Audiolab 7000A Stereo Amplifier

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 & B: Audiolab pulls no punches with the genuine nature of their 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), helping the amp to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.

Name Your Source: 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 digital sources while a Bluetooth aptX HD 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 therefore more in tune as the centrepiece of your home audio system, the 7000A takes connectivity to a new dimension with a built-in HDMI Audio Return Channel (HDMI 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.

Flagship DAC: 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.

DAC Technology: 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.

Tables Are Turning: 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.

Improved Interface: As the engineers in the Audiolab camp have learned with every model and series; greatness can be improved upon. Taking the 6000A as the standard, Audiolab know that the regular audio enthusiast's thirst for specification and features would mean that the eagerly anticipated linear upgrade from the 6000A would instinctively also offer an improved display and graphical user interface (GUI); hence the vibrant and visually informative 2.8″ (48 x 64mm) IPS display. The detailed but simple-to-use GUI also carries through a general theme of information and structure from the 9000A, just in a more compact style. The front panel display can even be set to display a VU meter in 'analogue' or 'digital' form; showing real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays.

As with all Audiolab electronic hi-fi components, the Audiolab 7000A yet again delivers with remarkable sonic consistency, a plethora of source and connectivity options and crisp styling. Regardless of the source material and format, the 7000A is lively and engaging but also never loses focus on the musicality and detail. Broadness, depth and toe-tapping rhythm are assured. The benchmark in this price class is elevated – it's now in the 7000 series domain!

Reviews

"For me, Audiolab's new 7000A integrated amplifier is pretty much the ideal, modern all-in-one. It looks great. It's built to a high standard. And it sounds brilliant across all genres of music – and now movies. And it just works. I mean, what more do you really need?" Andrew Robinson

"First impressions were of a clean and open sound that was tonally natural and smooth. Musically the results were crisp and detailed, and there was power to spare. Allied to this was an attractive ease and refinement; the amp sounded cultivated and gracious. But was the musical presentation maybe a tad circumspect? I felt so at first, but after a few days of use, the sound began to open out, becoming freer and more flowing. Focus and precision were maintained, but overall the results felt crisper – less contained, less constrained.

The 7000A certainly showed its mettle on classical music – recordings of acoustic instruments in a natural acoustic sounded great. It was excellent on jazz too, delivering a clean, precise sound that was detailed and natural – but be warned, there is no added richness or depth and no fake warmth. What you hear is truthful and accurate, not something spiced-up with euphonic additives. This is very much a 'nothing added, nothing taken away' sort of amplifier. Given a sound so clean and precise, you're almost encouraged to listen at slightly increased volume levels…

Clarity and dynamic attack were hugely impressive – especially after I increased the volume slightly. Down south, the bass proved to be lean and tight. A slightly fuller, fatter bottom end might give the subjective impression of added power and heft, but I'd rather have a taut bass than one that's fat and slow. Overall, this integrated amplifier sounded darn good and better than one might expect, given its reasonable price.

Although perhaps not the most viscerally exciting performer, the new 7000A is always believably authentic and truthful. It is wholly natural, comfortable to listen to, and therefore easy to forget – you just hear the music. Yet it's also capable of snappy attack and crisp dynamics too. This company has always made quality amplifiers that do everything that needs to be done, without getting into trouble. That neatly sums up this new design, which is unobtrusively competent and always in control. It offers great value for money, giving those on a restricted budget a large taste of Audiolab's flagship model for much less money." StereoNet

Our Take

The sleek-looking Audiolab 7000A has clean amplification and a versatile feature set for putting together a sweet-sounding two-channel audio system. With an outstanding digital-to-analogue converter, a slim form factor, and HDMI ARC port, this amp performs nicely with your favourite music sources or with TV audio. Its multiple digital and analogue inputs can handle streamers, CD players and CD transports like the matching Audiolab 7000CDT (sold separately), and turntables with ease. And its selectable integrated amp, preamp, and power amp modes let you use it in a range of system configurations.

 Main Features & Specifications

• Design: Integrated Amplifier with Built-In DAC
• 70 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at <1% THD
• 110 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at <1% THD
• 4-ohm capability allows use with a wide range of speakers
• ES9038Q2M Sabre32 32-bit/768kHz digital-to-analogue converter for high-performance playback of digital sources
• High-current toroidal power transformer for clean playback and smooth handling of demanding speaker loads
• CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology ensures superior linearity and excellent thermal stability
• Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz (±0.3dB)
• Signal-To-Noise Ratio: line-level 110 dB, phono 76 dB
• THD: < 0.0005% (1kHz @ 2V, Volume = 0dB)
• Built-In Bluetooth® with high-quality aptX HD audio coding (antenna included)
• 2.8" colour LCD display with real-time VU meters
• Remote Control included
• Detachable Power Cord: Upgrade to an IsoTek Power Cable to improve your sound

Connections

• 2 Optical and 2 Coaxial digital audio inputs (192kHz max. sampling rate)
• HDMI ARC connection for your TV
• 4 Analogue RCA line-level stereo inputs
• RCA phono input for use with a moving magnet cartridge
• USB Type-B to connect to a computer (handles PCM files up to 768kHz resolution and DSD512)
• USB Type-A port
• Update firmware
• Link volume control for a connected Audiolab 7000N Play network audio streamer (requires USB Type-A to USB Type-B cable, sold separately)
• Stereo RCA line-level preamp output
• Built-In headphone amplifier with front-panel full-size ¼" (6.35mm) jack
• One pair of binding posts for speakers
• 12-volt trigger in and out

General

• Included Accessories: Power Cable, Remote Control, Bluetooth Antenna, User Manual
• Available Finishes: Black & Silver
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 444 x 140 x 340mm
• Weight: 8.4 kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE