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This is the easiest review I’ve ever had to do. Why? Well normally with amplifiers, it’s “struggle-city” for me in trying to describe the slight differences in characteristics of one amp compared to others. With this one, not so much. It is the most transparent amp I’ve ever heard. It adds nothing. And therefore, it pairs well with everything.

Audiolab 9000A Integrated Amplifier

Introduction

This is the Audiolab 9000A. The top of Audiolab’s range.

It sits above the beloved 6000 series and the newly minted 7000 series.
The last time I checked, the 8000 series is still on their website, but the 9000 does look like a replacement.

It’s a flexible Pre/integrated/Power amp with 100 W a channel into 8 Ohms. With a built-in 32-Bit DAC, certified MQA decoding, Bluetooth 5.1, and a phono stage.

And it retails for 3499 CAD.

Audiolab 9000A Integrated Amplifier Specifications

OVERVIEW:

Display:

4.3” (800 x 480mm) Large Size Full View IPS LCD

Decoder:

Built-in Certified MQA Full Decoder (PC USB, Coax/Optical)

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX/aptX HD/AAC/LDAC) Support

Stage:

Dedicated High-performance, Low-noise MM Phono Stage

Amp:

Dedicated Current-Feedback Headphone AMP

Modes:

Integrated / PRE-POWER / PRE-Only Modes

USB:

USB Upgrade Support

INPUTS/OUTPUTS

Inputs:

3 x Analogue, 1 x XLR, 1 x Phono (MM), 1 x Power Amplifier,
2 x SPDIF (Coax), 2 x SPDIF (Optical), 1 x PC USB (USB B),
1 x Bluetooth (aptX/aptX HD/LDAC), 1 x 12V Trigger

Outputs:

1 x PRE Amplifier
1 x Stereo Speaker
1 x Headphone
1 x 12V Trigger

PREAMPLIFIER

Gain:

+6dB (Line), +53dB (Phono MM)

Input Sensitivity:

1Vrms (Line, Volume = 0dB);
2Vrms (XLR, Volume = 0dB),
4.4mV (Phono MM, Volume=0dB)

Input Impedance:

10K (Line); 47K // 100pF (Phono MM)

Total Harmonic Distortion:

< 0.0004% (1kHz @ 2V, Volume = 0dB)

Frequency Response:

20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.1dB)

Output Voltage:

2.3V max. (Volume = 0dB)

Putput Impedance:

120 ohms

Signal-To-Noise Ratio:

> 110dB (Line & XLR, A-weighted); > 80dB (Phono MM, A-weighted)

D to A Converter:

ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC

Total Harmonic Distortion:

< 0.001% (1kHz @ 0dBFS)

Output Level (0DBFS, 1KHZ):

2.1Vrms

Sampling Frequency:

Optical / Coaxial: 44.1kHz-192kHz;
PC USB: 44.1kHz-768kHz (PCM) / DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512

Signal to Noise Ratio:

> 110dB (A-weighted)

POWER AMPLIFIER SECTION

Rated Power Output:

2 x 100W (8 ohms, THD<1%) 2 x 160W (4 ohms, THD<1%)

Frequency Response:

20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.3dB)

Gain:

+29dB

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):

<0.002% (1kHz @ 50W / 8 ohms)

Input Sensitivity:

1Vrms

Signal to Noise Ratio:

> 110dB (A-weighted)

Maximum Output Current:

15A

HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):

< 0.01% (1kHz, 50mW )

Output Impedance:

2.35 ohms

Load Impedance:

20-600 ohms

Net Weight:

9.4kg

Dimensions:

444 x 342 x 89

Accesories:

Power Cord, Remote Control, User Manual, Antennas, etc.

MSRP:

$2999 USD
$3499 CAD

Website:

https://www.audiolab.co.uk/

Company:

Audiolab

SECRETS Tags:

audiolab, integrated amp, dac, power, british

Design

This is an absolutely gorgeous amplifier. And if you’re like me and you care about the shelf appeal of your audio gear then this is one for you. The casework is a gorgeous White/ silver metal housing. It’s a minimal industrial vibe. Sleek casework with exposed screws, substantial knobs, and a full-color display. The display carries over from the other amps in the Audiolab lineup. Specifically, the Omnia all-in-one amp.

The front panel is nice and simple. From the left, the display, Source selection knob, Mode knob, headphone input, volume, and power button.

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The mode knob is a curious one. You turn it to configure the amp to be an integrated, preamp, or a stand-alone power amp as part of a Home Theater system. I love that. Though I wonder if that warranted a separate knob or whether it could have been tucked inside the menu.

Even the connections on the back are great looking too.

Connections for:

  • a pair of speakers
  • 3 Analog, 1 XLR, 1 MM Phono
  • Power Amp input
  • 2 coaxial, two optical
  • 1 PC USB B Input
  • Bluetooth 5.1 AptX
  • 12V Trigger
  • The built-in DAC is the ESS 9038PRO flagship 32-bit DAC chip.

    • The only thing that isn’t gorgeous is the remote. But it works, and the amp looks so good I don’t really care.

    The sorely missing thing is, you guessed it, tone controls.
    Tone controls would make this the perfect amp. Especially as the amp is so fully featured it would be great to have this functionality built in. The Audiolab reps did note that tone control circuits tend to be designed with low-quality components and that if anything, they would have a negative impact on the signal path. It is possible to use higher-grade components, but that would drive up the cost significantly.

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    The other is HDMI E-arc. This is available on the lower 7000A series. But not here. HDMI would make this a showstopper.

    The screen is cool. You can toggle the display to show digital VU meters or a ‘traditional’ volume dial.

    Setup

    Easy as hell. It’s pretty much plug-and-play. No App is required. And for someone like me who never reads the manual, that’s just fine with me.

    I used the amp with the following speakers:

  • Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G
  • Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
  • Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
  • B&W 685
  • Wharfedale Evo 4.2
  • Q Acoustics 3030i