Soundstage width, vocals. A great value for <$800 used. In fact, I feel it can't be beat for this money.

A tad diffuse, but allows for non-fatigued listening.

Very close to tube sound. Really. Excellent width of stage. Ptetty good depth--I listen to rock and R&B, so with 4-8 piece band, opportunity for depth is probably limited by recording. Very smooth highs, only the slightest bit rolled off. Pre and DAC quality very important for smooth highs. Bass depth and control is outstanding. Gets only moderately warm (I use efficinet speakers) A great value. Runs class A <25 Watts, a lower volumes, sound is particularly smooth and cohesively detailed.

Similar Products Used:

Monarchy SM70 Pro (for power it has, also a value leader), NAD S2500, Conrad Johnson MV-52, Pioneer Elite Receivers.

Realistic, dynamic, musical sound. Doing any kind of music with ease. Powerful and controlled bass to die for.

Too bad it doesn''t have the cool blue LEDs which is found on recent 8008 MkII.

I have owned this amp for more than a year and I''m still in love like I was in the honeymoon. If you consider high power amplifiers try any 8008 (st, bb or MkII) before buying Hi-End brands like Mark Levinson, Krell, etc... This amp is highly musical and enjoyable! The highs are as clear as crystal, the mids are as realistic as you could touch, and the lows are among the best of best regardless of price. 8008 BB might do a little bit better but in my system I can hardly tell any difference. This amp is built to last for decades, but if I ever have chance to buy another amp it will be Aragon! My system: CD: Accuphase DP-65 Amp: Aragon 8008 ST Speakers: Dynaudio Coutour 3.0 Cables: Cardas Neatral Reference

Similar Products Used:

Musical Fidelity A300 (Not as good bass) Krell 300 (As good but way too expensive) Aragon 8008 BB (Not much difference)

I like this amp as compared to similarly price ones. The amp locks the vocals right in the middle with a nice warm feeling.Some might called it a little laid back.The bass you can read from the other reviews which I totally agreed. Strong , tight with excellent control. I don't think I will changed it unless the Krell
FBP series retail for the same price.

I've audition several amps at this price point.The fact is that if you're looking for an amp with excellent low end control, this is it. The classe cp100,Mc comack
DNA.5or 1 can't have this kind of power.You have to look at the Krell FPB or
sonic frontiers Power series to have a closer comparision.
The overall sound is warm & a little dark I must say just a little as individual
taste differs. This might just be what a transistor amp need to avoid the hardness
& probably emotionless one might called it.
Try it if you're not into tubes teritory yet.

POWERFUL,Clean, and detailed

none

Compared to the Chiro and the B&K amp, the aragon sounded more powerful. It reproduces the music effortlessly. It is detailed and can control the bass quite well. For difficult loads, you need an amplifer that can handle low impedience loads and this is one amp that has no problem doing so. I have not heard this harshness in the upper end that is mentioned on this site. I have only heard my speakers become more open, controlled with a wider soundstage.

Equipment
Aragon 8008ST
B&K 1430
B&K Reference 20
Sony 90ES and 70ES CD Changers
Harmon Kardon CDR2
Kef Reference 2
Kef Reference 100 center
Kef Q15 surrounds
Toshiba 2109 DVD
Sony A50 DSS
MIT T2 cables and interconnects

Similar Products Used:

Chiro and B&K

This is a follow up to my previous review dated 1/7/00. I have had a chance to really burn in the unit for a year and it has
become an amazing performer. The sound is crystal clear,
and the tonal shadings and dynamics are stunning. I have not experienced such articulate, powerful bass in an amp anywhere near the price. Clearly, this amp is a true reference instrument - it easily can delineate any change in components or recording. The best reproducer of female voice and piano from a solid state amplifier. This is the first amplifier that I have owned that improves with each component upgrade.
With the best recordings, the sound is spectacular. I enjoy all types of music from classical, to jazz to the outer edges of rock. Although Nine Inch Nails might not be everyone's cup of tea, their latest album "Fragile", one of the best engineered rock recordings probably of all time, has a number of cuts that will show you just how spectacular this
amp can be when the recording is top notch. I've been told the 8008BB upgrade is even better! So, if you are one of those caught in the dilema of purchasing the 8008ST vs the 8008BB - you won't be disappointed with the 8008ST - you can upgrade anytime. My apologies for the four star review in January - this amp clearly deserves FIVE STARS!!!

bass response soundstage, clarity, high end definition

none

A huge improvement over my previous amp-acurus A200.
This amp does it all at a relatively bargani price. Needs about a month to break in.. it sounds good from the start but as time progresses, everything it does becomes more pronounced. Anyone whow rated the Nautilus 804's elsewhere in this site as not having sufficient bass should hear them through this amp!

good bass, good imaging, big soundstage, good power

Highs can be rough when amp is pushed. It is the upper mid/low treble area that can be a problem. Maybe better if used with mellow speakers.

This amp had good power for a decent bass, wide soundstage and good imaging. But, the upper mids, lower highs could be a problem when the amp is driven hard or if speakers are not the mellow sort. This amp is not bad, but not great either. Not the giant killer I had hoped for. If I have a pair of mellow speakers it may have been better.

Grainiest amp I've ever heard, gives the false sense of being warm,highs are hard sounding and the bass, although very powerful and
dynamic, is very unrefined. What a disappointment, because I was
very impressed with it in a home theater setup.

Associated Equipment:
Rega planar 3, Grado Platinum.
Anthem CD-1
Audible Illusions MOD3a
Sonic Frontiers POWER-1
Martin Logan SL3
Kimber KCAG, 4TC, 8TC

I constantly upgrade my system at home and finnaly I decided to throw
a couple of thousands$$ on a sterio amplifier. After reading all the audio
magazines out there, and there reviews on most amplifiers I started my hunt
in NY City. Im the kind of audio customer most salesmen love to hate because
I spend allot of there time driving them crazy by listening and comparing
all there amps for hours and then go to a different audio store to listen
to other amps. I think I heard every amp created including the expensive
ones like KRELL A-250, KAV-500 ( which I loved). By my heart stoped beating
when I reached the ARAGON 8008 BB, not only because it sounded just as
good as the krell KAV-500 but for allot less$$.This amp has power, dynamic
smooth clean highs, and warmth. Im not sure which amp I perfered more, the
KRELL KAV-500 or the Aragon but my wallet made the decision for me and I
came home with a broken back after lifting the Aragon from the store.I dont
understand why some say that the sound is dark,or bright, or lacks warmth. I
think it takes hours of listening to other 5 times more expencive amps in
order to degrade the Aragon by a tiny fracture which is hardly noticable.
Defenatly one of the best value and best sounding amps out in the market.
Funny, when asked how others feel about the aragons, they always compare it
to amps. 5 times as expencive and say it lack this or that. But I say, It
takes an amp 5 times more expencive to get any negative opinion on the aragons.
that should say it all about the aragons. they rule