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Review: Aragon 8008 BB Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

I have Had this amp for about a year. At first I drove my B&W N803 with them to great success and then I got the X5. I am now bi amping the 803 with the bb on bottom and the X5 on the top. This is about the best setup I could ask for there is tremendous power for the low end as well as smooth and involving mids and highs. Compared to the Krell it is just smoother but with all the slam. The Anthem was just plain out classed and sounded in comparison as my wife put it Boring. The Bryston was very good with maybe a little better base but not as good at the top end. In all this is one solid amp with good looks and very good bang for the buck.

Associated gear
Aragon Soundstage
Aragon 8008X5
California Audio Labs CL-20
SACD 777es

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Bryston
McCormack
Anthem
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996turbo
matti
114 posts
 
Hey Dave - glad to hear you're enjoying it. I had a KAV-250A and a Levinson 332. Both were nice but really not any better than the 8008 to my ears. I'm always trying new stuff and always buy used, so dollar-wise I rarley lose much...time-wise though...that's another story. That was sort of my point - if you want to get off of the merry-go-round, you could do much worse than the 8008.
perfectionist
197 posts
 

I bought an 8008st back in '97 and then had it factory upgraded to a bb in '01.
I have to jump on the bandwagon here, it's a fantastic amp and the bass control is amazing.
And as an added bonus, they hold their value very well if you keep them nice. I used to drive PSB Stratus Golds with the Aragon, and the bb upgrade was well worth the money. My system is completely changed now and I own Parasound JC1's driving Von Schweikert VR4 HSE's. The JC1's are far superior to the Aragon, but given the price difference, they should be. But, dollar for dollar, I think the 8008bb will go down in the history books as one of the great workhorses of all time.

P.S. I think the Stratus Golds are to speakers, as the 8008bb is to amps.
gary17
18 posts
 
I had Aragon 8008 BB Amplifier driving Thiel 3.6. Changed amplifiers to the Krell KSA 300 S and noticed no difference. Disappointed due to the significant cost increase in cost for the Krells. Both Amps sounded good.
ferrari
617 posts
 
To my ears the Krell KSA series were the best offerings from Krell in particular the KSA 50 and KSA 80. Pure Class A output amplifiers. Big, heavy and generated a good deal of heat due to Class A operation. Service is recommended every 4 years on these amplifiers. But beyond those caveats these Krell amps are indeed spectacular, but not everyones cup of tea.
jd_df
32 posts
 
Just wanted to add my two cents here ladies and gents. Aragon, i got it right when I purchased intothis name brand. No I haven't heard Krell or Mark Levinson, and with the 8008BB, 4004mkll, and 2004mkll, in my system give me one good reason why. Human nature makes us curious, and deep pockets along with that can sometimes make us unreasonable. But within reason Aragon has gotten it right, for me that is. The rest of you can continue to search, Dorothy wished she would have stayed in her own back yard. Peace!!!!
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