Audiolab 8200AP now in stock

At last it's finally here!

http://www.audiologica.co.uk/audiolab8000ap.html

RRP £1250



NEW AUDIOLAB AV PROCESSOR PUTS SOUND QUALITY FIRST

With many significant upgrades over its award-winning predecessor, Audiolab's 8200AP is an audiophile-grade 7.1-channel processor with a refreshingly affordable price tag
In the four years since its launch, Audiolab's 8000AP preamp/processor has built itself a reputation as the only affordable home cinema processor with genuine audiophile credentials, eschewing frivolous bells and whistles to focus purely on performance. Its successor has been long awaited and much anticipated, but it's finally here: the new Audiolab 8200AP incorporates significantly enhanced circuitry to ensure audio performance remains firmly centre stage.
The 8200AP is a 7.1-channel, HDMI 1.4 compliant analogue/digital preamplifier and surround sound processor that focuses on simplicity, ease of use and above all, sound quality – as befits the impeccable audio pedigree of its maker. It does not attempt to impress with a never-ending list of features and formats – once installed, it simply performs, and performs brilliantly.
The preamp/processor connects to a wide range of audio and AV sources via an impressive roster of inputs, both analogue and digital, and can deliver everything from pure, unadulterated two-channel stereo to full-scale 7.1-channel surround sound. It is superb with home cinema and equally adept with music; whatever the source, it delivers the audio signal with the utmost fidelity, thus enhancing the enjoyment of the listener or viewer in a way that few home cinema amps or receivers can match.

Designed Purely for Performance
The 8200AP's circuit design and component selection are focused upon achieving the highest standards of performance. Cirrus Logic CS494003 Dual DSP processor deliver ample processing power, taking care of surround sound decoding, LPCM processing and bass management. The dual processors are joined by eight high-performance 24-bit/192kHz D-to-A Delta-Sigma converters, and post-DAC filtering is handled by an array of active filters built around high-end FET audio op-amps – these filters feature a linear phase response for maximum audio clarity.
A high-quality, digitally addressed analogue volume control is applied at the end of the output stage, fed either from the post-DAC active filters, or directly from the analogue inputs if used in Direct Mode.
When using the 7.1 bypass input or the analogue inputs in Direct Mode, the signal purity is fully retained with a pure, direct path that fully bypasses all processing circuitry.
The generously sized, four-layer PCB design ensures minimum electromagnetic interaction between sensitive components, and the linear power supply features a high-quality toroidal transformer and 14 regulated supplies, delivering low-noise power to the individual circuits plus a high degree of isolation between the analogue and digital domains. Other performance-enhancing features include a new jitter-reduction circuit, reducing jitter via HDMI by more than 30 times.
Simplicity is Strength
The 8200AP's inherent simplicity and elegant internal design are its strength, not just in ensuring it is easy to use, but also in attaining the best possible sound quality. Complex digital audio and video processing often comes at a cost in terms of audio fidelity, complicating the route taken by audio signals and thereby degrading their purity. The cost of implementing technical strategies to limit this damage is inevitably passed on to the consumer – when it comes to sound quality, prevention is always better than cure. Then there's the cost of licensing to consider – incorporating more processing than necessary would inevitably result in either a much more expensive product or corners cut in terms of audio quality, thus outweighing the benefits such processing may bring. (Please see the ‘questions and answers' section of this release for more information.)
Instead, the 8200AP focuses on the essentials to make a great, affordable AV preamp/processor that is dedicated to exceptional audio performance. It doesn't skimp on important facilities; it simply removes unnecessary features and ensures that critical circuits are designed and engineered to the highest standards. For anyone wishing to build a flexible, multimedia AV system capable of genuine high-fidelity sound, as adept with music as it is with movies, the 8200AP is the perfect solution.
With a wide range of processing modes for both analogue and digital inputs this is a preamp/processor able of making the most of both stereo and multichannel sources. From two-channel music to 7.1 soundtracks and everything in-between, the Audiolab's performance is crisp, clean, dynamic and detailed – true to the original source in manner that few home cinema components can muster. There is power and punch aplenty, but also subtlety and insight – a truly high-end performance across all media the like of which is usually associated with much more costly, specialised AV components.

Build quality is excellent throughout, with sturdy aluminium casework and a clean, uncomplicated, slimline physique – quite a contrast to the confusing home cinema behemoths that typify the breed. The refreshing lack of unnecessary bells and whistles means the processor will date less quickly, and the HDMI board is removable, thus allowing for possible upgrades as new standards become available.
Audiolab 8200AP: Key Improvements Over the 8000AP
Building upon the strengths of the 8000AP, the 8200AP includes the following enhancements:
New HDMI 1.4 (3D video pass-through) PCB with four inputs and one output
The old 8000AP featured HDMI 1.2 hardware with only two inputs and one output – no Deep Colour, no 3D video pass-through and no jitter reduction circuit (see next point).
Jitter reduction circuit for recovered HDMI audio clock
A digital frequency synthesizer combined with a digital PLL is used to construct a low jitter clock from the original HDMI audio clock, thus reducing jitter (sonically deleterious distortion in digital audio) by more than 30 times (~ 30dB). This improves sound quality by a significant degree.
 True bypass option for all analogue audio inputs
In the 8000AP, all analogue inputs had to pass through the DSP (via A/D and D/A converters). The 8200AP's new Direct Mode gives the option of sending analogue input signals straight to the volume control, allowing it to perform as a high-end audio preamplifier.
 7.1-channel bypass
The 8200AP has a full 7.1-channel bypass option, allows audiophile-class performance of SACD and other multichannel digital audio sources without undergoing any signal processing. The 8000AP's bypass option only covered 5.1 channels.
 Trigger outputs for remote control
Unlike the 8000AP, the 8200AP includes trigger control of external components like the Audiolab 8200x7 multichannel power amplifier.
 Revised Audiolab 8200 Series front panel including new OLED Display
The 8200AP's new OLED display is clearer, brighter and has larger characters than the 8000AP's lower contrast Vacuum Fluorescent Display.
 PCB layout and power supply improvements
Improved signal routing in the 8200AP's circuitry ensures lower noise and better supply de-coupling, thus enhancing the overall performance.
 Digital S/PDIF output available from all sources, including analogue
The 8000AP had no digital output from analogue sources.

 

Audiolab 8200AP

In stock and reday to go....

Stunning 5 star review in HFC, please mail us for a PDF copy