To this specification the new 8300CDQ adds high-quality analogue preamp
circuitry, coupled to three stereo pairs of line-level RCA inputs to
connect analogue sources. The preamp circuitry is kept as simple as
possible using high-quality components to maintain signal purity, with
line input signals passing to a precision analogue volume stage. Much
effort has gone into the physical layout of the 8300CDQ’s circuitry,
protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference.
MQA
Taking
it to the next level the 8300CDQ now includes MQA technology, which
enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the
sound of the original master recording.
MQA (Master Quality
Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the
sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully
authenticated and is small enough to stream or download.
The Sound of Science
The
8300CDQ adds further flexibility by incorporating a dedicated
direct-coupled headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry. Accessed
via a front-mounted 6.35mm socket, its gain bandwidth and high slew rate
ensure a dynamic, detailed and engaging performance with all manner of
headphone types.
The final key feature introduced in the 8300CDQ is
decoding of MQA (Master Quality Authenticated). The brainchild of
Meridian Audio co-founder Bob Stuart, MQA is a digital audio format
designed for high-resolution music streaming and is available via
subscription to Tidal’s ‘HiFi’ tier (among other sources). The 8300CDQ
unpacks MQA data – received via the USB input – at the original file’s
full resolution and passes the signal through its DAC and preamp stages,
ready to feed a power amp or active speakers.
Audiolab’s MQA decoding solution was developed by John Westlake, one of
Britain’s foremost digital audio experts. There are various ways to
enable MQA playback on audio devices, and not all are equal sonically.
Westlake’s solution maximises the format’s potential, just as the
8300CDQ’s design draws the best sound quality from other audio codecs
and, of course, CDs Launched in 2010, the original Westlake-designed Audiolab CD players –
the 8200CD and 8200CDQ– were universally acclaimed for their superb
sound quality and flexible facilities. In 2015, the 8300 Series arrived
and both 8200 Series players were replaced by the 8300CD, building upon
its predecessors’ formidable reputation. It has taken until now for this
player to be joined by the enhanced 8300CDQ, further developing
Audiolab’s classic line of CD players to reach still greater heights.
•Slot-loadingCDtransportmechanism Fast
in operation and neat in design, the 8300CDQ’s slot-loading CD
transport delivers excellent reliability. A read-ahead digital buffer
reduces disc-reading errors, enabling scratched CDs that are unreadable
by conventional mechanisms to be played. High disc stability and low
susceptibility to resonance contribute to the 8300CDQ’s superb CD sound
quality.
•High-resolutiondigitalinputs Five
digital inputs comprise 1x asynchronous USB and 4x S/PDIF (2x coaxial
and 2x optical). Hi-res digital audio is supported up to 32-bit/384kHz
PCM and DSD256, and USB HID compatibility enables driverless control of a
connected PC, Mac or media player.
•32-bitESSSabreDAC The
CD transport and digital inputs feed a DAC section with an ESS Sabre32
Reference chip nestling at its heart, utilising HyperStream architecture
and ESS Technology’s Time Domain Jitter Eliminator to deliver ultra-low
noise and high dynamic range. No company knows more about making the
most of this 32-bit, eight-channel hybrid multi-bit Delta-Sigma DAC
technology than Audiolab; the 8200CD and 8200CDQ were among the first
audio components to use it and the company has been honing its
implementation ever since. The conversion process involves 512 DAC
elements (256 per channel) each operating at 84.672MHz – all digital
audio sources, whatever the sample rate, are upsampled or oversampled to
this frequency.
•Exemplaryjitterreduction Around
the DAC chip are extensive measures to reduce jitter (digital
distortion) to vanishingly low levels. Careful circuit layout and
low-noise power supplies complement the DAC’s patented Sabre32 sample
rate converter and clever DPLL (Digital Phase Locked Loop) circuit,
radically reducing time domain errors from all digital input sources.
•Timedomainisolation While
the Sabre32 sample rate converter virtually eliminates jitter within
the digital domain, external ‘analogue domain’ induced artefacts caused
by RF breakthrough, PSU coupling and so on will affect the DAC’s sonic
performance. Audiolab resolves this issue via its CATDA (Cascaded
Asynchronous Time Domain Attenuator) circuit. This circuit isolates the
DAC substrate from sonically deleterious artefacts that affect
non-synchronous digital input data. To achieve the best possible
performance, three identical cascaded stages are used – each individual
stage provides increased isolation, thereby maximising timing
performance, even at higher RF frequencies.
•Selectabledigitalfilters As
digital audio reproduction technology has progressed, the importance of
the characteristics of reconstruction digital filters has become more
appreciated. The Audiolab 8300CDQ features seven user-selectable filters
for PCM audio data (including CD) and four ultrasonic filters for DSD
data. These settings allow the user to tune the 8300CD’s performance
according to system configuration, digital file quality and personal
taste.
•DiscreteClassAanaloguestagesandsophisticatedpowersupply The
8300CDQ’s analogue output stages and power supply are exceptionally
well specified in the pursuit of sonic excellence. The circuitry includes
a large, low-noise toroidal transformer, a plethora of
reservoir/smoothing capacitors, an impressive number of regulator chips
and discrete transistor (instead of op-amp) analogue stages at the
output with ultra-low impedance to drive any cable and any load. The
power supply incorporates 29 regulated supply rails including multiple
ultra-low-noise regulators, with extensive measures against power supply
contamination and cross-coupling.
The
Sound Seller
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Defective
items will be exchanged within 14 days from delivery.
After
14 days, Please contact the manufacturer.
Defective
item returns must be in the manufacturer's original packaging, in
like-new condition, including all packaging materials, shipped
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Item
is guaranteed to be as described. If a refund is desired, we will
refund your full purchase price minus a 20% restocking fee. The
item must be as sold, unopened and in re-sellable condition. Buyer
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will only be accepted for items that are truly defective. We
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