Further information

Audiolab 7000A

Since its launch in October 2018, Audiolab’s 6000A integrated amp has been a consistent best-seller, lauded by critics and loved by its owners for its useful range of facilities and adroitly balanced sound – a clear class leader at £649. Recently, the 6000A was joined by a new flagship integrated model, the 9000A, taking the 6000A’s established blueprint and elevating it across every parameter to deliver the epitome of ‘affordable high-end audio’ – uncompromising design, build and performance that rivals amplifiers costing twice its £1999 price tag.

As winter turns to spring, the 6000A and 9000A are joined by a third integrated stereo amplifier. With an RRP of £1099, the new 7000A nestles between its two siblings in terms of both price and performance, whilst adding a few tricks of its own. It builds upon the same design fundamentals as the 6000A, recognising that while an amplifier is still the beating heart of any high-performance audio system, just as it has been for decades, a truly versatile integrated amp now needs to cover many bases – digital and analogue sources, wireless connectivity for portable devices, a phono stage for playing vinyl, and amplification for headphones as well as speakers. But while the ethos remains the same, every aspect of the 7000A’s circuitry, both digital and analogue, has been enhanced to deliver updated facilities and upgraded performance.

A fine display

At first glance, the 7000A looks similar to its entry-level sibling but there are key aesthetic differences. Some are subtle, such as the sharper edges to the rotary controls and changes to the vent perforations on the top surface. The new amp also a little heftier, at 8.4kg compared to 7.8kg. The most obvious aesthetic change is the central display – while this remains stadium-shaped, like the 6000A’s display, the window has been enlarged to 64x48mm.

The reason for the 7000A’s larger display is clear as soon as the amp is powered up. The 6000A’s monochrome text display has been replaced by a colourful GUI, like the one found on the flagship 9000A (albeit the IPS LCD screen is smaller – 2.8in as opposed to 4.3in). This shows a variety of information in a more visually appealing way than other integrated amps – volume level, input selection, format data and more. It gives access to the 7000A’s impressive menu system, which includes such options as digital filter selection, upsampling, input sensitivity adjustment, balance control, automatic standby switching, and volume curtailment when the amp is powered up. It can even be set to display a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, showing real-time signal levels for the left and right channels – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays. 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 attractive versatility of the 7000A’s GUI and the useful array of options it presents are a clear upgrade on the 6000A and an unusual asset for a high-performance integrated amp at this price point.

Versatile connectivity

The 7000A incorporates state-of-the-art digital-to-analogue signal conversion, enabling digital sources to connect directly without an external DAC. 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 includes an HDMI ARC input for convenient AV system integration – the 7000A is the only Audiolab amplifier to include this facility. Bluetooth reception is included too, with support for multiple codecs including aptX HD, and Bluetooth 5 compliance for optimum range and speed. For analogue sources there are three line-level RCA inputs, plus one for a turntable. Audiolab has tweaked the 7000A’s MM phono stage to improve performance compared to the 6000A, with precise RIAA equalisation and input filtering to ensure vinyl is treated with as much care as digital sources.

Digital circuitry

Ever since the much-admired M-DAC launched more than a decade ago, Audiolab has been famed for the performance of its DAC circuitry. The M-DAC was one of the first consumer audio products in the world to incorporate ESS Technology’s groundbreaking Sabre32 Reference DAC chips, sharing its use of the ES9018 chip family with other renowned Audiolab components including the 6000A. For the 7000A, Audiolab has switched up to a new-generation 32-bit Sabre chip – the ES9038Q2M. This 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.

No company knows more about making the most of Sabre DAC technology than Audiolab, having worked with it for years through several product generations. Although always technically excellent, these DAC chips are also challenging to implement to maximum effect and must be integrated into a product’s circuit design with care to extract their full sonic potential. The post-DAC active filter is a critical element; Audiolab developed a new Class A circuit for its flagship 9000A integrated amp that’s perfectly tailored to make the most of the ES9038 chip family and this same circuit is used in the 7000A.

The 7000A’s hi-res audio support is state-of-the-art, handling PCM to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD to 22.5MHz (DSD512) via USB. The 6000A, in comparison, is limited to 24-bit/192kHz PCM over S/PDIF.

The 7000A also delivers full decoding of MQA, the hi-res streaming technology. This means that the complete ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA renderer, making the 9000A an excellent amplifier for subscribers to Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier where Tidal Masters (MQA) content can be found. The 7000A is officially ‘Roon Tested’ too, ensuring it works seamlessly in a Roon audio environment.

