Audiolab 7000A and 7000N Play combo

Nestled between the 6000 and 9000, the 7000 fuses premium traits into a pricing category that follows the mantra of class-leading performance.

Outwardly resembling the sequential series and therefore offering a brand-wide visual aesthetic match, the audiolab 7000A improves on the 6000A with a genuine 70W per channel output, a new DAC, a new full-colour IPS LCD screen and more! More compact than the 9000 series, it maintains crisp ergonomics, high-quality engineering, a useful range of facilities and an excellent all-around acoustic performance and connectivity.

Classes of A and B

audiolab pulls no punches with the genuine nature of our power rating. The 7000A’s discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers 70W per channel into eight ohms, with a maximum current delivery of 11A amps into difficult loads. A new standard in audiolab amplifiers, 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. Critically specified by Jan Ertner (lead engineer for the audiolab brand); the newly developed power supply features a substantial 250VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total), helps the amp to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.

Name Your Source

Whatever the input source – analogue, digital, wireless or TV – the 7000A has been crafted to the same level of detail one has come to expect from audiolab, all with the latest tech to be fully equipped to cover many bases, yet it maintains a price point that keeps the audiolab brand at the forefront of quality home audio. Dual analogue inputs cater for CD players and line-level sources, dual Coax and SPDIF inputs expand this for the digital sources while a Bluetooth aptX receiver serves up a solution for wireless audio playback and smart devices. Following the growing trend for direct living room integration of premium audio electronics and there for more in tune as the centrepiece of your home audio system, the 7000A takes connectivity to a new dimension with a built-in Audio Return Channel (ARC) connection for use with screens – thus bringing the audiolab dynamic to TV-app based music playback and home theatre. And let’s not forget the direct-to-PC connection via USB.

Flagship DAC

As is standard with audiolab integrated amplifiers, the 7000A reaffirms the natural integration and synergy with an ESS ES9038Q2M chip. Improving on the 6000A with this latest iteration and taking learnings from the 9000A, the 7000A utilises ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. As with the 9000A, the 7000A uses a post-DAC filter based upon Class A topology and proprietary DC-coupled high-gain electronic amp designs to deliver ultra-low noise and high dynamic range for the digital audio connoisseur.

Streaming Technology

What’s more, the 7000A also delivers full decoding of MQA, the hi-res streaming technology from a custom-engineered MQA-certified DAC solution. 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’, which makes the 7000A an excellent system choice for subscribers to Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier where Tidal Masters (MQA) content can be found.

Tables Are Turning

The 6000A is applauded for its ability to offer an integrated phono pre-amp solution. The 7000A builds on this with a further improved phono stage for moving magnet phono cartridges – using an improved version of the high-quality, low noise MM Phono circuit and precise RIAA equalisation that sets the benchmark in ‘built-in’ phono preamplifier solutions. Same with the dedicated headphone output. Enhancing the versatility claims of the 7000 series, the dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry caters for the head-fi that lurks in the audiophile! Its gain bandwidth and high slew rate ensure a dynamic, detailed and engaging performance with all manner of headphone types – more boxes ticked for this most integrated of integrated amplifiers.

ROON

Further to this, the audiolab 7000A is also Roon tested, thus opening up to the world of Roon. Roon’s fundamental goal is to provide a consistently stellar user experience. This goal doesn’t stop at the software… the experience extends all the way down to the audio playback hardware, regardless of manufacturer. As a Roon Tested partner, audiolab has provided equipment to Roon for testing with a variety of different operating systems and computers and shared information about its design and capabilities. We have a direct relationship with Roon and in many cases, the Roon support team has our devices on hand, so you can confidently choose to use audiolab hardware with Roon.

Roon transforms the experience of browsing music. Artist photos, credits, bios, reviews, lyrics, tour dates, and composers are located automatically, then interconnected by links to build a surfable, searchable digital magazine about your collection.

And Roon finds all the same links between your personal files and the millions of tracks available on TIDAL, so you can start with the music you know, then explore and discover new music from the world beyond your collection.

In addition to music browsing, Roon is a multi-room, multi-user networked audio platform built to the exacting standards of audiophiles. It offers features like bit-perfect playback, DSD and PCM upsampling, multichannel playback, and signal path display. Click here for more information on Roon.

