Audiolab 8000a vs Class D

[TylerDurden]

Hello,

I can buy a second hand Audiolab 8000a for £125 or thereabouts from eBay, and I know that I like the sound they produce.

My question is this:

For the same money, can I build a Class D Amp that will outperform the Audiolab?

If so, what parts would you recommend?

Thanks

[luka]

I assume you have no experience with class D, so I would say buy kit from 41Hz.com or already made product from hypex.nl

Or find different amp, 2nd hand is 2nd hand, far cheaper in most cases

[Ampit]

£125

is not the price you will get a leading d-amp for.
Remember, you need the board, a power supply, case, potentiometer, in- and outputs.

From $80 up to €100 for a good power supply alone.
And you might have 3 dealers and $30-$40 for shipping.

[TylerDurden]

Hifimediy T2 TK2050 2*100W@4ohm + Meanwell 27V 350W = £74 delivered.

I'm guessing I can get /make the other items for less than £50.

[goosewing]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Hifimediy T2 TK2050 2*100W@4ohm + Meanwell 27V 350W = £74 delivered.

I'm guessing I can get /make the other items for less than £50.

Not if it is truly to be an equivalent to the 8000a i.e. nice case, pre-amp and possibly phono functions as well. Just the power amp sections in a cheap box is as you say just about do-able.

[TylerDurden]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant purely for sound quality, not looks and other functionality.

[5th element]

I think you will find that DIY always ends up costing more then you'd expect. £125 for the Audiolab is very good value, especially as you know you like it. Personally I would grab the 8000A. This has the advantage of coming with a pair of preouts, should you wish to try class D in the future you'll have a good preamp for driving it with.

[Nanook]

Having owned an Audiolab 8000a for seeveral years, there are things it does that no T-amp can (or not very well).

The loudspeakers that you plan on using with the D-amp is paramount in my mind. If you have loudspeakers with 1 3rd order X-over or greater, and they are less than efficient, then I would recommend the Audiolab. The fact that an old Audiolab if in good repair has a lot of control and the ability to drive some fairly nasty impedaences is a bonus. So is the preamp section which includes a (quite) good phono stage (both MC and MM).

If you have efficient loudspeakers with 90 dB+ sensitivity, and don't need a full featured pre-amp, then a Cllass D amp is a good choice. You will need something that has a volume control and the number of inputs that you require.

The 41hz amps are veery good kits, as already stated. If you require a ready made solution, the Bantum amplifiers are nice. If you can stretch £'s. then perhaps a Virtue Audio One.2 .