AUDIOLAB 8000A Modification

hi WINDWSS,

I recently bought an 8000A. I have changed the pair of ELNA 50V 10000uf to Mcap 63V 10000uf only. Is it really worth to replace all cap (especially the pre amp part) to Black Gate? How would you guys compare Black Gate with Mcap? If changing all remaining caps to Black Gate, around how much it would cost (HKD)?

I plan to buy a 2nd hand 8000P too, should I replace all caps too?

Hi WINDWSS,

Thanks for your advice.

I think solid state amp will be more versatile in all kinds of music. People said that tube amp is strong in vocal but not as detail as solid state amp, is it true?

Do you think 8000Q is much better than the pre amp part of 8000A?

What's the limitation of 8000A you found?

Hi WINDWSS,

Thanks for your detail information.

I think I will stick to the 8000A for a while, during the time, I wish I can mod it to the best it can perform (coz limited resources to try other amp... haha...)

To sum up, I should do the following on the 8000A? my 8000A version is "207Bxxxxx"

1) change all the elna cap to BG (pk series) on both pre amp and power part. (PK series is a better grade than the standard one? BG's production is stopped, I can still get it in the market?

2) change the EVOK film cap to ERO MKP for the one between the big tank

3) should I change the OPAMP to OPA 627 as u suggested to sugargar? How much it cost for a single pc of OPA 627?

4) If twisting the wire, should i use silver or copper wire?

Thanks for your help.

Hi WINDWSS,

Thanks for your information and u're so helpful.

I'm in Hong Kong and my cdp is "ONIX CD3 SE" and my speakers is "EPOS M12i".

Occasionally I found the left speakers has "click" sound, sometimes it happens when I adjust 8000A's volume knob. I do think the connection to the speakers has no problems. What do you think? Is it the interference inside the 8000A? Can it be fixed?

Thanks

Hi WINDWSS,

Do the volume level playing affect the "run-in" time?



Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

I have changed all ecap to black gate (except those in the phono circuit), changed the ELNA reservoir to Jensen, change the OP AMP from TL072 to 827.

The overall performance is wider in the soundstage, the vocals is more dominant, the sound is more 3 dimensional now.... In the sense of resolution, I didn't find big improvement...

The sound is now warmer and smoother, may be it's owing to the effect of the black gate. But black gate do need time to run in, everytime I found warmer and thicker sound from this 8000A when it's played for over 1 hrs.


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

My Jensen reservoir is black 4 poles, I remember you said the golden 2 poles is better, right?

The opa is AD827. I think I would prefer the sound's warmness, don't wanna use it for exchanging higher resolution.

As I remember, now you use the 8000A as the power amp only, you just connect ur preamp to the "power in" of the 8000A?


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

QUAD 606 is a good power amp? Do you think it can push 3/5A speakers? Do you know the approximate 2nd hand price?


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Is it easy to find a good condition QUAD 606 Mk2? Any channel you know? You can PM me.

For matching a tube pre amp and a solid state power amp, what figure we have to be awared?


Thanks
Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Don't know u're not staying in HK!

BTW, do you do any A/B test between 8000A/8000P & 8000A/QUAD 606? If yes, what's ur detail comments? Since I plan to upgrade my speakers to Focus Audio FS68SE, it's sensitivity is only 85db.... some people said that 8000P can only drive FOCUS AUDIO FS68SE well if the listening area is below 100 sqft. I guess a UK made power amp (QUAD 606) which can offer 140W per channel (8 ohm), it can then push many speakers, but don't know what's it's output current (this is an important factor for pushing low sensitivity speakers).

I wanna buy a versatile UK made power amp for long term use, don't wanna change equipment frequently.... I wonder if QUAD is one of the best choice...


Thanks
Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

More questions about the matching of 8000A with QUAD 606...

From this 2 unit's spec, the output impedence of 8000A is 600 ohms and the input impedence of 606 is 20K ohms. Do they match without problem?

What's the meaning of "inverted phase"? People said that QUAD 606 is "inverted phase" but 8000A is non-inverting. Can they be matched as a couple?


Thanks
Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Any experience with QUAD 909? How would it compare with 606?

For QUAD 606 Mk2, it's using EI transformer or toroidal transformer?



Thanks
Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

I bought the QUAD 606!

For my first impression, 606 give me a deeper bass and thicker sound when compared with single 8000A. I think I have more choices of speakers now.

Hope that I can explore more from this unit.


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

My 606 cost $5500... I can't find one from those c-hing on the internet and I bought it from a 2nd hand Hifi shop. That's why it's rather expensive.... I think mines is the later model as the top edge of the chasis is NOT right angled one.

Do the market has the ready made "tube buffer"? What's the average price? I'm really not confident to make one for myself, any channel to get one?


Thanks
Bryan

Hi Autumnleafcat,

I think I met you before... I'm the owner of "Jack", the Cream British shorthair...


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

What do you think of the below 5687 tube buffer?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Core-Audio-6BC4-tube-buffer-5670-cca-6sn7-5687-el34-6l6_W0QQitemZ300267943841QQihZ020QQcategoryZ12050QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262


Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Thanks for your info.

The schematic in the pdf file is the one u DIY for your friend? Do you know any high hand in HK which can DIY these stuff? I really have no idea...


Bryan

Hi Autumnleafcat,

I'll post some jack's photo later...

i mix "pro plan" + "innova evo" for jack but he eats little only.... he's thinner than before. I have no choice but feed him "Royal Canin 38" now, now he can eat 3/4 cup! much better than before, don't know vera will blame me or not....



Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Thanks a lot for your detail information!

I have sent an message to Modi sir already, don't know he's interested to help or not.

Anyway, thanks for all your great help!



Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

If adding the tube buffer, what role do the 8000A play in my system? Is it still significant?



Thanks
Bryan

Hi WINDWSS,

Are all tube preamp can act as tube buffer too? If so, is it more versatile to have a tube preamp rather than tube buffer? Tube preamp can act as tube buffer but tube buffer cannot act as preamp....

Did u heard of a preamp Cunningham CX-301A?



Bryan