Audiolab 7000 Series – Quick Look

All Image Credit: Audiolab

The UK’s Audiolab have just announced the 7000 series. Features and pricing place the 7000N Play network audio player, 7000CDT CD Transport, and 7000A Integrated Stereo Amplifier between their 6000 and flagship 9000 series. They share a similar external design to the 6000 series offering the 7000 series full-color IPS LCD screens and a range of additional features including; digital and analogue sources, wireless connectivity, a vinyl phono stage, and amplification for headphones and speakers.

7000A – Integrated Amplifier

The new 7000A provides a discrete Class AB power amp stage that uses a Complementary Feedback (CFB) topology, ensuring superior linearity and excellent thermal stability, delivering a true 70W per channel into eight ohms. The newly developed power supply features a substantial 250VA toroidal transformer, followed by 60,000uF reservoir capacity that helps the amp to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.

Audiolab has switched up to a new-generation 32-bit ESS SABRE chip – the ES9038Q2M. As with the 9000A, the 7000A uses a post-DAC filter based upon Class A topology and proprietary DC-coupled high-gain electronic amp designs to make the most of the ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, delivering ultra-low noise and high dynamic range. It supports PCM to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD 64/128/256/512, and full MQA decoding. It also provides digital up sampling to 352.8kHz or 383kHz and has five user-selectable DAC reconstruction filters.

The 7000A is certified as ‘Roon Tested’ and has Bluetooth 5 streaming with aptX HD for wireless listening.

Like the 6000A, there are four S/PDIF inputs, two coaxial and two optical, but the 7000A adds a USB Type B input for PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets and digital storage devices. It also provides an HDMI ARC input for convenient AV system integration. Vinyl enthusiasts are catered for with a high-quality, low noise MM Phono circuit with precise RIAA equalization. There is a dedicated current-feedback headphone amp and three operational modes: Integrated Mode, Pre-Power Mode and Pre Mode.

The control and general user interface (GUI) has been improved providing access to the digital phase locked loop (DPLL), brightness, and operational modes. It can even be set to display a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form; showing real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels. It is controlled via the supplied IR remote and/or the front panel controls in conjunction with the new full-color IPS LCD display.

Connectivity:

• 1x USB Type B digital (768kHz)
• 4x S/PDIF digital (192kHz)
• 1x HDMI ARC
• 4x stereo RCA analogue (3x line; 1x MM phono)
• 1x stereo RCA power amp in
• 1x USB Type A for firmware updates
• 1x 12V trigger
• Gold-pated speaker binding posts
• 1x 6.3mm headphone out
• 1x stereo RCA preamp out
• 1x 12V trigger

7000CDT – CD Transport

The 7000CDT is a CD transport, not a CD player, which means it does not contain an integral DAC. Instead, it is designed to be connected to an external DAC of the user’s choice like the 7000A above.

Several upgrades over the 6000CDT are immediately obvious with the addition of the the same color GUI found throughout the new 7000 Series, plus the 6000A’s slot-loading mechanism has been replaced by a tray-loading mechanism, housed in its own electromagnetically shielded enclosure and incorporating a high-precision optical system and low-friction loading tray.

Internal changes and upgrades include; revised mechanical and circuitry layouts, improved output circuitry and a higher quality toroidal transformer, all aimed at reducing vibration and noise. The 7000CDT is also equipped with a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator, enabling the digital output from its coaxial and optical sockets to exhibit low levels of jitter.

Digital outputs include optical (TOSLINK) and a coaxial output that is driven by a differential line driver to ensure that an error-free digital signal is delivered to the external DAC. Additionally the 7000CDT has a USB Type-A input so you can play files from external drives that are formatted; FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32 while supporting WAV, WMA, AAC and MP3 files.

Finally navigation is via the front panel controls and IR remote with the display of systems settings, format, folder, track details and other data on the IPS LCD color GUI display.

7000N Play – Wireless Audio Streaming Player

The 7000N is a significant upgrade over the 6000N Play predecessor. Retaining the flexibility of DTS Play-Fi’s wireless audio platform, it now offers the newest Play-Fi module and an improved DAC, the ESS SABER ES9038Q2M. Like the 7000A this DAC is accompanied by proprietary circuitry to make the most of ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator for ultra-low noise and high dynamic range. It supports Hi-res audio streaming up to 24-bit/192KHz over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable. Plus, this new design incorporates the same isolated power supply with a high-efficiency, low-noise toroidal transformer.

Users can access music from any network-connected device; phones, tablets, laptops, NAS drives, and servers using the dual-band Wi-Fi and connect wirelessly with other Play-Fi-equipped devices, enabling a fully synchronized multi-room set-up.

Having both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connectivity allows the 7000N Play to support three streaming possibilities:

1. Using the Play-Fi app provides access to a broad range of content sources, such as; Amazon Music, Spotify, TIDAL, KKBox, SiriusXM, Napster, Internet Radio, Deezer, iHeartRadio, PANDORA, Qobuz, QQ Music and various DLNA-based streaming services.
2. Spotify Connect allows streaming through the Spotify app rather than Play-Fi.
3. The AirPlay 2 feature grants access to Apple Music and other streaming platforms when the source or control device is an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

Analog connectivity is via the stereo RCA connectors that provide a frequency response of +/-0.5dB (20Hz-20kHz, ref.1kHz), total harmonic distortion (THD) of <0.0005% (1kHz @2.1Vrms) and a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of >115dB (A-weighted). While digital connectivity is avilable via the optical (TOSLINK) or coaxial connections having a frequency response of -0.01dB (20Hz-20KHz, ref.1KHz) and maximum sample rate of 192KHz / 24-bit.

Control and navigation is through the LCD GUI via the included remote or six front panel buttons. The 2.8″ IPS GUI LCD color display shows a variety of information, including the current streaming service, track details, format and sample rate. It provides access to functions such as balance, auto-standby settings, fixed or variable output, and 12V trigger activation for system control. Like the 7000A, the display can show a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, provide access to the five digital filter settings and have its brightness adjusted or turned off. Finally, if desired, the 7000N can be connected to the 7000A via the USB B control buss to control volume.

MSRP: 7000A/7000CDT/7000N Play

• US: $1,300.00/$675.00/$675.00 (Prices TBC)
• UK: £1,099.00/£549.00/£549.00

For more information visit the UK Audiolab web site: 7000A, 7000CDT, 7000N Play

Check out this post on their flagship 9000 series.