Aragon 8008 BB Dual Mono (Stereo) Amplifier MINT Operational Condition

Aragon 8008BB (Mondial) - Dual Mono (Stereo) Power Amplifier $1,299.99, MSRP $3999.99. The first 15 Watts are Pure Class A and the remainder Class A/B--this is part of the reason why this power amplifier sounds so good.

This is my well-cared-for and loved-personal power amplifier. No Smoking, no pets, no children, and Absolutely no Spouses! It is in mint operating condition, with an 8/10 cosmetic rating because of its age and minor blemishes--see detailed photos taken prior to packing this beautiful-beast up. I am including the original double shipping boxes, original foam packaging, original registration card, power cord, XLR shorting pins for RCA use, and printed instruction manual. Please see my other listings for after-market power cords, and other components. 
This Amplifier is 100% stock with no issues or modifications. I opened up the top to verify there are no internal component damage or issues, then I listened to it in my main two channel system to verify 100% operational condition. Then, I carefully packed it up in the original foam and double boxes. 

I'm downsizing from SACD Multi-Channel Surround back to SACD/DSD/Hi-Res/Vinyl Stereo and will no longer need this great sounding and powerful amplifier--it may have the deepest sound stage and best imaging I have heard--I am keeping another Aragon 8008BB in my Stereo system for that reason, plus natural tonality, 3D imaging and awesome speaker/bass control. Like the famous YouTube and CNET reviewer, Steve Guttenberg, I too prefer Class A & Class A/B amplifiers over the newer generation of “often lifeless and emotionless" Class D/Switching amplification. Please see my other listings for after-market power cords, and other components.
This Aragon 8008BB amplifier has 200 watts per channel into 8Ω, a staggering 400 watts per channel into 4Ω, a massive total dynamic headroom of 1450 watts, dual toroidal transformers, XLR balanced and unbalanced RCA inputs--it sounds great with either input. Designed by Daniel D’Agastino formerly of Krell (now his own brand sells $250,000 power amplifiers), this amplifier is often referred as an “off-branded Krell”. In fact, I auditioned three Krell power amplifiers in my system at home, before choosing this Aragon 8008BB because it matches up better with my Pass Lab Aleph P solid-state and Bruce Moore Audio vacuum-tube preamplifiers in terms of tonality, imaging, speaker and bass control, and soundstage depth (3D). This amplifier has successfully powered Wilson Watt Puppies, Voce Divina Tenore and Basso, and numerous Martin Logan Electrostats with beautiful sound, soundstage detail, warmth and control.
This Aragon 8008BB is better than the Aragon 8008ST and 4004 models, because it has both RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced inputs, and the dual toroidal transformers in the generous power supply (Aragon 8008ST version has one and no XLR balanced inputs--it sounds like a much less-refined and controlled power amplifier, more like the 4004II with greater power).

Features:
• 2-channel output with two sets of 5-way binding posts for bi-wiring – my preference has been bi-wiring over the years, as I like more revealing speaker cables for my tweeter and warmer sounding speaker cables for the midrange and bass
• XLR balance and RCA single-ended inputs
• Dual monaural configuration – huge soundstage, 3D and deep imaging
• High-efficiency dual 1.1kWatt toroidal power transformers

From Aragon’s website: "The flagship 2-channel amplification from Aragon, the 8008, is our Dual Monoblock Amplifier. The next generation of a long line of highly successful 2-channel Aragon amplifiers, today's 8008BB drives the most demanding stereo setup with ease. It also provides seriously capable pairs of channels for world-class surround setups.
“Inside and out, every detail has been precisely engineered to consistently deliver the ultimate in audio reproduction, year after year. The 8008BB is a natural choice to hear what a pair of exceptional-quality loudspeakers can deliver. While media standards may change every six months or so, Aragon owners can simply sit back, relax and enjoy years of trouble-free service from these highly coveted products.
“Aragon 8008BB Power Amplifier; Two channel power amplifier; 200 watts rms/ch into 8 Ohms, both channels driven, 5 Hz - 20 kHz; 400 watts rms/ch into 4 Ohms; Input impedance 22 kOhms (44 kOhms balanced); Sensitivity 0.12V rms for 1 watt output into 8 Ohms; THD 0.06%; S/N 110 dB; Damping factor 500; Size 6 1/2"H x 19"W x 14"D; Weight 77 pounds without packaging.”

