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audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier - Silver

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SKU: AB6000A-SIL
WARNING: for more information go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Audiolab's 6000A is a 50 WPC integrated amp with built-in ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip DAC, MM phono stage, and dedicated phono stage.

Additional Options
    $655.40 - $1,019.15
    $1,199.00
    $899.00
    In Stock
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    Outstanding Product Award – hifipig.com


    "This is a Class Leader"

    Outwardly, Audiolab's 6000A integrated amplifier bears strong resemblance to Audiolab's 8300A with its rotary controls and large, central OLED display. Unlike its costlier, analog-only sibling, it incorporates high-quality D/A conversion, enabling digital sources to be connected directly without an external DAC. It supplies four digital inputs, three line-level analog inputs, an input for a turntable, wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and a dedicated headphone amp, in addition to its superb performance when driving loudspeakers.

    In his joint review of the Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport and 6000a integrated amp for hifipig.com (which honored the combo with an Outstanding Product Award), Alan McIntosh notes, "The 6000A alone is a strong offering and I suspect as more people hear it the market rivals will be working hard to compete, as a combo for me this is a class leader and is punching up the weight class in spades. Solid, punchy, refined and delivering at times a truly detailed but analogue feel, this is one to watch."

    "Its sound is musically engaging, yet also refined," reports Tomasz Karasiński, stereolifemagazine.com November 16, 2018. "The soundstage it produces is broad and deep, with crisply defined detail revealing the character of voices and instruments. Impressive dynamic range conveys natural impact, while the amp's transient ability keeps feet tapping with rhythmic music."

    Superior Digital Circuitry

    Much effort has been made to ensure the 6000A’s digital circuitry delivers the level of quality one might expect of a high-performance standalone DAC. As ever, Audiolab has turned to the ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip family to perform D/A conversion, utilizing ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator to deliver ultra-low noise and high dynamic range.

    No company knows more about making the most of this technically excellent, but challenging, DAC technology than Audiolab. If the circuitry that surrounds the ES9018 is not of sufficient standard, the resulting sound can seem a little cold and hard. Treat it right, however, and the level of musical expression that this chip digs from the digital signal is captivating. Audiolab’s original, universally acclaimed M-DAC was one of the first home audio components to incorporate an ES9018 chip back in 2011, and the company has been honing its implementation ever since.

    Amazing Analog Section

    The 6000A’s discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers 50W per channel into eight ohms, with a maximum current delivery of 9 amps into difficult loads. 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.

    A substantial 200VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total), helps the amp to maintain firm control of the music while enabling excellent dynamic range.

    The preamp section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal purity, with line input signals passing to a precision analog volume stage. The latter covers the range from -80dB to +8dB in steps of 2dB and 1dB (step resolution increases with volume position). Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the 6000A’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference. This, plus the use of independent low-noise power supplies for critical stages, helps to deliver a performance that rivals significantly more expensive analogue amplifiers, even before taking the 6000A’s impressive digital circuitry into account.

    MM Phono Stage and Dedicated Headphone Stage

    In recognition of the recent vinyl revival, Audiolab has included a phono stage for moving magnet phono cartridges – a high-quality, low-noise, JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalization.

    Similarly, an increasing number of people are using headphones for music listening, so Audiolab has incorporated a dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry. Its gain bandwidth and high slew rate ensure a dynamic, detailed and engaging performance with all manner of headphone types.

    Product Features

    • Integrated amplifier with digital and analog inputs
    • ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip
    • ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator
    • Four digital inputs, three line-level analog inputs
    • Class AB power amp stage
    • Substantial 200VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total)
    • Digital Filters: Fast Roll-off, Slow Roll-off, Minimum Phase
    • Max. Sampling Frequency: 192KHz
    • Preamp section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal purity
    • Precision analog volume stage
    • Independent low-noise power supplies for critical stages
    • Moving magnet phono stage – a high-quality, low-noise, JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalization.
    • Dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry

    Product Specs

    General

    • Gain (max.): +8dB (Line); +55dB (Phono MM)
    • Input Sensitivity: 720mV (Line, Volume = 0dB); 3.1mV (Phono MM, Volume=0dB)
    • Input Impedance: 10K (Line); 47K//100pF (Phono MM)
    • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.0004% (Line, 1KHz @ 2V, Volume = 0dB)
    • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.1dB)
    • Output Voltage: 2.3V max. (Volume = 0dB)
    • Output Impedance: 120 ohm
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N): > 110dB (Line, A-weighted) >76dB (Phono MM, A-weighted)
    • Standby Power Consumption: <0.5W
    • Dimensions (W x H x D): 17.5" x 2.6" x 11.8"

    DAC

    • D to A converter: ES9018K2M
    • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.0006% (1KHz @ 0dBFS)
    • Output level (0dBFS, 1KHz): 2.05V
    • Max. Sampling Frequency: 192KHz
    • Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N): > 112dB (A-weighted)
    • Digital Filters: Fast Roll-off, Slow Roll-off, Minimum Phase

    Power Amplifier Section

    • Gain: +29dB
    • Rated Max. Power Output: 2 X 50W (8 ohm, THD<1%) 2 X 75W (4 ohm, THD<1%)
    • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.3dB)
    • Input Sensitivity: 720mV
    • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.003% (1kHz @ 40W/8ohm)
    • Signal-to-Noise ratio (S/N): > 110dB (A-weighted)
    • Max. Output Current: 9A

    Headphone Amplifier

    • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.01% (1kHz, 50mW)
    • Output Impedance: 2.35 ohm
    • Load impedance: 20-600 ohm

    Product Warranty

    Parts & Labor 3 Years with Registration | 1 Year Limited Without Registration audiolab Warranty Information

    "Looking though my listening notes, what stood out with almost every single recording was the 6000A’s remarkable transparency. The 6000A’s sense of drive, and detail retrieval is not what one normally expects at this price point and that it achieves such a high level of playback quality without ever sounding too strident or forward is a huge positive."

    "For its asking price, the Audiolab 6000A is a remarkable component that delivers excellent sound quality, build quality, functionality, and the composure to comfortably drive large floor-standing loudspeakers with any genre of music you might throw at it."

    - Ian White, ecoustics.com, June 2, 2021


    "...from the fit and finish of its metalwork to the feel of its controls to its bright OLED display, it’s more up- than downmarket. The 6000A is also highly flexible -- it can be used as a preamp and power amp or an integrated amp -- and it has a built-in DAC, phono stage, and headphone amp."

    " I had nothing to complain of about its sound -- it mostly got out of the way of the music, letting my speakers and room sound as good as I’m accustomed to."

    "Compared to my reference DAC-preamp-power-amp combo, which costs an order of magnitude more, the 6000A performed more than admirably. It was almost as quiet, with only subtle differences in sound in certain circumstances, and none at all in others -- the sounds of these models’ DACs and headphone amps were the same, and the sounds of their amps, preamps, and phono preamps were very close."

    "At this price, what’s to complain about? The Audiolab 6000A is extremely easy to recommend -- and would be even at twice the price."

    - Diego Estan, SoundStage! Access, October 1, 2019


    "The more I listen to the 6000A, the more I love it. The spacious sound, sweet highs, and deep, controlled bass make inexpensive speakers sound better than they have any business sounding, and when you scale up to better speakers, you end up with a system that many audiophiles could live with for many years to come."

    "I also love the bulletproof build quality and the elegant, no-nonsense way all the features are implemented. It makes it so easy and nice to use on a daily basis. Because of this, I plan to buy the unit I have right now, it will be my new reference amp for testing speakers."

    "Great job, Audiolab."

    - Paul C., Hi-Fi Trends, July 4, 2019


    "...the 6000A provides the perfect balance of performance to a build budget. It’s the perfect compromise. Every part of the sound envelope has been looked at and enhanced to the point when the money ran out. Then Audiolab stopped at that point."

    "The 6000A is even handed, offers great sound and is one of the best value amplifiers on the market. If you want to hear how your money has been spent, buy a 6000A."

    "Bottom line? The Audiolab 6000A is better than you think."

    - Paul Rigby, The Audiophile Man, July 1, 2019


    "We really did our best to catch the Audiolab 6000a on an error but in vain. This is a very fine integrated amplifier and not only in its price range. For us, the very best components are the ones that inspire you and draw you into the music. Of all the qualities that the Audiolab 6000a possesses, that involvement is the most important. It is therefore the reason why we give this amplifier a well-deserved Alpha Approved award. Congratulations!"

    - Geoffrey Van Houwaert, Alpha-Audio, April 10, 2019


    "Audiolab’s 6000A is a cracking budget integrated with just the right amount of facilities, a snappy and engaging sound, sufficient power and fine build. A great buy for the modern music fan who wants plenty of flexibility."

    - Hi-Fi Choice, March 19, 2019


    "If you are seeking to move to a dedicated CD transport you should definitely audition the 6000CDT for its smooth operation, sleek looks, and constantly robust playback. The 6000A alone is a strong offering and I suspect as more people hear it the market rivals will be working hard to compete, as a combo for me this is a class leader and is punching up the weight class in spades. Solid, punchy, refined and delivering at times a truly detailed but analogue feel, this is one to watch. I suspect Santa may be visiting Audiolab this Christmas for many. I for one am seriously considering buying it."

    - Alan McIntosh, hifipig.com


    "Its sound is musically engaging, yet also refined. The soundstage it produces is broad and deep, with crisply defined detail revealing the character of voices and instruments. Impressive dynamic range conveys natural impact, while the amp's transient ability keeps feet tapping with rhythmic music. Deep, well-defined bass, expressive midrange and sweet, subtle treble - the 6000A delivers an adroitly balanced performance with all kinds of music, from rock and electronica to classical and jazz. In short, it delivers an open window on the music being played, as all great hi-fi should, engaging the listener with natural, unforced energy that is fully reflective of the source material."

    - Tomasz Karasiński, stereolifemagazine.com, November 16, 2018

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