Users can opt to upsample digital audio signals to 352.8kHz or 383kHz, and five DAC reconstruction filter settings allow the listener to adjust the sound to suit the source material – particularly useful given the variable quality of digital formats and streaming platforms. No matter how it is connected, via USB, S/PDIF or Bluetooth, every digital source benefits from the exceptional quality of this DAC – you will not find a finer DAC stage in any integrated amplifier anywhere close to the 7000A’s retail price.

Analogue circuitry

The 6000A’s Class AB amp circuitry has been widely praised for its impressively balanced performance across all critical parameters, at an affordable price. Jan Ertner, Audiolab’s lead electronics designer, took the circuit he designed for the 6000A and considered where the additional budget afforded by the 7000A’s higher price point could best be invested to achieve optimal sonic dividends. His resulting design improves key areas to significant sonic effect, whilst also increasing the amp’s power output.

The 6000A delivers 50W per channel into 8 ohms; the 7000A ramps this up to 70W, with a maximum current delivery of 9 Amps into difficult loads. The output stage of the discrete power amp circuits uses a CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology, ensuring superior linearity and excellent thermal stability, as the idle current is kept independent of the temperature of the output transistors. The 6000A’s 200VA toroidal transformer has been uprated to a new 250VA unit, combining with 60000uF reservoir capacitance to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.

Headphone listeners are well served too, thanks to the 7000A’s dedicated headphone amplifier. With its current-feedback design and high slew rate, a dynamic and detailed performance with all manner of headphones is assured – a far cry from the elementary headphone outputs of most integrated amps.

The preamp section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal purity, with line input signals passing to a precision analogue volume stage. Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the 7000A’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference. This, plus the use of independent low-noise power supplies for critical stages, combined with enhanced mains filtering, helps to deliver a performance that rivals significantly more expensive analogue amplifiers – even before taking the 7000A’s impressive digital circuitry into account.

Pre and power operational modes

As is traditional with Audiolab’s integrated amps, right back to the original 8000A from 1982, the 7000A offers three distinct operational modes which reflect its discrete internal architecture and enable it to adapt as its user’s requirements evolve. The primary mode is ‘Integrated’ – this combines the pre and power amp stages, for the connection of digital and analogue sources to the amp’s inputs and a pair of speakers to its binding posts.

‘Pre-Power Mode’ disconnects the pre and power amp stages. The allows the 7000A to be used solely as a power amp – for example, connected to an AV processor in a home cinema system. It also enables additional signal processing to be added, by connecting the 7000A’s ‘preamp out’ socket to an external processor, then returning the processor’s output to the amp’s ‘power amp in’ socket.

Finally, ‘Pre Mode’ disables the power amp stage, turning the 7000A into a standalone DAC/preamp. This enables external power amplification to be added, thus providing a possible upgrade path.

Versatile features, virtuoso performance

The 7000 Series is a logical step for Audiolab, filling the space between the entry-level 6000 Series and the flagship 9000 Series by building on the firm foundations of the former and utilising newly developed technologies from the latter. The 7000A sits at the heart of the range and delivers a killer combination of class-leading facilities and, crucially, sonic performance.

The 6000A’s balance of sonic attributes continues to ensure its popularity with critics and consumers alike, and the 7000A is clearly cut from the same cloth – it does everything the 6000A does well; it just does it even better. Deep, fleet-footed bass; expressive midrange and an expansive soundstage; treble that sings with sweet precision – the 7000A delivers an adroitly balanced performance with all kinds of music, from rock and electronica to classical and jazz. In short, it delivers an open window on the music being played, as all great hi-fi should, engaging the listener with natural, unforced energy that is fully reflective of the source material.

Audiolab 7000N PLAY

The new 7000N Play offers a significant step up from its still-current forebear. It similarly combines the versatility of the DTS Play-Fi wireless audio platform with Audiolab’s sonic know-how to deliver a great- sounding network streaming solution that is simple to set up and use, incorporating the latest Play-Fi module, extra features and a DAC upgrade in return for the modest additional outlay. Users can stream from any source connected to their home network – smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs, as well as NAS drives and music servers – utilising the 7000N Play’s dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi. It also connects wirelessly with other Play-Fi-equipped devices, enabling a fully synchronised multi-room set-up.

There are three ways to stream once the 7000N Play is connected to a broadband router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. The first is via the Play-Fi app, which gives access to a variety of online streaming services including Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Deezer, plus thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts, as well as streaming content stored on local DLNA-compliant devices. The second is Spotify Connect, which enables streaming direct to the 7000N Play using the Spotify app rather than the Play-Fi app. And the third is AirPlay 2, which gives access to Apple Music and other streaming platforms when using an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV as the source/control device. AirPlay 2 is a new feature added to the 7000N Play, and an important one for Apple users.

