About The Audiolab 6000A Play Streaming Amplifier
The Audiolab 6000A Play is what happens when you leave a 6000A & a 6000N in a room alone for too long. You get a streaming amplifier which is exactly what the 6000A Play is. It has all the functionality of the award winning 6000A with the same power rating and line up of connections plus you get the streaming chops from the 6000N thrown in. If you're after an amplifier and a streamer then the Audiolab 6000A Play makes a lot of sense at a very sensible price.
With the 6000A Play it's all about versatility. These days a lot of people are shopping for a music streamer but they realise their ancient amplifier could also do with a refresh. Enter the 6000A Play which cleverly combines the best of both worlds in one svelte box.
The versatile Audiolab 6000A Play combines features from the company's 6000A integrated amplifier and 6000N Play music streamer. It delivers a clean 50 watts per channel at 8 ohms, and it's 4 ohm stable, so it can drive a wide range of speakers. A built-in premium ESS Sabre DAC reveals important musical detail when you listen to digital sources.
Connect the player to your home network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and then you can play your collection of high-res music files and access internet streaming services. Built-in Bluetooth with high-quality aptX audio coding lets you stream from your phone, tablet, or computer. And the 6000A Play uses DTS Play-Fi for access to a huge selection of music and app-based control.
Play All Your Music With Play-Fi: Play-Fi's streaming app is compatible with popular music subscription services like Spotify Premium, TIDAL & Deezer. If you favour internet radio, there's also support for TuneIn & iHeartRadio. Importantly, Spotify fans can use Spotify Connect (subscription required) to stream self-curated playlists.
Another great advantage with Play-Fi is that you can wirelessly play music throughout your entire home using compatible speakers and components from a range of manufacturers. The free Play-Fi app offers plenty of control — play the same song on all connected speakers, or play different songs in each room.
Get Connected: The 6000A Play is a fine centre piece for a two-channel music listening setup. There are two optical digital inputs and two coaxial digital inputs for connecting CD players, music streamers, or even a compatible TV. Analog music lovers have plenty of options, too. There are five stereo RCA inputs on the back panel, including a phono input for connecting a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge and a power input for use as an amplifier in a home theatre system. If you decide to expand your system with a separate amplifier, a preamp output is provided. And there's a built-in headphone jack for private listening.
A Closer Look At 6000A Play
Discrete Class AB Amplification: The Audiolab 6000A Play's discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers 50W x 2 into 8 ohms or 75W x 2 into 4 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 4 x 15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total), helps the amp to maintain firm control of the music and enabling excellent dynamic range.
Operational Modes: Although the 6000A Play is an integrated amplifier, it can also function as a separate preamp or power amplifier.
- Integrated Mode: In Integrated Mode, the preamplifier section and power amplifier are connected and both active. The unit's preouts are still operational in this mode, so a second power amplifier can be connected for bi-amplification or a powered subwoofer can be added to your speaker system
- Pre-Power Mode: In Pre-Power Mode, the preamplifier section is internally disconnected from the power amplifier. The 6000A Play can then be used as a stand alone power amplifier in a home theatre system. This mode can also be used if additional signal processing is required; connecting the preouts to an external signal processor and then take the output from the processor to the 6000A Play's Power Amp Input
- Pre Mode: In Pre Mode, all signal to and from the power amplifier of the 6000A Play are disconnected. In this mode the 6000A Play functions only as a stand-alone preamplifier, so it can be connect to a stereo power amplifier or two mono-block amplifiers
High-Quality DAC with Filters: The Audiolab 6000A Play's digital circuitry delivers the level of quality one might expect of a high-performance standalone DAC. The 6000A Play utilizes an ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip DAC 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. The DAC in the 6000A Play has a choice of 3 digital filters.
- Fast: Standard flat response with fast frequency roll off above Fs/2 (half the sampling frequency)
- Slow: Starts rolling off at a lower frequency than the Fast filter, but has a more gentle rate of attenuation
- Phase: Has a gentle attenuation slop similar to the Slow filter, but with minimum phase characteristics. It can be liked to an analogue filter applied in the digital domain
Bluetooth Audio Streaming with aptX: The Audiolab 6000A Play offers built-in Bluetooth with support for wireless audio streaming (A2DP). You'll be able to wirelessly stream stored music, music apps, and other audio content on your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer to the 6000A Play. In addition to supporting Bluetooth's standard SBC code, the 6000A Play also supports Qualcomm aptX for "CD-quality" (44.1kHz/16-bit) sound from compatible source devices - such as Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Mac computers and laptops. You can pair multiple Bluetooth source devices with the integrated amplifier, but only one device can be connected and used at a time.
