New Amp and CD Flagships from Audiolab
The Audiolab 9000A integrated amplifier and the 9000CDT CD transport, among other things, strive to wow with modern technologies and a huge display.
Audiolab's new flagship series 9000 devices are believed to be based on the 8000 series, but with significant upgrades. On the front of both units is a new, graphics-capable 4.3-inch IPS LCD display.
The 9000A integrated amplifier now includes a digital portion with a 32-bit ESS 9038PRO DAC chip and two optical and two coaxial S/PDIF inputs, as well as a USB interface.
The S/PDIF connectors are supposed to support resolutions up to 192 kHz/24 bit, and the USB port supports resolutions up to 768 kHz/32 bit and DSD512; the 9000A is also said to support MQA files and receive music over Bluetooth.
On the analog side, the 9000A has three RCA and one XLR input, as well as a phono MM input, whose phono preamp is stated to have been upgraded. Furthermore, the integrated amplifier can be operated in several modes, such as a pure preamplifier or pure power amplifier, or it can send its pre-out signals to an external signal processor and receive them back through power-in.
The 9000A's amplifier is made up of two discrete Class AB blocks, each with a stated power of 2x100 watts into 8 ohms or 2x160 watts into 4 ohms.
Audiolab's CFB (Complementary Feedback) design is believed to ensure great linearity in the amplifier by keeping the quiescent current stable despite of temperature. A 320 VA toroidal transformer with four capacitors with a total storage capacity of 60,000 uF as power reserves is also included, as well as a headphone output with current feedback circuitry, which seeks to deliver type-independent, dynamic, and detailed reproduction.
The CD Transport 9000CDT is the other type in the new Audiolab 9000 series, and it is designed to transfer digital signals to an external DAC with little jitter. Its aluminum chassis with a solid base is stated to efficiently attenuate motor vibrations, while the CD tray is reported to be exceptionally durable, and scanning optics and a buffer memory are said to reduce read mistakes.
The 9000CDT also has a USB-A input that may be used to play music.
The two Audiolab 9000 series units will be available in silver and black finishes in mid-November*. The 9000A integrated amplifier is projected to cost around $2,300*, while the 9000CDT CD transport is expected to cost around $1,200*.
Post by Bryan C.