Purchasing Notes & Details:
• Buyer is to pay shipping and insurance charges. The item will be shipped with insurance for the full purchase price. The item works, as I tested it prior to carefully packaging and it is guaranteed to arrive in working condition.
• Sales within the continental United States or Canada only, no other international sales--as I have been burned in the past.
• This power amplifier will be carefully packed with original foam, original DOUBLE BOXS and shipped only to a verified PayPal address.

Here's a Review:
It has been said that a power amplifier can be measured by its weight, meaning the power supply. If that is true, then Aragon certainly meets the qualifications. The 8008BB weighs in at 77 pounds, for a two channel, 200 w/ch amplifier. Its cousin, the 8008ST is rated the same, even to the doubling of power into 4 Ohms, but the power supply is different. The BB has two toroidal transformers instead of one, each rated at 1.1 kVa, and there is twice the power supply capacitance as the ST. The ST's single toroid is 2 kVa, which is not a lot of difference, but having twice the capacitance is a BIG difference. Each channel has two power supply capacitors, rated at 35,000 µ, with a ± 70 V rail. This represents 171.5 Joules of energy storage per channel (that's a lot!) The BB has 12 bipolar output devices per channel. So, why do the two amplifiers have the same output rating? Impulse power. The BB will deliver a lot more than 200 watts/ch on a short term basis. In our listening tests, it sounded more like a 500 watt/ch amplifier. The BB and ST both double their output from 8 Ohms to 4 Ohms, another indicator of massive power supplies.

The inside of the BB looks like one huge power supply, with the two toroids sitting one on top of the other. The amplifier stages are at the other end of the chassis from the power supply. The front panel has a toggle on/off, and the rear has five-way speaker binding posts as well as the single-ended (unbalanced) and balanced input jacks. One unusual feature of the chassis is the V-shaped notch along the top. This allows heat to escape from the heat sinks even if something were sitting on top of the amp, but it also adds elegance to the appearance.

We tested the Aragon 8008BB using our McCormack CD transport and DAC, Balanced Audio VK-5i preamplifier, and various speakers, including Carver Mark IV Platinums. Nordost SPM Reference balanced interconnects and speaker cables were used throughout. Music included numerous classical and popular CDs. We used the balanced inputs on the 8008BB, and as a result, there was absolute silence during pause mode. Also, the amount of detail that could be heard increased due to the lower noise floor. So, even though the amplifier is not fully balanced (balanced from input to output), the availability of the balanced inputs made a nice difference.

One of the most noticeable characteristics of the 8008BB is its tremendous capability of delivering high power when the music demands it. The CD I use to separate the "I am" from the "I wanna be" amps and speakers is the Telarc version of Copland's Fanfare to the Common Man. The opening bass drum thuds practically took the roof off the listening lab, with no audible distortion. The Mark IVs have four 12" low frequency drivers per channel, and they are difficult loads, but the Aragon handled them with ease. We have some 750 w/ch monoblocks in the lab, and the Aragon approached them, not in continuous output, but in impulse capability. That's what a monster power supply can do. When we turned the Aragon up even more, then of course, we could hear the clipping with the brass instruments in the Telarc recording, but only at SPL that a person shouldn't be listening to anyway.

With popular recordings, electronic music, and classical chamber music, the Aragon just sailed. The sound of this amplifier is characterized by detailed highs, full bodied mid-range, and thundering, tight bass. It reminds me of the Bryston sound, meaning that careful matching to the rest of the system is very important. Otherwise, the amplifier accuracy [click here to see 10 kHz, ± 10 V square wave response] could be mistaken for an overly "bright" sound. The 8008BB also has a very wide power bandwidth of 550 kHz (one of the widest we have ever measured). The VK-5i tube preamp was a very nice partner to the 8008BB, but the Mark IV ribbons showed any edginess present in some of the CDs. I would consider cone speakers with, perhaps, silk dome tweeters to be the appropriate speakers for this amplifier, unless you have a CD player with a very laid back high end.

In summary, had I looked inside the amplifier chassis before I listened to the Aragon 8008BB, I would not have been surprised at the tremendous power that this product has, and all with detail and clarity. As it was, the amplifier literally blew us away (I hate platitudes, but this one applies). I have said before that there is no substitute for raw power, and the designers have gone all out to make the 8008BB one extraordinary component. Highly recommended for an audition.

- John E. Johnson, Jr. (Reviewer)

Please check all photos for the cosmetic condition--ask for additional photos if you are unsure of the cosmetic condition, there are minor blemishes.