Optical & Coaxial Digital Inputs: The Audiolab 6000A Play is outfitted with two optical (Toslink) and two coaxial (RCA) digital inputs for connection of a CD player, Blu-ray, media streamer or TV. The digital inputs supports 2ch PCM audio up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Analogue Inputs: The Audiolab 6000A Play is equipped with a total of five analogue stereo RCA inputs. There is a power amp input, three line-level inputs, and one phono (MM) input.
- Power Amp Input: The Power Amp input bypasses the 6000A Play's preamp section and allows you to use the 6000A Play as only a power amp.
- Line-Level Inputs: The three line-level RCA input allow you to connect up to three analogue audio source devices - such as a CD player, tape deck or tuner.
- MM Phono Input: The phono input lets you directly connect a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge without an external phono preamp.
Binding Post Speaker Terminals: The Audiolab 6000A Play is outfitted with a set of binding post terminals that will accept bare wire (up to 10AWB), pin-connectors, spades and banana plugs. You can connect loudspeakers rated between 4 and 8 ohms.
Stereo RCA Preouts: The stereo RCA preouts can be used to connect an external power amplifier, powered subwoofer, or signal processor. The stereo RCA preouts are full-range.
Dedicated Headphone Amp: The Audiolab 6000A Play features a dedicated headphone amp and is outfitted with a front-panel 1/4" (6.35mm) headphone output on the front-panel. When a set of headphones is connected the audio from the integrated amplifier's loudspeaker terminals is turned off. The dedicated headphone amp can support headphones with an impedance of 20 to 600 ohm.
6000A Play In The News
The 6000A Play's frontage isn't the only similarity between it and the 6000A – the streaming amp also shares its sibling's penchant for clarity, cleanliness and punch. It is startlingly smooth and articulate, while also being capable of spicing things up with a healthy dose of energetic drive. The 6000A Play is, in a word, fun. The Audiolab communicates every element with the clarity and crispness you'd expect at this price and beyond. A well-featured streaming amplifier that is easy to use and entertaining to listen to, it offers a decent option for anyone looking for a simple just-add-speakers machine. What Hi-Fi?
Our Take
With the world increasing turning to streaming, be it for movies or TV shows or indeed music it seems like a stellar idea to combine a music streamer with an integrated amplifier that can also be hooked up to your TV via optical so you not only get to hear all your music with wonderful clarity but also everything playing on your TV. So, if you don't need surround sound, all you need to do is combine a TV, an Audiolab 6000A Play streaming amplifier and a set of suitable speakers and your whole stereo AV system is neatly wrapped up and ready to, err, play!
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Streaming Amplifier (a music streamer and integrated amplifier in one box)
- 50 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at <1% THD
- 75 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) - 4-ohm capability allows use with a wide range of speakers
- ES9018 Sabre32 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analogue converter for high-performance playback of digital sources
- Frequency Response 20-20,000 Hz (±0.3dB)
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 110 dB
- Three high-powered antennas used for Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
- Support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
- Large central OLED display
- Full size headphone output
- Remote control included
- Detachable power cable – upgrade to an IsoTek power cable here
- Speaker Wire Terminals: Binding post terminals accept bare wire (up to 10AWB), pin-connectors, spades and banana plugs
Streaming
- Connects to your home network via wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- Stream from a home media server/computer with DLNA compatibility
- Maximum Streaming Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz
- Stream from compatible services like Spotify Premium, TIDAL & Deezer (subscriptions may be required)
- Internet radio available via TuneIn & iHeartRadio
- DTS Play-Fi app lets you wirelessly play music and create a multi-room music system with other Play-Fi speakers and components
- Available for Apple iOS, Android, Kindle, and Windows PC
- Built-In Bluetooth with high-quality aptX audio coding
Connections
- 2 optical and 2 coaxial digital audio inputs
- 3 stereo line level audio inputs
- 1 phono input for a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge
- 1 power input (home theatre bypass) for use in a cinema system
- Stereo preamp output
- RJ-45 Ethernet port for making a wired connection to your network
- Type A USB port for service updates only
- Built-In headphone amplifier with front-panel full-size (1/4-inch) jack
- One pair of binding posts for speakers
- 12-volt trigger in and out
General
- Available Finishes: Silver & Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 445 x 80 x 330mm including feet, terminals and controls
- Weight: 7.9 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE