The Audiolab 9000A Integrated Amplifier is the brainchild of leading audio designer Jan Ertner. Renowned for his many best-in-class and award-winning audio electronics, Jan has taken the Audiolab 9000A to the highest level of performance, building on the principles that created the Audiolab 8300A and the hugely successful Audiolab 6000A to deliver the highest sound quality ever seen in an Audiolab integrated amplifier.
The Audiolab 9000A distinguishes itself from many competitors within its price category by merging digital functionality with a strong analogue heritage. True to Audiolab’s reputation, it features high-quality digital-to-analogue conversion, enabling direct connections from various digital sources through its four digital inputs to this robust integrated amplifier. Drawing on over four decades of expertise in amplifier design, the Audiolab 9000A also offers analogue connectivity through three AUX inputs, a balanced XLR input, and a dedicated phono input. Additionally, it accommodates wireless Bluetooth and digital audio connections via USB for computers.
The Audiolab 9000A is equipped with the flagship 32-bit ESS 9038PRO DAC chip. Using the proven, patented HyperStream ® II architecture and time-domain jitter elimination technology, the ES9038PRO delivers an unprecedented level of quality that can satisfy the most demanding audio applications. Four S/PDIF digital inputs – two coaxial and two optical – handle high-resolution PCM data up to 24-bit/192 kHz and employ a variety of user-selectable digital filters that allow the response to be optimized according to the source file and the bandwidth of the connected equipment. PCM audio up to 32-bit/768 kHz is supported, along with DSD up to 22.5 MHz (DSD512). All important high-resolution lossless audio formats, including FLAC, ALAC, AIFF and WAV, as well as legacy compressed formats, are also included.
The Audiolab 9000A delivers full MQA decoding, a high-resolution streaming technology, via a custom-designed MQA-certified DAC solution. This means that the full decoding process (“triple unwrapping”) is performed internally, as opposed to just the final unwrapping in the MQA “renderer,” making the Audiolab 9000A an excellent choice for Tidal “HiFi Plus” subscribers, where Tidal Masters (MQA) content can be found. The amplifier comes standard with a Bluetooth module that supports the aptX HD protocol, ensuring excellent sound quality and easy wireless streaming from smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. Devices connected via Bluetooth also benefit from the high quality of the amplifier’s DAC section and filtering options.
The Audiolab 9000A class AB power amplifier stage is implemented on discrete elements and provides 100 W per channel at 8 Ohms (150 W per channel at 4 Ohms!). Unlike most competitors’ models, the true power of 100 W per channel allows the Audiolab 9000A to compete with the best models in its class. Remembering that the younger Audiolab 6000A produces 50 W per channel, we can say that 100 W of power per channel of the 9000A will undoubtedly satisfy the most demanding acoustic systems and their owners.
The key to Audiolab’s high sound quality is the world-famous CFB (Complementary Feedback) circuit topology, which provides excellent linearity and thermal stability, since the idle current is maintained regardless of the temperature of the output transistors. A custom-designed 320VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4 x 15,000µF storage capacitors (60,000µF total), helps the amplifier maintain a firm grip on the music while delivering superb dynamic range.
In order to maintain constant purity of audio signals, the line inputs are fed to a precision analogue volume control, and the preamp section is kept as simple as possible. As with all of Jan Ertner’s designs, the layout is a work of art, and not just in terms of placement and architecture. The design itself protects the sensitive preamp section from noise and interference, which is the cornerstone of audiolab’s philosophy.
The Audiolab 9000A amplifier is equipped with a full-colour IPS LCD screen, providing a clear and complete presentation of source and file information, not to mention a multitude of menu options for achieving optimum quality and choosing user settings. Various display options are provided, including needle meter images, allowing the amplifier to visually present the necessary information or become a completely unnoticeable central element of any audio system by selecting “Display Off”.
The all-new phono preamplifier in the Audiolab 9000A ensures compatibility with MM cartridges, while precise RIAA equalization provides the best of both worlds for vinyl fans. Likewise, the headphone amplifier output stage uses a current feedback circuit with a wide bandwidth and a high slew rate, due to which the Audiolab 9000A delivers a dynamic, detailed and exciting performance with all types of headphones, with the characteristic audiolab brilliance – thanks to constant signal integrity from all inputs. The Audiolab 9000A provides the flexibility of use as a full-fledged integrated amplifier. It offers three operating modes – Integrated, Pre-Power and Pre – integrated, power amplifier and preamplifier.
Audiolab 9000A Specifications
Output power: 2 x 100 W (8 Ohm) / 2 x 150 W (4 Ohm) class AB
IPS LCD display 4.3 “(800 x 480 mm) full color
Built-in certified full MQA decoder (PC USB, Coax / Optical)
Support for Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX / aptX HD / AAC / LDA) streaming
High-quality low-noise phono stage for MM cartridges
High-quality headphone amplifier with current feedback
Inputs: 3 x analog, 1 x XLR, 1 x Phono (MM / MC), 1 x Power Amplifier, 2 x SPDIF (Coax), 2 x SPDIF (Optical), 1 x PC USB (USB B), 1 x Bluetooth (aptX / aptX HD), 1 x 12V Trigger
Outputs: 1 x PRE Amplifier, 1 x Stereo Speaker, 1 x Headphone, 1 x 12V Trigger
Sampling frequency: Optical/Coaxial: 44.1kHz-192kHz; PC USB: 44.1kHz-768kHz (PCM) / DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512
Dimensions (mm): (W x H x D): 444 x 342 x 89
Net weight: 8.4 kg
Loading ...