Audiolab 8200CDQ

Audiojedi. I've only had mine up and running for two days now and haven't used the USB yet, only CD's. I too like the Optimal Transient XD filter the best. Hopefully I'll be streaming 24 bit this weekend if I can find a deal on a USB cable. I might have to use the one from my printer in a pinch. I'm also very much so enjoying the Audiolab. I've read a lot of professional reviews that said to run the unit with the display turned off. Not sure I can tell the difference but that's what I'm doing anyway. I put some Herbie's Tendersoft Feet under it today and one of Herbie's weight's on top of it and I everything tightened up a little (I think....could be placebo effect).

So are you playing 24/192 from the Squeezbox? I'm not too familiar with them.

For music storage I just ordered a 2 TB Western Digital network drive on Amazon because the floods in Thailand have put the 2 largest manufacturers of hard drives under water and prices are sky rocketing. I got the 2 TB for $149 where Newegg already jacked the price up to $199 and they're supposed to go higher.

Singleendedsingle. Yes, John Westlake designed the DAC for the Peachtree. I'm not sure how they would compare. I wish I knew someone where I live who had one so we could find out. (I live in Rochester NY of anyone out there fits the description)

There are a series of threads on the CDQ on Pink Fish Media to which John Westlake has contributed. His postings suggest that the CDQ is substantially better than his previous work.

Thanks Afranta. I've read those threads. I was actually hoping the OP would find them. John Westlake has gone on record to say that the Audiolab is the DAC he's been promising to make for ages, and that it sounds better than any other digital product he has designed. As far as he's concerned, he bested the Peachtree. I've never heard a Peachtree but I own the Audiolab and it was for sure a great deal compared to what I was using as a source for almost the same amount of money. I've barely tapped into it's potential.

I'm interested in your experience with the CDQ, Donjr. I just about went for one, but finally decided against it because the pfm threads suggested that updates were ongoing, which sounded like it might be a hassle. (I didn't like what I heard about a flimsy cd tray, either.) How would you rate the software stability and build quality of your machine?

So far I rate the build quality very high for the price point but the cd tray is average. My goal is to set up a network drive and stream with my laptop (slowly rip my cd's plus losless), The cd tray is certainly no worse than any other $1 - $2K CDP I've owned. It sounds a lot better than my Rotel RCD1520. It's rather heavy for its size and the controls are top quality. the user manual is very extensive as there's a LOT you can do with this unit. I have not had the chance to use the USB, which is where this unit is supposed to shine. Hopefully in about a week i will have experienced 24 bit. The way I look at this unit is that the engineering that went into it, along with the features, makes it the best in its price point by a long shot. John Westlake said it's his best so far and he engineered the DAC for Peachtree. If you're spending under 2 grand, I would seriously consider it.