I know music is a personal thing, what some love, others cannot stand. Many people love the 8000A, some don't though. At least I gather that from looking at comments from people that have had or experience with the amp. Listening to different speakers with the amp would be the best way to go in an ideal world, but I am in no position to do that. What makes of speaker would pair well with the 8000A? No more than £200 whether they be new or second hand ones. Bookshelf or floor standing, both are fine as I have not bought any decent stands yet, as I wanted to get an amp first and go from there.
What speakers to partner Audiolab 8000A?
- Thread starter Marsman
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As Ste says, the 8000A is a pretty accurate, clinical amp ('cold' sounds too negative, but it's not exactly a rich, warm sound). It depends on what sort of sound you're after, but personally I'd be cautious pairing the 8000A with any bright-sounding speaker or one with an aggressive top-end. It might have instant appeal but it can be fatiguing to listen to long term.
I found Missions to have a pretty lean sound, but not having heard the 773es might be taking generalised rubbish - they may work really well. If you're buying second-hand and would be prepared to sell on to try something different then you can't lose too much.
I found Missions to have a pretty lean sound, but not having heard the 773es might be taking generalised rubbish - they may work really well. If you're buying second-hand and would be prepared to sell on to try something different then you can't lose too much.
£200 is not much I feel, although as Ste mentioned, I should be able to get some decent speakers second hand for my limited budget. Since I won bidding on the Audiolab, I have wondered if I went for an amp that requires more expensive speakers, or rather expensive as far as I'm concerned anyway. 
Still it's a decent amp, that's good enough for me. 
I'll keep an eye out for the Mission's.
Still it's a decent amp, that's good enough for me. I'll keep an eye out for the Mission's.
As I'm one the people who think it's a sterile and boring amp, I would go with speakers with some character, so defiantly not B&W or Monitor Audio's !!!... Which are the speaker equivalent of the 8000A !!!
How about a pair of S/H Linn keilidh or Kans, or some other LS5A clone, Harbarth perhaps.
Or some S/H Epos maybe.
How about a pair of S/H Linn keilidh or Kans, or some other LS5A clone, Harbarth perhaps.
Or some S/H Epos maybe.
The Audiolab amps definatly need to be partnered with speakers that have some character, I have a rack of Audiolab 8000M's and use them to drive Mission 753F and its a really good match imho. Its probably not that surprising though, as before Mission was bought by IAG, they were pretty much designed to be driven with their sister company (cyrus) amps. And like the Audiolabs, the Cyrus Amps dont add any real character to the music. They are very neutral amps, which is fine if your pairing them with speakers that have chararacter. I've tried the Audiolabs with some old big tannoys, and it was pretty entertaining, but I found the tannoys to be a little too boxy in the mid range. Still good party speakers though.
IMHO its a lot easier to get a happy musical system from Audiolab amps and well matched speakers, than trying to find an amp that will add character/personality to Monitor Audios... Speakers are in my opinion where the real tone of the sound is set.
Of the Audiolab range the 8000A, C/P and M's are the most forgiving models, and the 8000S, PX, and MX's are the most sterile models. But they are all lean/neutral designs.
Personally I love my Audiolabs, but I wouldnt want to partner them with bright speakers, or source. I had an arcam CD player hooked up to the system once, and it was so over the top bright it was very tiring after about 10 minutes listening.
IMHO its a lot easier to get a happy musical system from Audiolab amps and well matched speakers, than trying to find an amp that will add character/personality to Monitor Audios
... Speakers are in my opinion where the real tone of the sound is set.Of the Audiolab range the 8000A, C/P and M's are the most forgiving models, and the 8000S, PX, and MX's are the most sterile models. But they are all lean/neutral designs.
Personally I love my Audiolabs, but I wouldnt want to partner them with bright speakers, or source. I had an arcam CD player hooked up to the system once, and it was so over the top bright it was very tiring after about 10 minutes listening.
