Price Paid:  $995.00

Summary:
Vraag: als jitter onderhand gereduceerd is tot practisch onbeduidende niveau's en dynamiekomvang van 120 dB of meer de norm is geworden, waarom klinkt het gros van de-minder-dan exotische CD-spelers dan nog steeds inferieur? En met inferieur bedoel ik hun onvermogen om timbres accuraat weer te geven; hun onvermogen om adequaat het natuurlijke wegebben van noten van echte instrumenten weer te geven; en het ontbreken van het zo specifieke 'opbloeien' bij vocale en orchestrale crescendo's. Met andere woorden: wat heb je aan een CD-speler die een stereobeeld tot voorbij de buren neerzet met rotsvaste precisie als diezelfde speler niet in staat is om het timbre van bijvoorbeeld een Steinway vleugel of een Martin flattop geloofwaardig te re-creëren? Zelfs spelers van een mille of zes presteren het om hierbij de mist in te gaan

Strengths:
De CD-speler-producerende gemeenschap is een bezig volkje. Het lijkt vastgelopen in een eeuwige strijd tegen de clock. Dat wil zeggen, de crystal oscillator clock en diens inherente problemen met jitter. Verder is er de strijd om de bits, het voortdurende streven naar nóg meer resolutie

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
Long heard of Audiolab products but don't have a chance to have a serious listen with them. Finally found one thru direct order and paid for one unit immediately. Price is good as Audiolab has just been taken over by Tag Mclaren and dealers are clearing stocks.

On initial listen, sound is a bit recessed and music is uninvolving. Gosh, I thought it is because of Audiolab trademark sound (aka 8000a), but after running in for a week, the sound started opening up and sonic bliss!!!

I have owned many players, and none, yes,I say none, can extract details like this 8000CD. I am hearing stuffs that I have never heard before. Sound is very well weighted with no emphasis on either frequency extreme. System matching should be a breeze. Speed is good - rhythms are handled with precision. Able to conjure up a very realistic soundstage. Stunning with guitars and double bass.

I opened up this unit and was greeted with a very well-layout circuitry. Transport and DAC portion are separated and well shielded from each other. Care has been taken in the damping of critical parts and a huge torrodial transformer provides power to the componments. Build quality is very impressive.

However, I have some complains as well. The CD player lacks a variable output so you can't connect direct to a power amp. The power cord supplied is not up to the standard of this player.

Strengths:
Great analytical power, clean, precise, very well balanced player, 2 analogue output jacks

Weaknesses:
Lack of optical output and no variable output

Similar Products Used:
Musical Fidelity X-ray, Classe CDP0.5, Marantz CD17KI, Arcam 9, Sony XA5es, Philips CD850, Rotel 990, Denon S10 MKII

Summary:
I bought an Audiomeca Talisman about 3 months ago and I would probably never buy another CD player again. This is the best CD player I could get for the price (S$2000).
Listen to familiar records and you will dig out details you have never heard. Get overwhelmed by its enveloping soundstage...

Strengths:
Extremely Revealing from the Highs to the Lows.

Weaknesses:
Too revealing of bad recordings.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz CD-7

Summary:
An excellent CD player. If you like the 'audiolab sound', there will be nothing to touch it...
...except that 8000DAC or 8000DAX!

Seriously, if your player has an electrical digital output, then try it with a DAC/DAX in a back to back listening test with the 8000CD. Even if the digital output is not outstanding, thanks to the clock retiming in the DAC/DAX, the signal will be relatively jitter free. I used my Marantz CD-63SE with a DAC, and it distinctly outperformed the 8000CD, most notably in the midrange.

Lidtening equipment was an 8000S/8000PX amp, and Monitor Audio 703 or B&W CDM1SE speakers.

The DAC/DAX also has the advantage of being upgradeable with a better transport (such as 8000CDM), which further hikes the sound quality. A final advantage is that you can the use the DAC/DAX for any other digital players (like DVD or minidisc - Sony MDS-JB920 with electrical digital input and output is my choice), to make them sound a lot better than when the use their own internal DAC.

Just make sure you do listen to these before you get the 8000CD.

I'll still give the CD 5 stars, as if you dont have an electrical digital output, then the 8000CD is the best player in it's class

Summary:
This is fabulous product. It's one of the most revealing and neutral CD players you can find in its price range. I was amazed at the amount of detail it threw up on most of my favourite jazz, rock, pop, folk and classical recordings. The drawer mechanism did act up on the machine I had with me for a while, but I hear that problem has been rectified in later production units. Anyway, it performs impressively in the only area that counts for most audiophiles -- sound reproduction. And you'll have nothing but admiration for the naturalistic way it conveys the highs, mids and lows, all in perfect balance. If you're ever in Malaysia, you'll get the best deal on it from Sapphire Audio Systems, 65, Jalan Pasar, 55100 Kuala Lumpur (Contact Vincent at 03-2417862/2414014).