DACs in the Audiolab 8000CD

[Fusion2010]

Hi everyone,

I figure diyaudio is perhaps the best place to ask this question. I'm considering the purchase of either the Rega Apollo or the Audiolab 8000CD. It will be used with an Audiolab 8000S integrated.

Everyone pretty much knows about the Apollo, but I figure the 8000CD might be just as attractive an option for me. Of course, it'll match my amp, but it also looks to be a pretty well built unit for the money. It has separate power supplies for the digital and analogue stages, which I'm guessing isn't common at the $1,000 price point. Supposedly this allows the player to achieve close to the performance level of a separate DAC and transport.

Can anyone here tell just how many DACs the 8000CD uses, and which DACs they are? The link below is a large pic of the internals of this unit. It's easy to see the two power supplies, and I'm guessing the one on the left is the digital stage and the one on the right the analogue. I see two little black chips on the left side and one on the right - are these the actual DACs? If so then I guess that would mean there are three in total.

The only info that Audiolab provides on the DAC(s) used is that they are "Crystal Semiconductors Crystal 24bit/192kHz 5th order Delta Sigma DACs". From the Cirrus website I figure it must be one of the Crystal CS4349, CS4350, CS4351, CS4352, or CS4353.

http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/8000cd-internal.jpg

Appreciate any light that can be shed on this, as well as opinions on what you think of this player's design. Personally I'm very impressed with the 8000S. I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's a very heavy amp, the various knobs and buttons feel substantial, and it just has this control over a speaker driver that I've not heard with other amps I've listened to (granted, it's not like I've heard everything at this price point). It's high damping factor probably accounts for the control it has.