Audiolab 7000CDT CD Transport
7000CDT CD transport
'Sporting a range of upgrades over the critically acclaimed 6000CDT, Audiolab’s new 7000 Series CD transport is the perfect CD-playing companion to Audiolab’s 7000A integrated amplifier'
Cambridgeshire, England – CD remains an important part of the high-performance audio scene, with many music fans possessing still-treasured CD collections built up over many years. Sales of new CDs have been rising too – not to the scale of the vinyl revival but noteworthy, nonetheless. For some, the tangible, tactile sense of ownership that physical media provides still holds great value in the age of digital streaming.
Unlike some high-performance audio brands, Audiolab has never deserted CD users, as evidenced by the excellent CD-playing components that reside within the entry-level 6000 Series and flagship 9000 Series. These are CD transports, as opposed to CD players, which means they do not contain an integral DAC (Digital-to–Analogue Converter) – instead, they are designed to be connected to an external DAC of the user’s choice. The integrated stereo amps in Audiolab’s range all include their own high-quality DAC circuits, which makes Audiolab’s CD transports their ideal CD-spinning partners.
This spring sees the launch of the third CD transport in Audiolab’s current range. As with the other components that make up the company’s new 7000 Series, the 7000CDT takes the blueprint provided by its highly regarded 6000 Series equivalent and upgrades it in key areas the make a CD transport that sits between the 6000CDT and 9000CDT in Audiolab’s product hierarchy.
Two of the upgrades are obvious when the 7000CDT is examined from the front. First, the centrally positioned, stadium-shaped display is a little larger than that of the 6000CDT, replacing the latter’s monochrome text display with the same colour GUI found throughout the new 7000 Series. Second, the 6000A’s slot-loading mechanism has been replaced by a high-quality tray-loading mechanism, housed in its own electromagnetically shielded enclosure and incorporating a high-precision optical system and low-friction loading tray.
Under the hood, enhancements have been made to the power supply and output circuitry, including a higher quality toroidal transformer. Great care has been taken over the 7000CDT’s construction and circuit layout, to combat the sonically deleterious effect of vibrations generated externally and by the mechanism’s high-spin-velocity motor, and to protect the most sensitive elements from electrical noise.
The 7000CDT’s master clock is controlled by a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator, enabling the digital output from its coaxial and optical sockets to exhibit vanishingly low levels of jitter (digital distortion). In addition, the coaxial output is fed from a differential line driver to ensure a flawless digital signal reaches the accompanying DAC. Naturally, the 7000A’s state-of-the-art DAC section is a superb sonic match; the 7000CDT can also be partnered with any other high-quality DAC selected by its owner.
As well as spinning CDs, the 7000CDT features a USB Type A input, enabling playback from USB storage devices – this is a feature that the 7000CDT shares with the flagship 9000CDT but is not offered by the entry-level 6000CDT. FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32 formatted devices are supported, and WAV, WMA, AAC and MP3 files can be played, with file navigation via the front panel controls and remote handset.
The 7000CDT’s sturdy aluminium casework and 2.8in display echo those of its range mates, the 7000A integrated amp and 7000N Play Wi-Fi/Ethernet streamer. The display shows track information from CDs and USB-connected storage devices, complete with colour graphics, and provides access to functionssuch auto-standby settings and 12V trigger activation for system control. As with the other 7000 Series components, animations can be turned off and brightness adjusted, and the display can be set to activate only when a function is accessed and switch off after a defined period, as the user prefers.
The Audiolab 7000CDT is the ideal disc-spinning companion for every music lover for whom CD remains crucial part of their musical diet – available in a choice of silver or black. The 7000 Series is completed by the 7000A integrated stereo amplifier and 7000N Play network audio streamer, which launch concurrently with the 7000CDT.