Audiolab 8300CD CD Player Black

The Audiolab 8300CD sits within the 8300 series, Audiolab's mid-range line-up positioned above the entry-level 6000 series and below the flagship 9000 series. Building on the reputation of the award-winning 8200CD that preceded it, the 8300CD combines a slot-loading CD transport with a high-performance standalone DAC section, making it a versatile digital source component.

ESS Sabre32 DAC & CATDA Technology

At the heart of the 8300CD is the ESS Sabre32 ES9018 reference DAC, which employs ESS Technology's HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator to deliver low noise and high dynamic range. Audiolab supplements this with its proprietary CATDA (Cascaded Asynchronous Time Domain Attenuator) circuit, which isolates the DAC substrate from sonically deleterious artefacts that affect non-synchronous digital input data. Three identical cascaded stages are used, with each successive stage providing increased isolation to maximise timing performance even at higher RF frequencies.

Selectable Digital Filters

For PCM audio, the 8300CD offers seven switchable digital filters, allowing the listener to tailor the sound to their preference and system. Three Optimal Transient filters (Normal, XD and DD) produce no ringing and aim for naturalness, with each differing in internal structure to produce subtly different sonic characteristics. The remaining filters include Sharp Roll-off, Slow Roll-off, Minimum Phase and Optimal Spectrum options. In DSD mode, selectable cut-off filters are available at 47kHz, 50kHz, 60kHz and 70kHz.

CD Transport

The slot-loading CD transport mechanism is engineered for reliability and sonic performance. A read-ahead digital buffer reduces disc-reading errors, enabling scratched CDs that would be unreadable by conventional mechanisms to be played back cleanly. The design also provides high disc stability and low susceptibility to resonance.

Connectivity

The 8300CD functions as a fully-featured standalone DAC with six digital inputs: two coaxial, two optical, one asynchronous USB Type B (supporting PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD256), and one balanced AES/EBU. Digital outputs include one coaxial, one optical and one AES/EBU connection. Analogue outputs are provided via both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA connections. A 2.7-inch OLED display (128 x 64 pixels) provides clear feedback on the selected input, format and filter settings.

What the Press Says

• "Refined and detailed sound" with "convincing tonality" — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★☆