Audiolab 9000 cd transport and amp

[hifinutt]

Well very excited to see the audiolab 9000 being launched with Cd transport and looks like its got a tray !!! hooray , as i dont like slot loaders

https://www.whathifi.com/news/audio...ncludes-9000a-amplifier-and-9000cdt-cd-player

Audiolab has unveiled the first two products in its new flagship 9000 Series – a truly high-end duo that comprises the 9000A integrated amplifier and 9000CDT CD transport.


The Cambridge-based firm reckons the 9000A integrated amplifier is 'the best it has ever built'. It carries a moving magnet phono stage, doubles up as a pure preamp or pure power amplifier, and boasts 2x100 watts at 8 ohms (2x160 watts at 4 ohms).

https://www.whathifi.com/news/audio...ncludes-9000a-amplifier-and-9000cdt-cd-player

 

[Ceko]

Looks very promising. If I were to start over this would be a serious consideration.

 

[E600]

I can confirm the 9000a is awesome, a great step up from my previous Arcam A19, although that is still performing well for my son.

 

[Metatron]

I wonder how different sound-wise the 9000 series are to the 6000 series.

I mean the fancy screens in the 9000 series have to be responsible for the uptick in price, because anything on them also required additional software development over the 6000.

Has anybody done a level-matched test between them?

 

[Bigwig07]

I'm not sure how unbiased and 'commercially influenced' this review is actually.

 

[E600]

I'm not sure how unbiased and 'commercially influenced' this review is actually.

Same question I often ask about many reviewers…

 

[Andrei]

Well very excited to see the audiolab 9000 being launched with Cd transport and looks like its got a tray !!! hooray , as i dont like slot loaders

I saw the Youtube vid and was impressed. But I will repeat my comment thereon: "A balanced output option would be better - AES or I2S"

 

[TIU]

Is it really hi-end at £2k? Some folk spend more than that on a cable.

 

[Jezzer]

Definitely not high-end.

I had a 8200CDQ which was ok… and, again, not high end.

 

[Gray]

£2k? Some folk spend more than that on a cable.

Well, if nothing else, that serves to make it seem like fantastic value 👍

 

[Rockchild]

Is it really hi-end at £2k? Some folk spend more than that on a cable.

It’s 1k
The matching Amp/digital hub is 2k. Matching Streamer due shortly.

 

[TIU]

It’s 1k
The matching Amp/digital hub is 2k. Matching Streamer due shortly.

I was referring to the amp.

 

[Pedro2]

As a very happy owner of the 6000CDT, I found this review interesting - for a number of years I’ve listened to CDs using a cheap DVD/CD player as a transport feeding a Linn Akurate. I then took a punt on the Audiolab and was very pleasantly surprised by the results.

The question for me would be how much ‘better’ the more expensive machine sounds and I wasn’t totally convinced by the review. If CD were my primary/only source, then I would definitely be tempted by one of these transports plus a quality DAC - superb sound from a sub £2000 source.

 

[yespsb]

As a very happy owner of the 6000CDT, I found this review interesting - for a number of years I’ve listened to CDs using a cheap DVD/CD player as a transport feeding a Linn Akurate. I then took a punt on the Audiolab and was very pleasantly surprised by the results.

The question for me would be how much ‘better’ the more expensive machine sounds and I wasn’t totally convinced by the review. If CD were my primary/only source, then I would definitely be tempted by one of these transports plus a quality DAC - superb sound from a sub £2000 source.

I replaced my Cambridge CXC with the 9000CDT in December after demoing them side by side at Doug Brady's. Obviously I preferred the 9000, I am confident it's better however is it £700 or £800 better ( that's the difference between £995 for the 9000 and resale value of my CXC) and to be candid I wasn't 100% sure on this. There's a "correctness" to the 9000 that I haven't heard before from a CD transport or player. The more I have listened to it the 9000 the more I think the answer is yes but anyone expecting a night and day difference is going to be disappointed.

 

[bencat]

Should that not be anyone describing night and day differences is deluded ?

 

[Metatron]

Should that not be anyone describing night and day differences is deluded ?

Yes, unless comparing night and day.

 

[Strider]

High end? Yes, to the majority of people it is.
You don't have to spend outrageous sums of money to get superb equipment, spending money on 'hi end' cables would be better spent on psychiatric treatment or a suitable charity donation.

Not heard the new Audiolab kit but it looks fantastic and they don't produce poor quality kit.

 

[simon g]

Interesting to see that these are already appearing as 'clearance' stock:

https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-9930757-audiolab-9000-cdt-silver-cd-transport.aspx