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 9A 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
General Description Integrated Amplifier
Design Philosophy and Core Technology - 2 x 70W (8 ohms) / 2 x 110W (4 ohms) Class AB
- ES9038Q2M 32-bit DAC
- 2.8" (480x640mm) Full View IPS LCD
- Built in Certified Hardware MQA Full Decoder (PC USB, Coax / Optical)
- Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX / aptX LL) Support
- Low Noise Moving Magnet Phono Stage
- Dedicated Current-Feedback Headphone amp
- Integrated / PRE-POWER / PRE only Modes
- VU Digital / VU Analogue Meter
- USB Upgrade Support
Inputs 3 x Analogue, 1 x Phono (MM), 1 x Power Amplifier,
2 x SPDIF (Coax), 2 x SPDIF (Optical), 1 x HDMI ARC,
1 x PC USB (USB B), 1 x Bluetooth (aptX/aptX LL), 1 x 12V Trigger
Outputs 1 x PRE Amplifier, 1 x Stereo Speaker, 1 x Headphone, 1 x 12V Trigger
Sampling Frequency Optical / Coaxial: 44.1kHz - 192kHz;
PC USB: 44.1kHz-768kHz (PCM) / DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512
Preamplifier Section
Gain +6dB (Line); +55dB (Phono MM)
Input Sensitivity 820mV (Line, Volume = 0dB); 3.1mV (Phone MM, Volume = 0dB)
Input Impedance 10K (Line); 47K // 100pF (Phono MM)
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) < 0.0005% (1kHz @ 2V, Volume = 0dB)
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.1dB)
DAC
D to A Converter ES9038Q2M
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) < 0.0005% (1KHz @ 0dBFS)
Output Level (0dBFS, 1kHz) 2.1Vrms
Max. Sampling Frequency Optical, Coaxial: 192kHz;
PC USB: PCM768kHz, DSD512
Power Amplifier Section
Gain +29dB
Rated Power Output 2 x 70W (8 ohms, THD<1%); 2 x 110W (4 ohms, THD<1%)
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz (+/-0.3dB)
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <0.003% (1kHz @ 40W / 8 ohms)
Input Sensitivity 720mV
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 4.7 ohms
Load Impedance 20-600 ohms
Standby Power Consumption <0.5W
Net Weight 8.4kg
Gross Weight 10.7kg
