Audiolab 8200cd and dac

I would say it is fairly neutral. Sounds warmer than my dCS Puccini for sure, which I find a bit cold/sterile sounding.

I just picked up the 8200CD, the hi-res 24/96 stuff is sounding great, love the filters esp. Optimal Spectrum. Way better sounding for the $ than Benchmark USB, which I found too sterile. 8200CD has all the snap and clarity I look for, with way more connectivity options than the competition.

I just got the 8200 CD yesterday, listened to CD's last night and hooked up to files on PC-USB today. I am really impressed with the sound and the features, especially the filters. Had been running a MF V-DAC with upgrade power supply but didn't use it because the sound was thin, uninvolving, almost tinny.

Very happy with the 8200 so far. Looks good, sounds good, very nice price.

I've owned the 8200CDQ for a month now and love it. I do love the filters but they started to drive me crazy because I was switching filters midway though songs. I bout the CDQ so I could buy a used solid state amp to run in the summer (own a tube integrated). Like others, I love the USB input. I've been playing 24 bit and loving it. If you get the CDQ and are not using it as a preamp, make sure to keep the output at 0db or you'll clip your amps input. The U.S. distributor is in Canada and they sell direcly. My local shop in Upstate NY sells them and that's where I got mine for the same price as direct. The owners manual is extensive and very well written.