Upgraded internals

The 7000N Play incorporates a high-quality DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter), upgrading the ES9018K2M Sabre32 chip found in the 6000N Play to the new-generation ES9038Q2M – as used in Audiolab’s new 7000A integrated amp. This 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. Hi-res audio streaming is supported to 24-bit/192kHz over Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable.

The inclusion of a DAC stage ensures the 7000N Play can be used with any audio system – simply connect the stereo RCA analogue output to a regular integrated amp or preamp, or a pair of active speakers. Alternatively, take a digital feed (optical or coaxial) to an external DAC, or an amp with digital inputs such as Audiolab’s new 7000A. Naturally, the 7000A is an ideal partner for the 7000N Play; when these two components are paired digitally, an optical or coaxial cable is used to convey the audio signal while the supplied USB control cable enables the 7000A’s volume to be adjusted via the Play-Fi app.

The circuit design also draws inspiration from Audiolab’s new 7000CDT CD transport, incorporating the same isolated power supply with a high-efficiency, low-noise toroidal transformer to maintain optimum signal purity – all of which contributes to the 7000N Play’s excellent sonic performance.

Few network streamers around the 7000N Play’s price include a colour display – or any display at all – but Audiolab’s new streamer sports the same 2.8in IPS LCD display and attractive GUI as the other 7000 Series components. This shows a variety of information, including the currently connected streaming service, track details and format/sample rate, and provides access to functions such as balance control, auto-standby settings, fixed or variable output, and 12V trigger activation for system control. The menu also facilitates digital filter selection – the same five settings provided by the 7000A integrated amp – offering a degree of sonic tailoring to suit the source material and the user’s personal taste.

The display can even be set to show a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, presenting real-time signal levels for the left and right channels – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays. 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 GUI can be navigated using the included remote or the six buttons to the right of the display, four of which also double as ‘preset’ selectors. These presets operate like those on a DAB or FM radio tuner; simply select an internet radio station, or a playlist from a streaming service, and store it as a preset for speedy access at the press of a button – no app required.

More about Play-Fi

DTS Play-Fi is an app-controlled platform enabling high-quality, whole-home wireless audio, capable of streaming hi-res music up to 24-bit/192kHz and supported by a greater range of established audio brands than any other wireless platform. The free Play-Fi app (available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, Windows PCs and Apple and Android smartwatches) is an intuitive gateway to a wealth of music services including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, HDtracks, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM. It is also your trusty music butler, able to serve up a streaming library stored on any DLNA- compatible NAS drive or media server on the same home network.

Play-Fi supports a wide variety of file formats, including MP3, MP4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF, and provides two main listening modes. The default Critical Listening mode delivers optimal sound quality when streaming to a single device like the 7000N Play, supporting hi-res PCM up to 24-bit /192kHz over Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable without transcoding or down-sampling. The second mode prioritises bandwidth for multiroom operation by capping audio at 16-bit/48kHz – essentially CD quality – for seamless, simultaneous streaming to as many as 32 Play-Fi-compatible audio devices in different zones.

The versatility of the Play-Fi ecosystem is enhanced by the sheer variety of audio devices that support it, from portable speakers and TV soundbars to all-in-one music systems and high-end audio components, from a wide range of respected brands. All Play-Fi-compatible audio devices work perfectly together, providing an extensive range of options to customise your home entertainment experience.

Play-Fi can even be integrated into TVs, including the latest models from Philips, enabling them to stream latency-free audio over Wi-Fi to Play-Fi-equipped devices including the 7000N Play – all perfectly synchronised with the action on screen, no cables required.

DTS launched Play-Fi in 2012; it was highly innovative at the time and even now continues to break new ground in wireless home audio. Play-Fi Home Cinema for Speakers, which arrived last year, is a case in point – this enables all manner of wireless soundbar, speaker and subwoofer combinations in surround configurations up to 7.2.4, seamlessly synced over Wi-Fi. This continual thirst for progress has earned Play-Fi a CES 2023 Innovation Award, more than 10 years after it launched.

The Play-Fi app regularly evolves through automatic updates. Important recent enhancements such as gapless playback, and the ‘transfer’ function which enables streaming without the need to keep the control device on the Wi-Fi network, are all fully compatible with the 7000N Play. And because Audiolab’s new streamer incorporates the latest Play-Fi module, you can be sure this will be the case with future updates too.

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