The Beast arrived Original A8T CD player!!!
GATOR3000
Posts: 355
The new “Original A8T CDP” was long overdue and finally has arrived. For those of you interested, pics are attached with some of my initial thoughts of this awesome CD player.
Equipment used:
- Original A8T CD player (HDCD/CD tube/solid-state)
- ASL AQ 1003 DT push/pull 30WPC integrated tube amplifier
- Parasaund HCA-1500A SS (205 Watts x 2 into 8 ohms) amplifier
- Polk Audio Rti8 speakers
- Polk Audio Lsi15 speakers
One of our Club Polk members “Organ” has described this CD player as “I am stunned!” http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=464952
Stunned, bewildered, astonished, amazed what ever you want to call it is about right! My initial impression of Original A8T CDP is heavy duty (21 lbs), well build, quality parts, excellent sound and YES, the remote control weighs 2 lbs!! WOW!
The A8T is simple yet very sophisticated CD player. It has two outputs comprising of 1 analog and 1 tube output. Some of the reviews describe these outputs as to be very similar. That is so, if you audition A8T player with stock (2) 12AU7A ECC82 EH tubes. I have replaced the stock EH tubes with RCA 12AU7A GE Westinghouse NOS tubes and the sound is absolutely awesome. Smooth, vibrant and sonically pleasing to my ears. The bottom end of this player is astonishing! Bass is very powerful, loud, tight yet very “bubbly”.
Originally, I was looking at the new Cambridge 840C (384KHz), Jolida JD100 tube and Shanling T80 tube CD player, but opted for A8T. The reason was extreme and yet delicate detail of this player. There are other factors, for example the huge toridal transformer, optical and coaxial digital outputs and ability to play HDCD’s. I have replaced the stock power cord with HD ($250.00) power supply cord and the sound improved immensely.
If you like to listen to your 25 year old CD’s like CCR for instance, this player can do it with ease and perfection. No harshness, no compression, just smooth and very detailed sounds. The way these old CD’s were recorded.
I put only a few hours on this CD player over the holidays and need more “break in” time to get the unit’s ultimate sound potential. For now I just sit back and enjoy the sweet music.
No need for “Advice please tube vs. solid state CDP” you get the best of both Worlds. If you can’t decide which one you like better, the analog output or the tube output, you can play “both” SS and tube output simultaneously. Very interesting experience!
Some improvements for this CD player…………NOS tube rolling to your taste, microphonics reduction/dumping tube C-rings (Herbie’s UltraSonic HAL-O), upgraded interconnects and heavy duty power supply cord for the toridal transformer will do wonders!
If you were looking for reasonably priced, well build and versatile CD player, I would strongly recommend looking at this unit. It is a great value for $$. To see inside the “Guts” of this astonishing player I have posted some pics here.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=557709#post557709
Wishing all Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year 2007 .
Cheers
Gator:)
Equipment used:
- Original A8T CD player (HDCD/CD tube/solid-state)
- ASL AQ 1003 DT push/pull 30WPC integrated tube amplifier
- Parasaund HCA-1500A SS (205 Watts x 2 into 8 ohms) amplifier
- Polk Audio Rti8 speakers
- Polk Audio Lsi15 speakers
One of our Club Polk members “Organ” has described this CD player as “I am stunned!” http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=464952
Stunned, bewildered, astonished, amazed what ever you want to call it is about right! My initial impression of Original A8T CDP is heavy duty (21 lbs), well build, quality parts, excellent sound and YES, the remote control weighs 2 lbs!! WOW!
The A8T is simple yet very sophisticated CD player. It has two outputs comprising of 1 analog and 1 tube output. Some of the reviews describe these outputs as to be very similar. That is so, if you audition A8T player with stock (2) 12AU7A ECC82 EH tubes. I have replaced the stock EH tubes with RCA 12AU7A GE Westinghouse NOS tubes and the sound is absolutely awesome. Smooth, vibrant and sonically pleasing to my ears. The bottom end of this player is astonishing! Bass is very powerful, loud, tight yet very “bubbly”.
Originally, I was looking at the new Cambridge 840C (384KHz), Jolida JD100 tube and Shanling T80 tube CD player, but opted for A8T. The reason was extreme and yet delicate detail of this player. There are other factors, for example the huge toridal transformer, optical and coaxial digital outputs and ability to play HDCD’s. I have replaced the stock power cord with HD ($250.00) power supply cord and the sound improved immensely.
If you like to listen to your 25 year old CD’s like CCR for instance, this player can do it with ease and perfection. No harshness, no compression, just smooth and very detailed sounds. The way these old CD’s were recorded.
I put only a few hours on this CD player over the holidays and need more “break in” time to get the unit’s ultimate sound potential. For now I just sit back and enjoy the sweet music.
No need for “Advice please tube vs. solid state CDP” you get the best of both Worlds. If you can’t decide which one you like better, the analog output or the tube output, you can play “both” SS and tube output simultaneously. Very interesting experience!
Some improvements for this CD player…………NOS tube rolling to your taste, microphonics reduction/dumping tube C-rings (Herbie’s UltraSonic HAL-O), upgraded interconnects and heavy duty power supply cord for the toridal transformer will do wonders!
If you were looking for reasonably priced, well build and versatile CD player, I would strongly recommend looking at this unit. It is a great value for $$. To see inside the “Guts” of this astonishing player I have posted some pics here.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=557709#post557709
Wishing all Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year 2007 .
Cheers
Gator:)
Theatre System 5.1
Sumsung HP-S5053 plasma
Receiver Denon AVR 3806 Pre/Pro
Parasound HCA 1500A amp (front L/R)
Parasound HCA 1000A amp (centre)
B & K AV5000 amp (bi-amp + surround)
Dynaco ST70 tube amp (Herbie HAL-O9)
polkaudio Lsi15 (Cherry) 2-channel
polkaudio Rti8 Front (Cherry)
polkaudio Csi5 Centre
polkaudio Rti6 Surround
polkaudio PSW1000 Subwoofer (Cherry)
Original A8T CD
Pioneer DV-275 DVD Player
MONSTER CABLE MP-HTS3500MKII Powercentre
Sumsung HP-S5053 plasma
Receiver Denon AVR 3806 Pre/Pro
Parasound HCA 1500A amp (front L/R)
Parasound HCA 1000A amp (centre)
B & K AV5000 amp (bi-amp + surround)
Dynaco ST70 tube amp (Herbie HAL-O9)
polkaudio Lsi15 (Cherry) 2-channel
polkaudio Rti8 Front (Cherry)
polkaudio Csi5 Centre
polkaudio Rti6 Surround
polkaudio PSW1000 Subwoofer (Cherry)
Original A8T CD
Pioneer DV-275 DVD Player
MONSTER CABLE MP-HTS3500MKII Powercentre