Improved Interface

As the engineers in the audiolab camp have learned with every model and series; greatness can be improved upon. Taking the 6000A as the standard, audiolab know that the regular audio enthusiast’s thirst for specification and features would mean that the eagerly anticipated linear upgrade from the 6000A would instinctively also offer an improved display and general user interface (GUI); hence the vibrant and visually informative 2.8″ (48 x 64mm) IPS display. The detailed but simple-to-use GUI also carries through a general theme of information and structure from the 9000A, just in a more compact style. The GUI includes settings for the digital phase lock loop of the D/C converter

Satisfying Graphics

(DPLL), brightness, and operational modes. It can even be set to display a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form; showing real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays. As with all audiolab electronic hi-fi components, the audiolab 7000A yet again delivers with remarkable sonic consistency, a plethora of source and connectivity options and crisp styling. Regardless of the source material and format, the 7000A is lively and engaging but also never loses focus on the musicality and detail. Broadness, depth and toe-tapping rhythm are assured. The benchmark in this price class is elevated – it’s now in the 7000 series domain!

The new 7000N Play builds upon that legacy building introduction of wireless audio streaming to the brand with enhancements and improvements to match the step up from the established 6000 series to the new class-leading, 7000 series.

Bringing hi-resolution wireless audio streaming to any home audio system, the 7000N Play further expands on the multi-format, multi-platform, multi-source compatible DTS Play-Fi system, now with Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility/

Wi-Fi® Technology

Featuring DTS Play-Fi® Technology, music can be streamed over your wireless network in high-resolution format and can be easily expanded to a multi-room system if required. You can stream from any source on your wireless network, including smartphones, tablets or PCs as well as a NAS Drive.

DTS Play-Fi App

Besides accessing your personal music library, the DTS Play-Fi platform offers a wealth of leading online music channels from around the globe. Spotify, Tidal, HD Tracks, Deezer, Amazon Music, Napster, KKBox and Sirius XM, to name a few. Browse a radio guide with thousands of stations and podcasts, or stream from a home media server with DLNA compatibility. And thanks to the aforementioned AirPlay 2 adoption, the 7000N Play also now offers further compatibility for Apple Music users and other non-Play-Fi native platforms by way of Apple Airplay 2 connectivity, offering all of the additional convenience of the Apple platform.

Digital Screen

Sporting a new 2.8″ (48 x 64mm) IPS LCD screen with a detailed but simple to use GUI, the audiolab 7000N Play offers a vivid representation of information including streaming service, system settings, format, folder, track details and other data. It can even be set to display a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, showing real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels for the analogue outputs – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays.

An Endless Supply Of Music

The sheer versatility, operational simplicity and wide-spanning service options from the audiolab 7000N Play make it a very appealing wireless audio streaming solution. Just like the award-winning 6000N Play; for some, it is the perfect way to stream music from the likes of Spotify, Tidal and Deezer, with all the additional functionality of Play-Fi including multi-room audio. Not to mention the expansive AirPlay 2 provisions. For others, it is simply the best way of adding radio to their hi-fi system, with the huge choice of stations available via the internet – the traditional hi-fi ’tuner’ component, reinvented for the streaming age – all with the audiolab pedigree and performance!

Wireless Streaming Technology

DTS Play-Fi is premium whole-home wireless audio, now available from the largest ecosystem of brands in the world. Stream your favourite content with astounding audio quality, from every device that you’ve got.

All DTS Play-Fi products are seamlessly interoperable, so you can find the perfect speaker for every room, and know that they will all make beautiful music together.

Whole Home Audio, Made Easy

DTS Play-Fi sends audio from mobile devices to speakers throughout the home using proprietary streaming, synchronization, and authentication technology.

Every single DTS Play-Fi product works perfectly with all the rest, regardless of brand, so you get a huge range of options to customize your home, and one simple, elegant listening experience.

Works With Every Device You’ve Got

Now with Gapless playback and the new transfer mode, there’s no interruption in your music file playback. Even in Hi-Res mode, you transfer the stream direct to the device. This means no pause between tracks and no interruption in music when your phone or smart device is used on a call, for instance.

Of course, your music is always close by. And we know you have all kinds of devices in your life. That’s why DTS Play-Fi is built especially for smartphones, tablets, and PCs.

We have easy-to-use software for Android, iOS, Kindle Fires, and Windows. We support streaming via Spotify Connect, too. Any way you want to play, it just works.

DTS Play-Fi offers an unparalleled selection of audio products for your home, from compact battery-powered speakers to powerful soundbars, built by the most respected audio brands in the business. No more compromising your style or taste to get a high-quality wireless audio solution.