Aphex 2020 or Optimod 8200

[shaynesinclair]

Hi There,

I'm chasing one of these units (used) for my home setup.

Can anybody point me in the direction of any people / websites that may have some available to sell?

eBay doesn't seem to have any 8200's (I've seen a few TV versions, but no radio)

Cheers!

[Bill DeFelice]

I had two 2020's I sold the MK III as it was the only one I could almost make my investment back on. I have a MKI which I am not all that happy with as I can get better sound using separate pieces of gear.

Also, if you stumble across a either a MKI or MKII, it will cost you $1100+ to bring it up to a MKIII if you send it back to Aphex - one reason I didn't send my existing one back. I'll never get the return on it if I try to sell it.

I've never worked with an 8200 personally, but I would think you would be better off with that than the 2020.

[stha]

You'll get far better results with an Optimod 8200 (upgraded to v3 but not sure that Orban still have the v3 modules available). If you don't need a stereo encoder then go for a 8282, many of the 8200 FM presets are inclued in the TV version. 

[BROADCAST]

The 8282 optimod is an odd one for fm use.
Whilst the fm style presets are very similar to the 8200 v1.2 software,the 8282 software has stereo or dual mono mode,so in dual mono mode both audio channels are processed independantly,this makes for interesting fm processing!

The 8282 software does not have phase rotator in/out and band out mix controls though.

[richard.vanderveen]

IMHO the 8200 is also easier to handle than the 2020 markIII. The HF limiter of the 2020 has sort of a mind of its one and that makes it hard to get some transparancy in the sound.
It's absolutely not a bad box, but given the choice I would go for a nice 8200. And before I forget: you'll only want the mkIII... Again: that's all just my opinion ;-)

[shaynesinclair]

What are the differences between the MKI and MKIII?

I would ultimately prefer the 8200, but would also settle for the Aphex.

[Sgeirk]

If it were down between those two (why these two, anyway?) I'd pick the 8200.

However, the MkIII Aphex 2020 was a vast improvement over previous versions...and can be dialed up to sound MUCH cleaner and louder than an 8200...given good source material, stl, xmtr and careful hands.

I don't remember what improvements were made to the mkIII, but they were a positive step...more loudness, better on voice, and more adjustable parameters.

[David Reaves]

IMHO the 8200 is also easier to handle than the 2020 markIII. The HF limiter of the 2020 has sort of a mind of its one and that makes it hard to get some transparancy in the sound.
It's absolutely not a bad box, but given the choice I would go for a nice 8200. And before I forget: you'll only want the mkIII... Again: that's all just my opinion ;-)

IIRC, there is no metering on the 2020's HF limiting, so you kind of have to guess what it's doing.

Kind Regards,
David