Premium Features and Performance for Affordable Hi-End
Comfortably occupying a slot between audiolab's 6000A and 9000A integrated amplifiers, the new 7000A brings premium features and performance to a highly affordable price point.
The audiolab 7000A improves on the 6000A with a genuine 70 watts-per-channel output, a new DAC, a new full-color IPS LCD screen, and other desirable features. More compact than the 9000 series, the 7000A maintains crisp ergonomics, high-quality engineering, a full range of connection options, and excellent sonic performance.
Regardless of the musical source material or format, the 7000A is lively and engaging, never losing focus on the musicality and detail. Fullness, depth, and toe-tapping rhythm are assured.
"A Killer Combination"
"Sitting between the entry level 6000 and flagship 9000, the Audiolab 7000 series will be popular for those looking for a mid-priced system," reports hifipig.com, February 6, 2023.
"The 7000A sits at the heart of the range and delivers a killer combination of class-leading facilities and, crucially, sonic performance," notes essentialinstall.com, February 2023.
Honest Amplification
audiolab doesn't exaggerate its amplifiers' power ratings. The specs are always honest and straightforward. The 7000A’s discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers 70W per channel into eight ohms, with a maximum current delivery of 9 amps into difficult loads.
Forging 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 audiolab, has resulted in a newly developed power supply with a substantial 250VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total). This helps the amp to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.
Flagship ESS DAC
Improving on the 6000A with this latest iteration and taking lessons from the 9000A, the 7000A utilizes the flagship ES9038Q2M 32-bit DAC with 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.
Ready for Any Source
Whatever your input source – analog, digital, wireless, or TV – the 7000A has been crafted to the same level of detail you have come to expect from audiolab.
Dual analog inputs accommodate CD players and line-level sources. Dual coax and SPDIF inputs serve your digital sources, while a Bluetooth aptX receiver offers wireless audio playback for portable devices and other gear. There's also a direct-to-PC wired connection via USB.
Following the growing trend for direct living room integration of premium audio electronics, the 7000A takes connectivity to a new dimension with a built-in Audio Return Channel (ARC) connection for use with screens. This brings the audiolab dynamic to TV-app based music playback and home theater.
Full Decoding of MQA
As part of its streaming and playback capabilities, the 7000A 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. This makes the 7000A an excellent system choice for subscribers to Tidal’s HiFi Plus tier, where Tidal Masters (MQA) content can be found.
Built-in Upgraded MM Phono Preamp and Headphone Stage
Catering to vinyl lovers, the 7000A builds on the success of the 6000 with a further improved phono stage for moving magnet phono cartridges. It boasts an upgraded version of the high-quality, low noise MM phono circuit and precise RIAA equalization that sets the benchmark in built-in phono preamplifier solutions.
Enhancing the versatility of the 7000 series, the dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry pampers the head-fi that lurks inside audiophiles. Its gain bandwidth and high slew rate ensure a dynamic, detailed, and engaging performance with all manner of headphone types.
Enhanced Interface
Greatness can be improved upon. Taking the 6000A as the standard, audiolab stepped up to an improved display and general user interface (GUI) with a vibrant and visually informative 2.8″ (480 x 640mm) IPS display. The comprehensive but simple-to-use GUI also carries through a general theme from the 9000A, but in a more compact style.
The front panel display can even be set to show a VU meter in analog or digital form. The meter provides real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels. This creates a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays.
