The Audiolab 8300CD CD player offers exceptional detail, transparency, soundstage depth, dynamic range, and a seamless flow across all audio sources. It stands out not only as a remarkable CD player but also as a high-quality external DAC and digital preamplifier, capable of maximizing the potential of your CD collection. With its ability to upscale to 32-bit/384 kHz and support for DSD through the USB input, it significantly enhances the functionality of external digital audio devices.
In addition, the Audiolab 8300CD incorporates all the essential features of a digital preamplifier, including volume control and source selection, accessible from both the front panel and the remote control. This versatility allows the Audiolab 8300CD to connect directly to a stereo power amplifier or a pair of monoblocks, such as the new Audiolab 8300MB, as well as to conventional integrated amplifiers like the new Audiolab 8300A.
The 8300 series enables control of music playback from a PC, Mac, or media device through a USB connection. When linked to a computer, the 8300CD is recognized not only as an asynchronous DAC but also as a HID-compliant device (Human Interface Device). This functionality allows users to manage file playback from a PC, Mac, or media player, including options for Play, Pause, Stop, and Track Selection.
The Audiolab 8300CD features an innovative slot-loading mechanism that is significantly faster and more precise than the traditional tray design. This new mechanism minimizes the chances of disc reading errors and can successfully play CDs that may be rejected by other players due to dirt or damage. Additionally, its digital buffer circuit complements the asynchronous DAC input, enhancing performance in this area. Another benefit is the improved stability of disc rotation and a reduced sensitivity to resonances, which collectively enhance the overall sound quality.
The Audiolab 8300CD has enhanced its connectivity features by incorporating an AES/EBU digital input and an XLR digital output. These additions complement the extensive array of inputs and outputs available in the previous 8200CD model, which includes 2 coaxial digital inputs, 2 optical digital inputs, 1 asynchronous USB input, 1 coaxial digital output, 1 digital optical output, as well as standard RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs. The device is equipped with a 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC, renowned for its exceptional sound quality, a feature typically found in more expensive CD players. Furthermore, significant efforts have been made to minimize jitter to an extremely low level, a characteristic usually associated with high-end models.
The D/A conversion in the Audiolab 8300CD is executed by 512 DAC elements (256 DACs per channel), each functioning at a frequency of 84.672 MHz. This ensures that all digital audio sources, irrespective of their sampling rates, are reclocked to this frequency. Consequently, the conversion process operates at a switching frequency that is 3840 times greater than the standard upper limit of the audio frequency range, which is 22 kHz. Without upsampling, the analog filters could potentially influence the audible range, leading to undesirable variations in level and phase within the audio frequency spectrum.
The integration of the Hyperstream modulator guarantees optimal transient response, effectively addressing the limitations associated with dynamic response and noise floor modulation—issues commonly found in traditional delta-sigma DAC circuits. The USB input has been upgraded to support both DSD streams and PCM-encoded data, marking a significant enhancement, as DSD is crucial for downloading high-resolution audio files. Consequently, the filtering section now features four additional filters specifically for DSD playback, enabling users to fine-tune the noise floor based on the quality of the source material and the capabilities of their amplifiers and speakers.
Furthermore, the digital processing involved in reclocking and upscaling via the USB input offers notable audio improvements for CD playback and other digital sources, irrespective of file resolution. By extending the USB input’s capacity to accommodate files up to 32-bit/384kHz and processing data both prior to and within the Sabre DAC, the overall perception of detail and dynamics in music has been significantly enhanced. This results in a more vibrant and clear audio reproduction, establishing a new benchmark for CD players within this price category.
Audiolab 8300CD Specifications
- Display: OLED 128×64 pixels, diagonal 2.7″
- CD loading mechanism: slot type
- DSD compatibility: yes (DSD64 / DSD128 / DSD256)
- Compatible with discs: CD / CDR
- DAC: ESS Sabre32 9018
- Resolution: 32 bit
- Sampling frequencies: Optical, Coaxial, AES: 32kHz – 192kHz, USB: 32kHz – 384kHz (PCM) / DSD64, DSD128, DSD256
- Max. sampling frequency: Optical, Coaxial, AES: 192kHz, USB: 384kHz (PCM) / 11.2M (DSD256)
- Digital inputs: 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Toslink Optical, 1 x AES / EBU, 1 x USB for PC USB,
- Digital Outputs: 1 x Coaxial, 1 x Toslink Optical,1 x AES
- Output Voltage: 4.2Vrms ±0.1 (balanced), 2.1Vrms ±0.1 (unbalanced)
- Output Impedance: 10 Ohm
- THD (1kHz, 0dB, 20Hz – 20kHz, A-weighted): <0.002%
- Frequency Response (+/-0.2dB): 20Hz – 20KHz (± 0.2dB)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N) A-weighted: RCA:<-98dB ,XLR<-100dB
- Dynamic Range: (A-weighted): RCA:>98dB ,XLR>100dB
- Crosstalk (at 1kHz): RCA:<-120dB , XLR <-130dB
- 12V trigger output: yes
- Dimensions: 80 x 444 x 317 mm, weight: 6 kg
