When I listened to the alpha 8 in comparison with av amps, it did sound quite good. However, when compared with other stereo dedicated amplifiers, the alpha 8 can sound slightly muffled. Many say that this sound is "warm" but whats the use of listening to real hi fi music when crucial details in music is lost. There is also very little slam factor that is no quickness in the bass, just a very thick and rich sound. In would not be the worst thing in the world owning this amp at this price point but it is certainly not even close to the best at this price point. Lacks detail and slam factor, more for classical.

Extraordinary detail, imaging. Best described as an honest reproduction of source material. Not the last word in CD Players by any means but tough to beat in its price range for sure.

I recently bought an HDCD equipped Alpha 8SE CD player. OK, superficial stuff first - personally I like the "like it or loath it" styling. It's well thought out too - great remote, and even nice little touches like twin sets of analog outs, and upgradeable to the Alpha 9.
Sonically you have to match it well and love musicality rather than raw explicit detail...

MATCHING: with the wrong partners the bass can sound over full. But matched with tight, punchy and neutral partners (Like my Audiolab 8000s) the sound is quite wonderful - great ambience, drive and scale.

MUSICALITY: the keyword here is "scale". After owning the 8SE for a while I was loaned a more pricey California Audio Labs Icon II for a while. The CAL piece was more refined than the 8SE - more delicacy, inner detail and more of a sense of overall refinement. In pure audiophile terms the sonic picture was more "Hi-Fi". But after a couple of days listening something seemed to be missing from the Icon's presentation.... only when I put back the Arcam did I realise what it was - despite its rougher edges the Arcam was simply more rhythmic and "toe tapping" and had a much greater sense of scale and dynamic. Suddenly, I stopped focusing on subtle details and just got on with enjoying the overal sense of music washing over me. None of this is intended to imply that the 8SE lackes refinement, but on an absolute scale there are more refined players. However, in this price range I sincerely doubt that there are more musical players, so remember to listen hard, but not too hard! (incidentally, I auditioned over 10 payers before deciding on the Arcam). All this considered, I think 5 stars are very fair.

I've listened to the Alpha 8 in a friend's system and at a number of audio stores. I haven't purchased it because I'm considering laying out the cash for a tube integrated in the near future. This is an extremely sharp product - it has plenty of power and a nice, musical quality. I agree that there is some slight "mudiness" to the sound, but at this price point, I think that the compromise chosen by Arcam - good soundstaging, power, easy upgrade path (bi-amping) and musicality in exchange for a bit of detail - works extremely well. I don't see how you can go too far wrong with this product. The dealer did charge my friend $65 for the tiny two-function remote, which is a remarkably chinzy move.

I purchased the Rega Planet 2 months ago and enjoyed its sound. A friend of mine suggested I listen to the Arcam Alpha 8 and loaned it to me. Wow! I was very pleased with the planet but the sheer greater amount of info the Arcam seemed to play was unbelievable. I auditioned both players side by side, (Arcam 9P Pre-Amp, 10P Amp, B & W CDM1SE's) same volume, settings, music..the difference was amazing. The Arcam was more musical, more natural, and a delight to listen to. I now have the Arcam Alpha 8.

I've auditioned the Arcam 8 on 3 occasions, twice in the store and once, extensively, at home using an Arcam 9 integrated amp and Paradigm Reference 80 speakers and Transparent 100 interconnect. I own the Arcam CD 7 which was a big jump up from the mass market junk I had been used to.
It was easy switching interconnects in an out between the two players for a direct comparison. The 7 always had a crisp sound to me though a bit bright. Music sounded fantastic to me with it. The 8 takes the sharp edge off of the 7s that I only recently realized was there. It kept the clarity without the edge leaving a smoother sound that is very apparent from the start. Rock and Techno might have a slight advantage with the 7s if you like a harder edge but even then the Arcam 8 improves the overall quality of the sound. I must clarify here that we don't have a machine that is merely knocking off the peaks of music. The smoothness is just the most obvious impression. Information retrieval is obviously its major improvement. The more pleasing sound comes with subtleties in the music that I hadn't heard before. I'm trying to concentrate on the sound to get a comparison and find myself lost in the music, hearing it as never before. What a pleasant sound! Even older, well produced CDs benefit with new richness and crispness in sounds that were before a bit muffled.

Arcam has been criticized for having a cheap looking exterior. I'm just happy someone is trying to be a little creative. You can believe that the quality of the electronics, which Arcam is known for, is quite good. I also like the green readouts on the player. The remote is well designed and operates without hesitation.

I have posted my review for the Arcam 7 where I state that it is superior to the Rega Planet. I still believe that and so put the 8 in a far superior position.

It seems like people hand out 5 stars like nothing. I am not grading this piece of equipment on a sliding grade scale because I like Arcam. It's an easy call, for the price, 5 is the number.

Just wanted to update my review of the Arcam Alpha 8; still a great little piece, but after lestening to the Alpha 9 and then to a Naim Nait-3, the difference was astonishing. I traded the Alpha 8 for the Nait-3 in the end, as I felt the Arcam lacked detail and a tightness to the bass that makes bongoes sound real. All in all, it's great for mellow stuff, jazz, back ground music, etc, but I'm going to have to knock my original rating down a bit, as I fell better can be had at this price point. Even spending the extra $400 CDN for the alpha 9 is a BIG step up.

It sounds great, as long as you don't have the ear to spot the transformer hum...

I have owned my Arcam Alpha 8 CD player for about two weeks now and now feel able to contribute my two bits.I bought new speakers and integrated amp a couple of years ago and was advised at the time that my circa 1988 Sony CD player was probably adequate for my needs. Though the improvement in sound was overwhelming, a lingering harshness however, finally drove me to look at CD player alternatives.
Already owning an Arcam amp, my dealer tried to steer me towards an Arcam CD player. I did listen to others though, including Rega Planet and Ultech. I thought the Rega player sounded good, but was butt ugly. The Ultech sounded even better, but the price was getting a little too high and frankly, the product quality comments on this webspace convinced me to look elsewhere.
Listening to the Arcam Alpha 7, 8 & 9 at the stereo shop, I concluded that the Alpha 7 would be an affordable and acceptable choice. But what blew me away was the Alpha 8's soundstage which truly gave the sound a three dimensional quality that the more linear Alpha 7 could not match.
The Alpha 9 is in a whole other league if you ask me, and would be my choice if not for the extra cost. What finally sold me on the 8 was that Arcam's dealer installed upgrade path to the 9 cost no more than the difference in price between the players. Who knows, I may upgrade to the 9 next year!

Source material: Jennifer Warnes "The Hunter", Anne Sophie Mutter "Beethoven Violin Sonatas" on Deutsche Grammaphon.

System: B&W 603 speakers, Arcam Alpha 6 Plus Integrated Amp, Arcam Alpha 8 CD player, MIT Terminator interconnects

Value for money, great sound and future upgrade path translates into 5 stars.

I searched long and hard before purchasing the Alpha 8. Admittedly, it was not my favorite amp I had ever heard, but it was by far my favorite under $1,200.00. I auditioned every brand I could find in this city and was very pleased whn I found the Arcam. Yes, it is rather lush, full and smooth. I love that! I don't even think I would call the bass "good" -- actually the bass is rather disappointing. However, the midrange and top octave are fabulous, and the bass is a non-issue with a good powered sub. No harshness, grain or tinniness is apparent. If there is a finer amp under $1,000.00, I haven't found it, and believe me, I looked. Four stars overall. Five stars for value.