Audiolab alive?

Alive? Well in some way...but has gone from classic to crap.
Feels outrageously cheap (applies to 8000Q and P, which I bought a while ago after auditioning 2006 models. I returned the 2008 models and went for a Myryad mxi2080 instead)
My verdict: keep your good old english stuff, keep away from the new china-sh...

not knocking IAG, or the overpriced Tag MacLaren stuff(that was a knock), just saying that its not the same company. the original audiolab stuff was (and is) an incredible value.

I think it's dated and outclassed in the present market.

I'd personally buy Rotel or Rega and various others before Audiolab.

Yes, they are now owned by a Chinese pro audio conglomerate, International Audio Group.

Let's take a look at a brief history of the Audiolab 8000S.

1996 Price under Audiolab UK 600 pounds

Early 2000's price under Tag MacLaren 1,200 pounds (you did get a remote, though!)

2006 Price under International Audio Group 499 pounds (and supposedly improved and sounding better).

I still have my circa mid 80's 8000A which I paid about $400 Cnd. for second hand in the late 80's working here in my 14 year old son's system.

I can tell you, as a consumer, that I'd much prefer the International Audio Group Audiolab to the Tag MacLaren non-Chinese one. Others, of course, may have different opinions.

the name is...made in china