sound incredible together. And yeah, I totally agree about old-school hi-fi. There's just something about it that modern gear can't quite match. Thanks for the welcome to the Audiolab family!
@@SirMesko I'm using whaferdale Evo 4.2 complemented with 2 rel 12in subs. They are part of the same sister company, maybe they where designed and used with the amps in mind for testing who knows? they are a great 3 way speakers, built well and sound excellent to my ears, they are good vfm, real wood veneer, double binding posts, curved design, heavy constructed large book shelf speaker's, bottom firing ports for easy placements to walls if you have little space in room and an Amt tweeter and domed mid range that is rare at these price ranges, highly regarded by many. You should review them and give us an opinion I think they surpass many speakers at double the price. 👌
An excellent and very interesting review - following on from your equally positive review of the 8300A. But I admit being puzzled by your decision to test the the XP using another brand for the preamplifier - when you had on hand the 8300A which was designed by Audiolab to be the preamp for the XP! Maybe you can test them together to get the whole picture? Anyway thank you.
I did stack the 8300A on top of the 8300XP for a few hours. However, that wasn't my intended use, so I haven't tested it much in that setup. For me, it was either the 8300A or the 8300XP. I'd like to point out that the 8300A does not have XLR outputs, so I'm not sure if it's designed for the 8300XP. If I didn't have the Aune S17, I'd probably use the 8300CDQ with the 8300XP in my setup.
@@chrisrolandminall Hi I’ve had it for a couple of months now. It’s still available at several places here in the Netherlands, including Audiolabs own site :)
Based on my experience, the 8300XP offers a significantly higher sonic performance compared to the 6000A. If you're looking for a smaller option, the 8300A is also a great choice, almost on par with the 8300XP but with preamp features. Please remember neither the 8300A or the 8300XP have digital inputs, like the 6000A
I was running the 6000a in preamp mode with the xp and In a bi amp configuration for a while, the XP is two tiers above the 6000a in sound quality, it would drive most speakers with no effort and produce a beautiful, clear and low distortion sound. I would definitely buy the XP with the 6000a as an upgrade, especially if you can get a discount from your dealer
Audiolab are bringing their new 9000 series which includes 2 new monos and preamp, they look tasty but power specs are less than than the outgoing 8300 series
Exiting video!
@@EdBenji thanks Benji
Thank you for your in depth reviews of the 8300-series, excellent! I am on the verge of getting my own 8300A together with a second hand Denafrips Ares 2, Its my guesstimate this is an affordable but excellent combo and a worthy upgrade to my musical and engaging 6000A. However, not everybody (like Whathifi) thinks the 6000 and 8300 have a similar sound, the 6000 being way more musical than the 8300, the 8300 being somewhat flat, less engaging. You have listened to them both extensively, to convince me, would you say the 8300A is as musical and engaging as the 6000A!? Love to hear from you Sir M, atb Gerlach Sven.
Thank you for your kind words regarding my reviews of the 8300-series. I'm happy to hear that you're considering upgrading to the 8300A paired with a Denafrips Ares 2.
To address your question about whether the 8300A matches the musicality and engagement of the 6000A, I can confidently say both amplifiers have their own strengths and weaknesses. The 6000A typically offers a more musical and relaxed experience, while the 8300A leans towards accuracy and detail. Personally, I appreciate the more mature and resolved sound of the 8300A. Audiolab’s unique sound creates a relaxed sense of space and weight that I haven't encountered with other amps, ensuring musicality is present. It's worth noting that the DAC plays a crucial role in this musical element; the 8300A is a neutral amp that will accurately reflect the DAC's sound without any colouration. I use a Mojo 2 and absolutely love it with my 8300XP. In my opinion, the 6000A might not do justice to the Denafrips Ares 2, so I would recommend going with the 8300A. And then, of course, there's the speaker selection... I really enjoy this hobby!
Ultimately, the best way to figure out which amplifier suits you best is to listen to both and see which one resonates with you more.
Thank you kindly sir for your extensive response, as an Audiolab enthusiasts I really appreciate this. By now I am in the process of making a purchase of a reasonably priced demo/open box 8300A model, so I am eally excited! In a month time a will leave an additional comment for future viewers. All the best! Gerlach Sven.
@@gerlachsieders4578 That is great news, looking forward to hearing your feedback about the 8300A! Happy listening :)
GM☕️🍩 from Toronto .
I’ve been running the Audiolab 6000CDT feeding a Denafrips DAC and it’s a great performer.
This amplifier looks damn interesting..and a possible addition into my system…I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it.
Have a great weekend.
If you like the Audiolab sound, I am confident you'll love the 8300XP!
