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Audiolab 8200 CDQ hiss (noise floor?)


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Hi guys,

I've had an opportunity to home demo an Audiolab 8200 CDQ and I have a question regarding the pre amplification section of this multi function CD/DAC/PRE so thought this the best place to start the topic...

 

Before arranging the demo I'd read the 6 moons review a couple of times http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/audiolab2/1.html and noted the reviewer said that controlling volume in the digital domain where possible was the substantially superior method. I found a much higher hiss (regardless of which digital filter I tried) whilst using the digital mode as apposed to analogue. This was so distracting I had to switch to analogue mode which makes it difficult to truly evaluate the model rather than this particular example. With analogue there was still a hiss, but not audible unless within 50cm of the tweeters.

 

Could this be put down to variation between units? Does anybody else here use one and had marked differences between the 2 preamp modes? This particular unit is for sale as an ex demo at significant savings but I'm wary...

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I have had a fair bit of experience using the MDAC and DQ and both are dead quiet with a very black background for me.

 

Does it have the latest firmware upgrade? I know this made a massive difference to my MDAC.

 

What source are you using? Onboard CD or somehting else?

 

Rob

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I tried CD, Sonos connect (playing Apple lossless CD rips) via Coax and my TT via the RCA. Taking home my laptop and portable HDD tonight to try and set up a audirvana/itunes via USB. Not sure on firmware, probably not, it's an older non OLED display model but it does have triggers.

 

Dynamics, soundstage and clarity were awesome, it's just that background noise I'm not happy with. I've never heard detail to the extent where you could hear differences in background ambiance of separate vocal and instrument tracks as they were mixed in to a single song.

Edited by blybo
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Yeah my thoughts exactly. Don't get these issues using my pre pro. I get other issues but that's a longer story... and the reason I'm on the look out for one of these.

 

Returned the demo unit yesterday. The 2nd hand search continues. At least I now know it fulfill my needs, just got to find one...

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  • 4 weeks later...

Had an 8200 myself for some time was nothing but dead quiet on Digital or Anagloue mode, think there could be an issue somewhere, maybe a ground loop or interference or defective unit. Did you try the headphone output does that hiss?

 

BTW have you checked out the new Parasound P5? looks to be a good contender to the Audiolab. No CD spinner but on board Dac, HT bypass (without having to turn on the unit), phono preamp, trigger inputs, and sub crossovers.  I have mine on order  :D

Edited by mpearce38
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Hi, I have the 8200 CDQ which I bought brand new, sound unheard due to the features and price I got on it. 

 

It has the same issue you describe only the hiss is quite low and of no issue as it's not affected by volume increase.  It's virtually silent in analogue mode.  Interestingly, when the digital preamp is selected, it only hisses when a digital source or CD is selected.  No hiss on any analogue input.

 

I'm rapt with the unit aside from that.  Funny, I went to switch it to digital as I read this thread and found it already was on digital and had been for months...  honestly, I had to put my ear right next to the tweeter to hear it, but it is there (I remember noticing it upon setup) and if your speakers are real sensitive it could be more of an issue.

 

No hiss thru headphones, but the option to select preamp modes is disabled when headphones plugged in.  Perhaps it defaults to analogue for phones...

 

Hope this is of some help... I wonder what it could be.  Perhaps contacting Audiolab is in order....

 

Edit:  It's past my beddy byes time, but I had a quick Google and it's common across the board with the 8200 range.  One explanation was that the analogue pre would attenuate both incoming signal AND noise floor whereas the digital pre will only attenuate signal...  I dunno whether that's accurate or not, but at least we're not alone... and the analog pre is pretty sweet after all :)

Edited by Stewyh
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