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Mission 752's i had running on my 8000A when i used it as my main amp and they sounded excellent , very easy to drive too.
Should be able to pick up a pair for £200'ish 2nd hand these days id have thought.
Should be able to pick up a pair for £200'ish 2nd hand these days id have thought.
The Audiolab amps definatly need to be partnered with speakers that have some character, I have a rack of Audiolab 8000M's and use them to drive Mission 753F and its a really good match imho. Its probably not that surprising though, as before Mission was bought by IAG, they were pretty much designed to be driven with their sister company (cyrus) amps. And like the Audiolabs, the Cyrus Amps dont add any real character to the music. They are very neutral amps, which is fine if your pairing them with speakers that have chararacter. I've tried the Audiolabs with some old big tannoys, and it was pretty entertaining, but I found the tannoys to be a little too boxy in the mid range. Still good party speakers though.
IMHO its a lot easier to get a happy musical system from Audiolab amps and well matched speakers, than trying to find an amp that will add character/personality to Monitor Audios
Of the Audiolab range the 8000A, C/P and M's are the most forgiving models, and the 8000S, PX, and MX's are the most sterile models. But they are all lean/neutral designs.
Personally I love my Audiolabs, but I wouldnt want to partner them with bright speakers, or source. I had an arcam CD player hooked up to the system once, and it was so over the top bright it was very tiring after about 10 minutes listening.
Nice - how many M's, 2 or 4(!)? Bet the 753s sound good with some serious power behind them
Used to have an Arcam alpha 6 paired with 8000A and 753s. Sounded good and wasn't too bright. Perhaps the 'f' varients were brighter
Sadly all the ones up for bidding turn local pickup, into nationwide pickup. I have 2M's at the moment, I used to drive them with 2x8000P's pasive biamped, but got the M's at a bargain price, and found that 2M's did a better job than 2P's.
I wouldnt mind trying 4M's but would like to jury rig an active crossover and try a proper bi-amped setup. But for now the 2 M's are doing really well.
Anyway, the entire Mission 75 series work really well on the Audiolab amps, especially in my opinion the freedom models, which have a smoother top end. But really anyfrom the from the 750 up to the 754 all pair nicely with the 8000's.
The 753 is a little much for an 8000A.. It will work, but its a tough speaker to drive well, so a 752 Freedom would make a great choice, or even a 751 if space is an issue.
Perhaps it was just the wrong Arcam at the time. Cant even remember which model it is... Plus I was running with an 8000S back then so it all adds up. In the end I settled with a Tag AV32R and I just use my CD player as a transport, I allow the AV32R to do all the work.
I wouldnt mind trying 4M's but would like to jury rig an active crossover and try a proper bi-amped setup
. But for now the 2 M's are doing really well. Anyway, the entire Mission 75 series work really well on the Audiolab amps, especially in my opinion the freedom models, which have a smoother top end. But really anyfrom the from the 750 up to the 754 all pair nicely with the 8000's.
The 753 is a little much for an 8000A.. It will work, but its a tough speaker to drive well, so a 752 Freedom would make a great choice, or even a 751 if space is an issue.
Perhaps it was just the wrong Arcam at the time
. Cant even remember which model it is... Plus I was running with an 8000S back then so it all adds up. In the end I settled with a Tag AV32R and I just use my CD player as a transport, I allow the AV32R to do all the work.
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Shames me to admit it but at the mo my 8000a is my puta amp with a set of richersound special ariston £10 speakers bought many moons ago for testing a valve amp kit i built.
The idea was once the tube amp was up and running id sling them on the alchemist forseti pre/power amp i have and pound on them until distruction happend
I ended up kinda liking them thou so kept them.
My main kit now lives in the loft until the kids are past pokey fingers stage
The idea was once the tube amp was up and running id sling them on the alchemist forseti pre/power amp i have and pound on them until distruction happend
I ended up kinda liking them thou so kept them.
My main kit now lives in the loft until the kids are past pokey fingers stage