Im now running 2 8300xps in bridged mono, getting a wider soundstage with even more energy and authority at similar or lower volume setting levels, im not sure i even need 2 subs now to complement the music as the amps now really take full contro land grip of the mids and woofers of the main speaker, that extra power and current really controls the sound superbly, Im running these off a schitt kara preamp which in my opinion adds that extra finesse to the chain and music, dont underestimate what a good preamp does, the whole chain is mainly analog now apart from the external dac, chord qutest which takes care of all the fine details going into the amps. All in all i dont think i would be able to build a cheaper system that gives me the performance and musicality this system gives without spending closer to 10k or silly money. Class D amps are now becoming the norm and are improving every year, those hypex nilai, pascal modules and others are no joke and represent great value and specs, but i love class A,B for the smooth calming sound they bring, i see class A as an old v8 or v12 engine and class D as an electric engine they both have their own merits and eventually AB will be relegated to the history books but then again who doesn't love a classic old school car, system. All the best in your hifi endeavours
@@carlitosgomez71 interesting analogy with the motor world! Who doesn’t like old cars? Thanks for the feedback
hi ,ive always been impressed with their amp efforts my first proper amp was a 8000a back in the 80s ,ive still got one lol,ive recently bought a d5 pro transaudio dual mono power amp it truly is a beast and at 300 watts into 4 it controls my 104/2 with total authority this amp would be very similar i guess ..
I am very impressed with the level of control. However, it's not just the control. It's the presence, the smoothness and the gigantic soundstage! It seems your amp has much more power. You must be getting a lot of punch and dynamics!
Excellent review. An interesting price comparable amp to compare it to would be the Rotel 1572 MkII.
Thanks for the compliment. I am glad you found it entertaining :) I'll make a note. I have had my eye on Rotel stuff for a while!
I told you the 8300xp is a great amp, smooth and sweet so relaxing to listen to and enjoy, build quality is brilliant, no cheap flexi panels, solid like a tank. Im on the fence to get 2 xp's for bridged mono 480w per side 😮 or maybe fixed in a vertical biamp method, im just worried my hifi glass cabinet will explode with the weight of 2 being circa 30kg total. Im sure this would be an end game setup for me. You cant beat a truly well built old school system, compared to these far east modern lightweight very analytical system that measure well, they normally sound good but have no soul and get fatiguing quickly. Welcome to the audiolab family 😂
Hey, you were totally right about the 8300XP! This thing is a beast! The sound is incredible - so smooth and powerful. And yeah, the build quality is amazing. It makes my other gear look flimsy in comparison!
That's a cool idea about getting a second one. 480W per channel in bridged mono must be insane!
I'm curious, what speakers are you using with it? I bet they sound incredible together.
And yeah, I totally agree about old-school hi-fi. There's just something about it that modern gear can't quite match.
Thanks for the welcome to the Audiolab family!
@@SirMesko I'm using whaferdale Evo 4.2 complemented with 2 rel 12in subs. They are part of the same sister company, maybe they where designed and used with the amps in mind for testing who knows? they are a great 3 way speakers, built well and sound excellent to my ears, they are good vfm, real wood veneer, double binding posts, curved design, heavy constructed large book shelf speaker's, bottom firing ports for easy placements to walls if you have little space in room and an Amt tweeter and domed mid range that is rare at these price ranges, highly regarded by many. You should review them and give us an opinion I think they surpass many speakers at double the price. 👌
@@carlitosgomez71 Thanks I might just do that :)
@@carlitosgomez71 The Whaferdale Evo 4.2 look pretty cool! I should try them! I do like the idea of a 3way speaker
An excellent and very interesting review - following on from your equally positive review of the 8300A. But I admit being puzzled by your decision to test the the XP using another brand for the preamplifier - when you had on hand the 8300A which was designed by Audiolab to be the preamp for the XP! Maybe you can test them together to get the whole picture? Anyway thank you.
I did stack the 8300A on top of the 8300XP for a few hours. However, that wasn't my intended use, so I haven't tested it much in that setup. For me, it was either the 8300A or the 8300XP.
I'd like to point out that the 8300A does not have XLR outputs, so I'm not sure if it's designed for the 8300XP. If I didn't have the Aune S17, I'd probably use the 8300CDQ with the 8300XP in my setup.
hi i have the 6000a with 8300xp but i don't feel much more power...maybe it depends on my focal aria 906 which are small? thanks for your reply.
Can I ask you how long have you had you 8300xp. I am interested to get one but I thought they were discontinued now.
@@chrisrolandminall Hi I’ve had it for a couple of months now. It’s still available at several places here in the Netherlands, including Audiolabs own site :)
7:51 ..wait ..what are there 2 sets of speaker connections on each side??
Biwire ???
Yes
Hi there. Im running 6000a with monitor audio silver 100 7g do you think the xp will improve my system thanks
Based on my experience, the 8300XP offers a significantly higher sonic performance compared to the 6000A. If you're looking for a smaller option, the 8300A is also a great choice, almost on par with the 8300XP but with preamp features. Please remember neither the 8300A or the 8300XP have digital inputs, like the 6000A
I was running the 6000a in preamp mode with the xp and In a bi amp configuration for a while, the XP is two tiers above the 6000a in sound quality, it would drive most speakers with no effort and produce a beautiful, clear and low distortion sound. I would definitely buy the XP with the 6000a as an upgrade, especially if you can get a discount from your dealer
@carlitosgomez71 thank you. I did get a 3rd off the price at the dealer . And yes it sounds great am very happy with this setup 👍
Everything is very good except for one small inscription -- made in ... .
I bought brand new one that work for 8 seconds....now i am waiting new one from dealer...little disappointed...
I don't think they make the 8300 anymore.
Good remark, seems indeed not available anymore...strange, they take away their best product 😅
Audiolab are bringing their new 9000 series which includes 2 new monos and preamp, they look tasty but power specs are less than than the outgoing 8300 series