audiolab

"And it’s definitely worth putting the effort in to find speakers that really gel with the 6000A MKII. If we do the simple business of crunching the specs, it delivers a collection of analogue and digital connections that are competitive with anything under a grand. It’s what it does with that functionality that is really impressive, however. Across its connectivity, the Audiolab delivers a heady balance of hi-fi sensibilities and musical satisfaction that makes it very hard to beat. The 6000A MKII takes everything that the original did and proceeds to do it that little bit better. The already difficult business of choosing an affordable integrated amp just got a little bit tougher."

Given the overall tonality, you can probably already guess what's coming next: The Audiolab components aren't for listeners who prefer a warm and cozy sound. They appeal more to fans of clear announcements without drifting into excessive nitpicking and getting lost in the details. Listeners who generally prefer a neutral sound and tolerate or appreciate small excursions into something a little fresher are part of the target audience – as are hi-fi fans with darker-toned speakers who desire more balance and drive in their system.

The Audiolab 6000A MKII gets an update with an improved power supply and a revised DAC based on the latest ESS chip, plus HDMI ARC inclusion. But the competition is fierce. I compared it directly to the Rega Brio Mark 7, known for its mid-range resolution. The 6000A MKII held its own, with superior bass control, soundstaging, and imaging.

The Audiolab 6000A MkII should be right at the top of your shortlist. It has more and better connectivity than either the Fell, Rega or Arcam. It is cheaper than the latter two and only £100 more than the Fell. It cannot match the sheer quantity of inputs on the Advance Paris X-i75 and it’s not a powerful but that HDMI eARC connection is something little else at the price has. The 6000A MkII cannot deliver a truly knockout blow to all its rivals but it’s still standing unbeaten at the end and it comes Highly Recommended as a result.

"While building a two-box amplifier might initially look a firmly retro-inspired move, Audiolab has actually been rather savvy here. If you want to build on the performance of the 9000A, the Q and P combination (to say nothing of running two Ps as bridged monoblocks) is a useful step forward. Equally, if you have no need for the pair of them, on their own they bring qualities that the 9000A has been demonstrating since its launch to more specialist applications. The two-box Audiolab bridges classic and modern thinking in a way that is likely to win it a lot of friends."

The versatile 9000Q and capable 9000P are Audiolab’s crowning achievement, finally giving its 9000 series the flagships it deserves. Stylistically and technically they have strong links with the 9000A integrated, but the excellent phono stage, good DAC and tantalising possibility of upgrading to two monoblock 9000Ps make this pair a sharply priced delight for separates-loving audiophiles.

The hi-fi industry should take a leaf out of this device's book. The Audiolab 6000A delivers fantastic sound that captivates and moves you, without costing a fortune. Thanks to Bluetooth, a phono stage, and HDMI, the integrated amplifier is versatile, yet superbly crafted and boasts a timeless design. With its 75 watts, it may not tear down walls, but it certainly has enough power to wow the neighbors with bookshelf speakers or smaller floorstanding speakers. It doesn't take much to make a music fan happy, and with the 6000A MKII, all it takes is three things: switch it on, turn it up, and listen.

"...Visually, the Audiolab 6000A MKI has hardly changed from its predecessor, but it has been further upgraded technically. For its very fairly calculated purchase price of 899 EUR, the device, which has a very individual design, offers excellent features. These include very precise D/A converters, which are among the particularly good options within the “converter hierarchy” of the renowned ESS. The Bluetooth module with aptX HD and the HDMI ARC interface also maximize the practical value of the slimline amplifier."

New 6000A MKII - One of The Most Acclaimed Amplifiers Just Got Better

Audiolab intros 6000A MkII: A surprisingly affordable next-generation Hi-Fi amplifier

A British Hi-Fi maker delivers a significant upgrade to its well-loved, budget-friendly amplifier.

Audiolab has announced a fresh move into ‘new-and-improved’ upgrade territory, with its 6000A MkII amplifier set to launch in April.

Audiolab’s acclaimed amp gets a serious upgrade to match its sleek looks
The popular 6000A amplifier gets a new DAC and several other key upgrades

This is a great brand for someone who's getting into higher-end Hi-Fi but doesn't have a massive budget. They want something that’s super good quality. We just think it’s designed really well, and it sounds very good. It could be one of the biggest products on the market.

"there is a noticeable difference in clarity and focus. But I'm glad I had both here at the same time to pinpoint the differences. The 9000 Q & P has a slightly wider sound stage, but it's considerably deeper and the location of performers within it is a lot more secure. The information comes from a darker place and also falls back into a quieter place"
"If you've only got £25,000 to spend, the Audiolab 9000 Q&P compares very favorably with other integrated amplifiers and preamps at that price."

The two new Audiolab components 9000Q and 9000P have proven themselves to be excellent in testing. The characteristic, clear design and the high quality of workmanship, even in the details, are immediately apparent after unpacking the two HiFi components. Solidly processed aluminum dominates everywhere, and the preamplifier has an excellently fitted color display.

The two new Audiolab components 9000Q and 9000P have proven themselves to be excellent in testing. The characteristic, clear design and the high quality of workmanship, even in the details, are immediately apparent after unpacking the two HiFi components. Solidly processed aluminum dominates everywhere, and the preamplifier has an excellently fitted color display.

At £2500 for the duo, it sits between the Cambridge Audio CX and EX integrated/network player range. I prefer the Audiolab build quality but features and soundwise they are very different, as are the IAG Audiolabs from the Quad offerings I mention. The Audiolab might not look as beautiful as a TAG McLaren from old, but it performed better, and with the excellent knowledge from Jan Ertner and his team they should be proud of the sound, build, and design of this series...

The two new Audiolab components 9000Q and 9000P have proven themselves to be excellent in testing. The characteristic, clear design and the high quality of workmanship, even in the details, are immediately apparent after unpacking the two HiFi components. Solidly processed aluminum dominates everywhere, and the preamplifier has an excellently fitted color display.

The music is smooth to the ear, moving in a serene manner—there are no bumps along the sonic road here. Listening to the P and the Q is like enjoying a slow-moving river on a lazy, sunny summer afternoon; it’s pure relaxation.

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

Although still affordable, this network player dares to challenge higher-end machines…
This 9000N happily celebrates the union of two exceptional know-hows at a price that is not extravagant.

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: