The AMC CD8 is an often overlooked, not too well known jewel. Besides being a great player, it's also a great value for the money. Many people, including Stereo Review have compared the CD8 to the Marantz 63, or NAD 512. For $300 (I found mine at CinemaSource for $200 new) you get 32x oversampling, a five pole filter, and digital out should you ever decide to upgrade to a better DAC. The AMC CD8 does not have the balanced outputs like it's big brother the CD8a, pretty original name eh? The transport mechanism is of Sony origin, and let me tell you, I dispise Sony with a passion, too much trouble with their products in the past. HOWEVER, the transport in the CD8 works like a dream, and it one of the smoothest I've seen. The faceplate is extremely uncluttered, with only a few buttons for the main function and a green LCD display with the track number and time. I've found the CD8 to have a pleasant, crisp sound, very neutral. It performs flawlessly, and I haven't read of any mechanical problems related to the CD8 as have been reported on the NAD CD players. To cycle from the first track to the last does take a little while, it is slow in that respect, but well worth the wait! I would recommend the AMC CD8 to anyone looking for a CD player in the $200-400 price range. Excellent construction and value for the money!
(I'm rating it five stars for it's price range, there are of course much better players if you've got the money!)

Build quality, bang for the buck, very smooth sound.

s l o o o o w search speed.

This review is for the CD8b, purchased on-line for $177 plus shipping. You'll be able to find that price at any of a half-dozen yahoo "warehouse" type deals. I had read the reviews of the Newcastle 980, and frankly, that's what I had my heart set on. But I'm here to say, this heart isn't broken in the least! This is without a doubt the most sound you get for the price, and is probably one of the best-kept secrets in audio. Oh, we've all heard of Cambridge and Marantz and CAL, but AMC? Thought they made Pacers and Gremlins.

First off, it is absolultely VITAL this machine is broken in. Right out of the box, you'll get a restricted soundstage, edgy highs, and a complete lack of involvement. You'll think you got gypped. BUT... let it play 24 hours a day for a week, or better, two. The highs smooth out. The soundstage widens. Imaging becomes much more focused. In other words, it starts to sound like a top-shelf CD player. The other caveat is that this thing is extremely cable-sensitive. You'll have to play mix-and-match for a few days.

Okay, sound. Highs are very clear, if a tiny bit subdued. Bass is tight and clean, mids are just oustanding. Take Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" album. That's not a snare drum, that's a 22-oz hammer hitting you right between the eyes! In Ella Fitzgerald's "Them There Eyes", you can almost reach out and hug her. That is, if you could get your arms around her at all... she was pretty beefy in those days. Classical doesn't seem to be quite as involving... Saint Saen's symphony no. 3 in C major just doesn't seem to be as moving as I know it can be. There seems to be a $9 blanket between the orchestra and I. But I'm writing this after only 5 days of ownership... after another week of break-in, this will likely change. But it does pass the "Nightmare Before Christmas" test with flying colors. Voices are clearly defined and distinct, soundstaging is deep and pleasant. T.N.B.C. makes you ask, "Who engineered and mixed this thing, and why didn't they get the Congressional Medal of Honor?" There's a digital out, but frankly, I don't think I'm going to need outboard DAC with this bad boy.

The controls are spartan... but hey, I didn't buy this because it has lots of buttons. The only real complaint I have is the search. In a contest of speed between glaciers, tectonic plates, and the AMC, my money would be on the AMC, but I'd be watching that glacier out of the corner of my eye, and holding my breath...

I can basically sum up this player with three words... BUY ONE NOW. And thank me later.

Similar Products Used:

Bottom-shelf Teac (read:samsung) and early Technics.

I found this CD player (the CD8a version) to be a lot warmer sounding than most others I've auditioned (Harmon/Kardon, Denon, Rotel, etc.). I would say it's more along the lines of the NAD or Cambridge Audio players in this price range, (although I haven't heard either brand in quite a while). In that respect, I do kind of wish this player had a tad more treble. And as for any "sound fatigue" setting in (see Walter's review), I've never had that experience. Then again, my system ain't so "revealing."
Overall, it gets 4 stars.

Very quiet, clear. Great value for the dollar. The unit I have is CD8a.

AMC CD8 is the best player I ever heard for 300$.It has balanced and neutral sound never irritating. Display is poor, cannot be seen well, and mechanism is slow but player simply sounds great.

Generally smooth sound and easy to listen to. Mates well with budget solid state gear like NAD integrateds.

Lack of ultimate resolution and a slight plastic-like presentation.

I would really just like to point out that the CD8 and CD8a are nothing at all the same player (or price). The "a" designation in CD8a to is AMC's attempt at manufacturing tube modified outputs for the analog stage in the player. I think they are doing this with most of their tuners and CD players. A digital output is not an option in these "a" designated CD players because the company feels that you are paying extra money for a better quality output than their standard non-tube CD players.
That being said, my CD8a has worked well for me in my second system (NAD integrated, Pyramid MET 7, Audio Pro sub, and Adcom Tuner), providing nice casual listening. When I put the CD8a in my main (serious listening) set up however, it does not perform as well as my audio alchemy DDS with DTI 2.0 and DDE 3.0. It sounds mid-fi by comparison. It is, however, still a very good value. I have not heard the CD8 without the tube modification and cannot comment on that player.