audiolab

Despite facing stiff competition, the 9000N is the best premium music streamer we've tested.

This new Audiolab really is rather special, and I would call it a game-changer at the price.

Audiolab has rounded out its premium 9000 series with a streamer/DAC of real charm. The modern-looking hardware design, plus excellent display and app, appeal from the off, and its performance is assured – music of any flavour is in its wheelhouse thanks to a clear, detailed and unfussy presentation.

The 9000N proves that Audiolab is capable of scaling its streaming expertise to more premium price points. This is a strong performer that ticks pretty much every box as far as sound quality is concerned.

With the 9000 series, Audiolab brings high-quality hifi components to the market that adhere to the manufacturer's original philosophy. The build quality, finish, and equipment are top-notch and the design is also pleasing to the eye. With Audiolab's new 9000 series, your analog or digital music albums always sound friendly, smooth, and delicate. Whether you want to listen to them through your speakers or your high-quality headphones. Forget about the 'technology'. Everything about the 9000 series is all about the 'music'.

Audiolab delivers a highly versatile set with the 7000 Series. Compared to the 6000 Series, the set brings along a bit more power and features. This trio, when paired with the Canton Vento 30 monitor speakers, delivers a very impressive performance. Looking at the total price tag of this combination, the interest of the true music lover should be piqued.

GOLDENES OHR 2024
Network Amplifier (up to 2,500 euros)
Silver awards

GOLDENES OHR 2024
CD-SACD-Player (up to 2,000 euros)
Gold awards

GOLDENES OHR 2024
Network streamer/server/NAS (up to 1,000 euros)
Gold awards

Audiolab's 8000A caused a stir thanks to its "superb finish and styling", although today it looks like a grey tinged box with lots of dials. Still, distinctive looks aside, it offered excellent sound and features including bass and treble controls, a stereo balance control and a separate record selector, so you could "listen to one source while taping another". The sound was smooth with "plenty of presence and detail". Add its fine build and features and the 8000A was great value for money.

IAG were in the Old Vic suite with the Audiolab 9000 series Streamer / CD player and amplifier powering the Wharfedale Aura 3 speakers which sounded like they were excellent value for money.

"My 2023 Real World Hi-Fi standout is the Audiolab 9000N. Delivering exceptional performance as a source stack and preamplifier, it consistently provided outstanding sound quality amidst high-end components. The balance and synergy between elements created an enjoyable listening experience. Costing just shy of £2,500, it stands out as a worthwhile investment in the real-world category for 2023."

"Audiolab 9000A recognized as the Stand Out Product of 2023 by PURSUIT PERFECT SYSTEM."

The amplifier and CD transport are very well matched and make an excellent pairing, as one would expect from components designed as part of a series. As such, both are definitely a worthy investment.

The 9000CDT is an audiophile CD transporter that focuses on the essentials. A high-performance motor drives an exceptionally smooth transport mechanism at highspeed.

The 9000A is the most powerful and versatile audio amplifier ever built by Audiolab. It has afuturistic design and powerful electronics that are perfectly tailored to audiophile needs.

In conclusion, Audiolab has created an excellent network player with the 9000N. Modern styling is combined with great HiRes performance. Furthermore, the 9000N impresses with its excellent usability, both on the device itself and with the user-friendly app.

Audiolab seems to flourish and continues to capitalize on its heritage with very solid products. The star of the mid-range 7000 series is undoubtedly the integrated amplifier 7000A, which combines clean design with good features and, most importantly, a sound that belongs to a higher class than its price range would suggest.

Everything that Audiolab excels at is present in the 7000A but now combined with some useful extra features to make it even more flexible.

“… I want to say that all of these three integrated amplifiers, purely as integrated amplifiers massively exceeded my expectations… you can feel confident that they’re going to be pushing really pushing good sound for the price points!”

Audiolab’s 9000A showcases a crowd-pleasing sound quality, well-balanced across the range as it segues seamlessly between energetic and contemplative when needed. The solid specification is essentially matched by its performance, and that’s not damning with faint praise.

The Audiolab 9000N made the "Best Hi-Fi separates" news feature on the ever-influential What Hi-Fi? online pages: