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yes, finally, the Audiolab gets the attention it deserves. I had the Denon PMA-800NE and it was great, but I sold it and kept the Audiolab 6000A. The detail, neutrality, good highs, bass , tone is awesome. Rebuilding my crossovers with good poly caps, Miflex bypass caps (bypass caps alone 1 more level up), Solen air core inductors, Mills Resistors, PE jacket high purity copper wire… stepped up my setup a whole other level, just like the Audiolab did. Incredible miss and highs. I tested and compared each tweak methodically, have rebuilt many crossovers now, you wouldn’t believe the difference. Even with Dayton caps, and Dayton Bypass caps, amazing.
A big thank you to Andrew for his reviews of the Audiolab 6000a (and also the Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers). Both these reviews finally put an end to a somewhat long and frustrating search for an excellent system. I’ve never written a youtube comment, but have read lots of them. I understand that everybody’s tastes are different, but in an effort to attest to Andrew’s reviews of the Audiolab 6000a (and the Lintons), and pay it forward to someone who may be struggling to find a great system, here’s a quick summary of what I was looking for, what I auditioned, and why I ended up with the 6000a + Linton combo. From a system standpoint I was looking for something simple which allowed me to stream music from a music streamer (how I listen 90% of the time at least for now) and allowed for the potential to upgrade my system. Sound wise I was looking for something that had the following characteristics: Detailed, but non-fatiguing sound (slightly warm?); engaging sound that pulls you into the music, but not in a sterile, overly analytical way; three-dimensional sound; wide, deep, spacious and accurate sound stage… Essentially something that, to me at least, provides a truly immersive and enjoyable listening experience. For reference my listening rooms fluctuate from a ~17’ wide x ~43’ deep room to a 14’ wide x 16’ deep room. I listen to an equal amount of all varieties of music from Jazz/Jazz Fusion, Ambient, Electronic, Bluegrass, Folk, World, and a fair amount of the Grateful Dead as well… even though most their live recordings sound less than ideal. I knew fairly quickly upon plugging in the Audiolab that this amp was probably going to be the one. That said, I did compare it to the AXR100, CXA 81 and even the Rotel RA-1572 mkII with the Lintons. The Audiolab just had, at least to my ears, something special about it. Each time I switched back to the Audiolab, those sound qualities I felt may be slightly missing from the others, came back. The Audiolab put a smile on my face, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about. Unless you’re a fan of premature hearing loss, the Audiolab at 50 watts has enough power for most speakers, especially those that are more efficient. With the Lintons it provides enough volume for even my larger room. Here's the amps that I auditioned: CXA 61 & 81: I waited for all the hype to come through on these but it never happened. Just my ears and opinion though AXR100: Not as detailed and the fan noise was a deal breaker Yamaha as501: To harsh on the high end despite my efforts to break in the amp, also lacking a little bass or “umph” Denon PMA 600NE: Lacked the spaciousness, 3d and detailed sound Bluesound Powernode: Too me it just was missing something or a few things, not engaging enough? Sonos Amp: Same as the Powernode Rotel RA-1571mkII: To finalize my Audiolab 6000a decision (paired with the Lintons) I decided to see if doubling my spend on an amp would be justified with an increase in performance. Although it provided more power and other nice features, I preferred the Audiolab sound. In fact, in an A/B comparison, when I switched from the Rotel to the Audiolab my wife (who appreciates music but could care less about “hi-fi”) almost immediately said “That one sounds better, which one is that?” Regarding the Audiolab 6000a + Linton combo... This is an excellent match. Perhaps this is due to both companies being under the same parent company umbrella? My first impressions of the Lintons with the Audiolab were that I might have made a mistake and would have to go back to the drawing board. They initially had a muffled, boxy sound that lacked detail, particularly on the high end. I read that others said to give them time “break in” and they open up. I can 100% confirm that within a week of playing them that is exactly what happened. The treble somehow became as detailed as I would like it. The soundstage became extremely spacious. They became the speakers that everyone raved about. Did they “break in” or did my ears readjust? It really doesn’t matter to me what happened, they sound great. Speakers I auditioned: B&W 606: Too much treble Q Acoustics 3050i: Not detailed enough, missing something? Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 and F6.2: Great sound, but not engaging enough Kef LSX: Awesome sound, but too small So I ended with this: WiiM Mini into the optical on the Audiolab 6000a powering the Lintons. Very happy with the results. Thank you again to Andrew for his reviews and especially for Kristi’s succinct comment about the Audiolab 6000a being “the un-suck it button for speakers”. That comment helped me hit the buy button for the Audiolab. Hope this helps!
Having watched countless of your reviews I just trusted you and bought one in blind. And my gosh, was it a great decision! Andrew, please accept my sincere thanks for bringing this piece of joy to my attention! As a side note I'd add an amazing, pleasant surprise when connecting my Sennheiser HD800s which sounded *noticeably* better connected via the 6000A than directly to the Chord Hugo2 who clearly could not fully stand up to driving them to their full potential. I'm rediscovering all my favourite music all anew - many thanks again!
Good morning Kristi and Andrew! I use the Audiolab 6000cdt in concert with a dac, and my MF M2si. Such an incredible combo! Thank you for all that you do, and for bringing products to our attention that aren’t usually covered.
Following your excellent review, I purchased the Technics SU-G700 amp two years ago and decided to add this year the SB-G90 loudspeakers with a BlueSound Node 2i for streaming using the amp’s DAC. I wanted to share with Kristi and you, how grateful I am for your reviews, the combination has been a wonderful listening experience for me !! I wanted to give my old Cabasse speakers a chance and ordered last week the Audiolab 6000A play :) and can’t wait to receive it. A BIG thank you to the two of you !!
I recently purchased an Audiolab CD transport after watching Tee Jay's review of it. Very impressed with the build quality. I dig the looks too. It gave me every confidence that Audiolab is a company worth my time.
In the section where he mentions the pre-amp (in the "Downsides" chapter) note that it has "PRE" and "PRE-PWR" settings. That second one is "pre and power". It's for bi-amping, and (speaking as an 8000S and 8000SX owner) this is a hidden gem that doesn't get talked about enough. Basically, if you get a power matched power amp you can hook it up to this amp, and get a second set of speaker cables. Wire the 6000A's speaker cables up to your speaker's tweeter binding posts and the power amp's speaker cables up to the woofer binding posts. Remove any breakers between the two sets of posts. And now you should be experiencing weightier and crisper bass and more detailed treble. Hurrah.
Andrew, spot on- “Awesome” and “Greatness”. I’ve had my 6000A for around 6 months now paired with either the Borea BR03 or Q3030i. Still in awe till now.
I'm another satisfied Audiolab 6000a owner, my sources are a uTurn Orbit with Ortofon OM5E cart and a Marantz CD player, and I have it driving a pair of KLH Quincy speakers. Everything you describe about this amp mirrors my experience. I did end up ditching my Cambridge Audio phono preamp for the built in on the Audiolab. It can be a bit more noisy but I think the dynamics are better in the mid to high frequencies. The Audiolab also comes with a headphone amp built in that really makes my Grado and Sennheiser headphones sing. I'd recommend Audiolab to anyone looking for the best bang for the buck in this power range.
A Big THANK U to Andrew & Kristi. For bringing in the Audiolab 6000A for a review. And u answered all my questions, Bluetooth’s sound quality, comparing it to Rotel, Cambridge Audiio. Really excited the moment I saw the RUclips notification of your Audiolab review. Thank you. 👍👍👍👍👍
I own and adore the non play version the 6000A, currently driving a pair of now discontinued Monitor Audio Bronze II, I sometimes find myself smiling just remembering how good it sounds.
@@rickypelletier363 the play version? I wish it had been a thing when I got mine, I would have saved up the extra scratch. What music have you found you like to play on it? I expected to go on a massive tool binge when I got mine, I did eventually, but first I found myself listening to lots of contemporary country/singer song writer stuff.
This review is my introduction to this channel, and the inclusion of our second host totally makes it. We have a long, more-scripted, deep-dive-informative review, and then some really earthy and differently-faceted perspectives. The two hosts make a terrific team.
I've had the 6000a (non-Play version) for about a year, paired with Elac UB52s and agree 100% with your review. I find the combo surprisingly detailed, controlled, engaging and with great overall dynamic presence. The mid-range with the UB52s is particularly great. Sources include a vintage Pioneer PL560 turntable and a RPi w/Allo DigiOne for streaming Spotify and Qobuz. My music tastes are eclectic and everything sounds awesome to my ears. It was the British Audiophile reviewers that turned me on to the Audiolab. Glad to see it getting some stateside love now too. Definitely an under-the-radar product. You and Kristi do a consistently superb job. You make a killer combo!
I haven't had much look with audiolab, had two 6000a amps and the selector knob fell off the first as soon as I took it out the box... They both had an issue with the toroidal transformer's making a loud buzzing noise, so I gave up 🤷🏻♂️ bought a Yamaha as1100 and never looked back 🙌🏻 Thanks for the detailed review 👌🏻
Thats unusual as the volume Knobs felt really solid to me. I had issues with optical ports, Both plastic spring/flap covers snapped right off after i removed my optical leads. Not major buy definitely annoying as it happened on the first day i got it.
@@hclandscapes The other knobs on there seemed fine. When I looked how it attached it literally was pushed on and relied on friction to hold it in place, I guess the tolerances must have been out or something. I didn't have any issues with the optical port but in all fairness I didn't have either unit that long before sending them back, the finish wasn't great as the knobs are aluminium but the fascia was plastic painted silver which bugged me... Maybe I was expecting a little too much from a £600 amplifier. I don't regret getting the Yamaha it was another £400 to get a used as1100 but worth every penny.
I own the Audiolab 6000a play amp and its a very versatile Integrated amplifier. 🎶 I am currently using it as a power amp in a home theater set-up (To help out the Yamaha TSR-700) but also as a two channel set-up in the living room - All I have to do is switch its settings from Power to Integrated. I haven't used its Pre -Amplifier mode, but its good to know its there, if down the line I have an external amp or powered speakers that I can connect it to - like the Elac Navis ARB-51 Glad I bought it when I did, because I was able to purchase it for $1,100 earlier this year - big jump in price. 😲 Also, very happy with its internal DAC and its ability to have 3 different settings for it. Streamer ✅ Phono✅ Nice sounding DAC ✅ Bluetooth✅ Power Amp✅ Pre Amp✅ Home Theater Pass Through✅ SOUDS GREAT! ✅✅✅
I remember walking into my local audio dealers outlet back in the early 2000's and immediately being spellbound by this rich,detailed and inoffensive beautiful music.The reason I said inoffensive is because I have always had very sensitive hearing and this sound just wrapped me in this amazing aura.I just stood there dumbstruck...it was the Audiolab 8000A.Unfortunately it was way out of my price range and until today I regret hearing it because nothing else compared.
This integrated is good stuff. I have one paired with Wharfedale Denton 80th anniversary speakers and it it thoroughly enjoyable listening. The speakers are thirsty no doubt but the Audiolab has no problems powering them at all. Andrew nailed it, the sound is neutral, the soundstage is focused with presence. I shopped endlessly until I decided on this integrated and wound up getting it for almost 30% off of retail. One last thing, the remote is nice, not a plastic piece of junk.
I have wharfedale denton 80ths too! And loving them! Took about 80 hrs to really hit their straps, but quite amazing for the money. I wavered over the audiolab 6000a play as a pairing but went in the end with a Hegel H95. About 30 hours in with it and am very happy. Great to hear that the audiolab is the real deal tho. I have my eyes on the audiolab 6000 cd transport.
@@hamdc4291 We are on the same page, I had been looking at the Dentons and got them Open box at MD for 1/2 off. Could not pass up and Couldn’t be happier. That Hegel is a great amp too, glad to hear you are enjoying the pair together.
I own the audioLab Play and absolutely love the sound, it is incredibly neutral and uncolored. I use it with the B&W 606S2, but I still think I would get better sound from a Dynaudio Evoke or KEF Meta speaker System.
Hey Andrew , I Purchased the 6000a based on many RUclips video reviews. Andrew your impression of 6000a Sound Chacter was very close to TeeJays reviews Sound impressions and he calls the Audiolab Relaxed and natural sounding that the 6000a has that sweet Layed back 🇬🇧 sound. Once I saw the build quality inside the Audiolab on TeeJays review I was sold . That 👦 loves to Pop the Hood lol Thanks Andrew n Christi Awesome review!! My Klispch rp 600m sounds amazing with the 6000a !!
excellent review and corroborates exactly what Tee Jay said on his own review of the Audiolab 6000A. in my case, the Audiolab replaced an Iotavx sa3 and i'm extremely happy with the Audiolab powering a pair of Q acoustics concept 40 tower speakers. the only not so enthusiastic part of the Audiolab is indeed its phono preamp. it's adequate, but definitely not the best in its price range! I recently bought an Arcam SA10 and despite liking its sound presentation a bit less than the Audiolab, the Arcam phono preamp is absolutely superb! very dynamic, articulate engaging sound way superior to the Audiolab phono preamp. my 2 cents.
Ok I did it the hard way! I wanted to compare the Audiolab 6000a vs Rotel A11 Tribute. I didn’t find anyone to say it out loud. So I bought them both aaaaand the Audiolablab wins! The sound is thicker fuller darker and punchier and a very good 3D kind of sound because there is air between the instruments and back in front. The Rotel is very detailed and clean, but against the Audiolab the sound is like flat on the wall in front of you and not all the instruments are so noticeable as they’re in Audiolab, it’s missing their punch. From the other hand the Rotel has a bigger bass not tighter just bigger which in my listening experience it isn’t the best because it sticks out from the rest too much, by the Audiolab the bass is either not as boomy or all the instruments are sticking out as well so they have a good balance, which makes it more pleasing to listen for longer periods of time. Although the Rotel has tone controls and a sound booster I still didn’t find it to be as good as the Audiolab. Both have a professional hifi sound, just Audiolab have more of that balanced muscular sound.
Good to know that you liked Audiolab. Which speakers did you pair it with? I have a buchardt s400 and Elac unifi reference bookshelf. Just wondering if these will match well with Audiolab.
@@aiCorner I have the Evo 4.1. I heard very good things on the s400 and unifi reference. They should work and match well. I heard the s400 is even better, what’s ur experience?
Glad you liked it! I have the 6000A amp in silver (without the play facility) -- it costs £599 ($813) here in the UK and has to be one of the the biggest bargains available at the moment. I use a pair of Quad S2 speakers (also £599) with it and play CD-ripped FLACs from my laptop through a Douk Audio XU208 USB digital-to-digital convertor (as little as $40, with both optical and coax output options). I find it projects a lovely, very detailed and airy soundstage, very well presented by the Quad S2's. Everything is very precisely placed and tremendously involving. The bass through the S2's is very good and I find personally I don't need a subwoofer. The midrange is to die for and voices, both male and female, sound so natural. I know there must be better combos out there -- but significantly more pricey, I'd wager. BTW, some reviews seem to indicate that the 6000A Play doesn't sound quite as good as the basic amplifier, but I myself haven't heard the Play version and so can't really comment. I'd add that it has a good remote, and can act as an integrated, power or pre-amp. It also has a splendid implementation of the ESS Sabre 9018 DAC chip that Audiolab has a lot of experience with (e.g. in the the MDAC and MDAC+). There are three DAC filters provided. Most people prefer the SLOW option, as do I, but I sometimes use the FAST option instead if I want to add a little sparkle to the odd recording. On two (one of the optical and one of the coax) of the four digital inputs one can activate an anti-jitter option. It automatically goes into standby after 20 mins if it doesn't detect any signal and runs pretty cool if well ventilated. I'm hoping one day you'll be able to review the Quad S2's also, though I understand they're quite hard to come by in the USA at the present time. I'm going to add a D-Class power amp very soon, an XTZ A2-300. I've taken a punt on it, but if it works out (otherwise I'll sell it and hopefully get a good proportion of its £500 cost back), it will end up being a lot cheaper than Audiolab's own 8300 XP power amp at £1300, some of the technology of which is reportedly already in the 6000A. To be honest, it's the best sounding system I've ever had and I can thoroughly recommend the 6000A for anyone looking to spend around $1000 on an amp. One would be very hard pressed to find anything better at the price! Edit: a). The 6000A sounds good even at pretty low volumes, with little loss of tonal quality. b). Although it has no tone controls, if you use a laptop or other device with an app like AIMP to play FLACS or MP3's from, you can play around with EQ and DSP settings from there. I have my favourite settings applied quite often. The three DAC filters may also help a bit. Not sure about streaming apps as I don't stream, but maybe they have EQ + DSP controls too?
Your reviews are always thoughtfully detailed, articulate and refreshingly, pull no punches. It would be outstanding if you continue your string of reviews of integrated amplifiers with streaming capabilities. This review along with your reviews of Musical Fidelities M3, M5 and M8 integrated’s were insightful and incredibly illuminating. It would be fantastic if you would do the same for Hegel’s 120, 190 and 390 integrated amplifiers.
My time as an audiophile ended up with audiolab in the 1990s. Went through early home cinema set ups (Sony then Yamaha) then ditched all the extra speakers to focus on music only with an audiolab 8000A. Loved it and wish I could go back!! Running Sonos all round now and never really sit down to listen like audiophile does any more. Maybe one day I’ll go back 🙂
Great that you got the audiolab in. I have the 6000a amp and 6000n streamer and love the 6000a amp sound. It just sounds solid and right. Sound from the 6000n streamer is great, but reliance on the playfi ap is a real downer. I know you said it was Okay, but for me it's definitely the weakpoint. It's just had a major update, which has made things much better, but the streaming apps via playfi are still a poor reflection of their normal selves. Especially Amazon Music HD. It's like stepping back in time 10 years from a UI perspective.
What an awesome integrated! My audiophile journey had this Audiolab up against a Rega Brio…which I upgraded to an Elex-R. So many great products at more affordable price points these days making purchase and upgrade paths more doable. Another great review Andrew and Kristi!
As an owner of a 6000a amp myself, this is one where I had to skip straight to the conclusion to see if you were going to say what I suspected you were going to say. This amp transformed my old Kef Cresta 2 speakers, but when I paired it up with my new LS50 Metas, all I can say is OMG!!! It was because I was so blown away with how the Metas sounded with this amp that I considered upgrading it for a better amp, because I thought if this is what a £600 amp could do to the Metas, what could a £2,000 amp do? However, I actually asked for advice on how much better sound I could expect from a better amp on a forum, and someone actually said they upgraded to a £2,500 amp and thought the Metas sounded better with the 6000a. The difference in sound between by old Cambridge Audio £200 amp and the 6000a is night and day, and I do think this amp is so good that it really is hits the point of diminishing returns where a significant number of audiophiles could not justify the expense of upgrading and would be perfectly happy with it for the rest of their lives.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews This amp taught me a very important audiophile lesson.... when you have a budget system, always upgrade your amp before you upgrade your speakers. I actually recently tried my Metas with my old £200 amp out of curiosity and the sound was excruciating, so it goes to prove that a good amp can improve an average pair of speakers, but all a good pair of speakers does for a cheap amp is show why the amp was so cheap in the first place.
I completely love it. Bought the basic 6000A since you started mentioning it in your reviews. Thought it could bring my ELAC DBR62 to life before I give up and it did. I love this combo.
Good to see Audiolab getting a guernsey. I have the Audiolab 8300A and was unsure but love it. i have thought of using it as a pre as well with an Audiolab power amp. I preferred it over the Musical Fidelity as well. I use the Denafrips Ares 2 with it. And yes the phono stage gives me hum as well so I need to play around with that sometimes. Thanks for highlighting the brand. Cheers
I am totally in love for my 6000A (not play), paired with Dali Oberon 1, both in how it looks and how it performs. It changed the way I listen to music in my home office room!
Thank you Andrew and Kristi, for bringing this wonderful sounding amplifier to my attention, and to many other audio enthousiasts in the hobby. I was able to purchase an Audiolab 6000A for a very good price, here in the Netherlands, and when hooked up to my B&W705s2 bookshelve speakers I entered a completely different sound level. It sounds really, really great. At first I was a little sceptical because of the lacking tone controls, but I don’t miss them at all. Instead, the built-in DAC can be tweaked to one’s taste. I’ve been following your reviews for some years now and this is the first time I actually bought a highly recommended amplifier. The Technics SU-G700 is also on my list and I am certain it will meet my expectations as well. Thank you once again and keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Goed om te horen dat ie in de smaak valt Rogier! Ik til mijn aanschaf nog even over m'n verhuizing heen, ik moet nog even wachten tot januari as, maar me handen jeuken! Ik doe direct maar de combideal met de 6000 CDT denk ik zo, lijkt me een fantastisch duo. Jij ervaring met een DC-block? Ik dub nog wat speakers betreft, Chora 806 en Evo 4.1 staan op m'n lijst, maar ik zal ook eens kijken naar jouw B&W's 705s2! Groet Gerlach.
@@gerlachsieders4578 Hoi Gerlach, de 6000A geeft meer dan genoeg bas, en de 705s2 weet daar wel raad mee. Ook de Chora en Evo 4.1 zijn mooie speakers maar ik heb ze zelf nog niet gehoord. Hoe dan ook, ik denk dat de Audiolab 6000A met vrijwel iedere speaker uit de voeten kan, maar kijk wel even naar de gevoeligheid. Zo rond de 90dB en hoger verdiend aanbeveling omdat je dan wat meer uit deze mooie versterker haalt. De B&W705s2 zijn 88dB en doen het uitstekend. Succes met de aanschaf!
@@rogier2124 Hi Rogier, leuk om zo snel van te horen! Dank voor je tips, de Focal's Chora (is Andrew lovend over) of Aria hebben m'n voorkeur, inderdaad vanwege hun hoge gevoeligheid van 89 dB. Zelf luister ik meestal bij een laag volume, ik begreep in een video van Nemo Propaganda dat de speakers van Focal ook bij een laag volume al goed tot leven komen. Ik denk dat ik een keer langsga bij iEar om verschillende luidsprekers te beluisteren, naast de Focals verkopen ze ook de 705, die staat inmiddels ook m'n shortlist! Veel luisterplezier, dank en groet, Gerlach.
Thanks for the review Andrew. I have been on the fence for about a year and was leaning towards the Marantz PM7000N, but then I started to see reviews for the Audiolab. Your review just sealed the deal! I just ordered the Audiolab 6000A Play and a pair of KLH model 5's. I am pretty psyched.
@@GrindCityGuitars Wish I could tell you. I ordered the Model 5's direct from KLH beginning of October, as they are impossible to get at the moment. Best case scenario is I get them the beginning of November. I currently have the Audiolab 6000A Play paired with some Klipsch r620f's and they sound pretty amazing, especially compared to what was driving them before - a Yamaha RX-V481 AV receiver. Given how the Play brought the Klipsh's alive, I think the pairing with the KLH's is going to be pretty awesome.
Andrew, do some Hegel stuff, really. Do Hegel + KEF LS50 and you will skyrocket (you already doing it but...). Currently doing AB between H95 and POWERNODE and to me, there is a night and day difference in favor of Hegel. Literally. Didn't expect to hear that much difference. Really curious how H95 would stuck up against Audiolab 6000A.
I'd be dismayed if the Hegel wasn't vastly better than the $300 class D amplifier added on to the Node! I've stacked both of those amps back to back in my house for a month...the Hegel was clearly better than the Audiolab 6000a, more effortless....but it should have been, it was clearly more expensive.....I ended up with the Arcam SA20 they also let me borrow, which was equal or maybe slightly more muscular than the Hegel...and had a better DAC ...helped by the fact it was an open box product that the dealer gave me £300 ($380) off. I'd recommend the Hegel as an audition to anyone with that budget though, it's very good.
@@DomRivers67 Hi Dominic, Would you consider the SA20 as one of the best Powernode replacements around that price point and a little more(provided I get a Node for the BluOS). My head is hurting from watching/reading reviews. Thanks!
I've been using the 6000 A, CDT, and the 6000N for 3 months now, it brings a smile everytime I switch it on. I have it paired with monitor audio bx5. Discontinued.
I had my eyes set on the 6000A but my dealer didn't carry Audiolab so I ended up buying a Rega Elex-R on a Black Friday deal for €869. I was told by a very knowlegeable person that in pure sound performance my Rega picks up where the 6000A starts and takes it a little further but I still wonder how they'd compare face to face. I love the Rega to bits but there's always that audiophile "what if" feeling nagging me. If you are able to get a hold of Rega gear for review, I'd very much love it if you made a comparison between the 6000A and the Elex-R which is until now nowhere to be found on the interwebs. Great review, though. Keep it up!
I too have an Elex-R. Mine is paired with a Rega P3, Focal Aria 906 and a Rel T5x for the low end. Great combo. I think the 6000A is more in line with the Brio in terms of power and price …at least here in Toronto.
I picked the Elix-R as well, mainly for the phono stage and the fact that we have an excellent local Rega dealer. I bought the P6 with an Ortofon 2m Bronze and am very happy with the combo.
You've convinced me on not getting rid of my 6000a (in fact I loved it, I don't know why I was selling it..) and making a second listening position with it.. The only speakers it struggled driving was my previous KEF R7 which lacked bass completely with the Audiolab
i bought this and returned it some time ago. was very impressed by the sound but the play fi app was a disaster - kludgy to use and constant resets. it seemed at the time that the consortium backing play fi had almost given up. if the app is better, good for them, but it was a deal breaker for me.
An amp I've had since 2013 is the Rega Brio (there's now a newer version that retails for about $1000). It's been excellent and might be worth a listen (at my home, it's paired with the solid Rega DAC, which is probably long in the tooth now but still sounds great). Rega makes a less expensive amp, too, but I have not listened to that yet.
I will watch later at work but love my 6000a works amazing as a preamp also running to my 8300xp videos uploaded ! Thanks ! Ess9016 dac ps i popped the hood !!
I have the Audiolab 6000CDT and it's a really nice transport. Solid build and clean sounding. If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought a Cambridge transport for the aesthetic, but no complaints. The built in phono pre on this is a nice addition for newbies, I would think. Good review as always.
Wow that was such an impressive review. I wish it had a USB connection for a computer. Any plans to check out the Audiolab 8300A? I wonder if it would have the same feel in performance. I would also love you to try out the: Rotel RA-1572 MKII Burson Timekeeper 3i. Hegal H120. Not that I'm being pushy! 😎 Keep up the great work. You make lockdown so much better.
Hi Andrew & Kristi, I’m on the hunt for an amp and I’m glad to hear good things about the audio lab. I think another amp that is comparable is the iotavx sa3 and pa3.
Running my 6000A with KEF LS50's and two class AB REL 5i subs in stereo and an AudioLab CD Transport and a CleardAudio/Marantz turntable with Sumiko Cartridge. This in my opinion is right at the edge of diminishing returns. In other words the best you can do for the money.
You can do a lot better for the LS50, I had the 6000A running my KEF meta's and swapped it out for a roksan K3, it made the world of difference. i feel the meta need more power. You will get more separation and the bass is a lot stronger. The 6000A is a great amp though.
I bought this amp 5 months ago. I enjoy it every day. I pair it with QAcoustics 3020 (old model) and an Emotiva BasX S12 subwoofer. I was afraid it wont drive floor standing speakers but, after your great review I want to try some floor standing speakers too.
It's been 3 days now with the audiolab6000a. What an upgrade! I was using a 225watt per channel anthem power amp with the cambridge cxnv2 as the pre, dac and streamer. Every aspect of sound is better minus the dynamics when having it cranked to 11. But the bass. Wow. I had no idea my old b&w cm10 could produce such lows! I configured the audiolab to pre amp only and used the power from the anthem and it sounded almost as good but with huge dynamics. I switched back to using the audiolab as an integrated as I shouldn't be listening to it that loud anyways, the extra sparkle on the highs is a good trade off. For like 1500 bucks CAN. It as an absolute steal.
*Update* huge dynamics. Outperforms the ol anthem that sits at a 225 wpc rating. Very, very, impressive. That feeling of something missing is so tiny I can just smile and listen to music.
This tempting me to relook at the 6000a again. I had one, sold it because it just wasn't right with my AE1 Classic. But my old 6000a didn't have the Play function.
I’ve been waiting for this review, glad to hear you like it as it’s been on my short list for a while. Do you think the “play” version is worth the extra cost for what you get? Is the dac good enough that I won’t want/need to upgrade? I would love for you guys to review the Outlaw Audio RR2160 Mk.2 (an American brand). I’ve heard good things about it but it’s only available through online direct to consumer sales. That makes it difficult to listen to one up here in Canada. Thank-you both for what you do - you are informative and entertaining at the same time.
The play just allows for wifi, ethernet streaming. The non-Play still has a DAC, so if you don't need streaming the regular old A should be fine for you. I think the DAC is on par with the DacMagic 200M which is $500 on its own, which speaks to the value of the 6000A.
A cool discovery: with the 6000A (not the play) I play music via Bluetooth from my iPhone and I discovered that I can use the 6000A remote control to pause/play/skip a song that's playing in Spotify on my iPhone. 😊
Great review! I love my 6000A play. Play fi isn't perfect but it's good enough for sure. I gotta laugh because I own your most favorite amp and least favorite speaker the BW 606 S2. Maybe the audiolab is helping tame the 606s? Looking forward to the Project turntable review. I don't have a turntable yet. Great job as always!
What a brilliant review - your passion and enthusiasm is so engaging...Kristi is so great to listen to; she speaks honestly and knows her own mind. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank yoy👍❤👍
Andrew & Kristi, thank you for the great review(as always)! Bought 6000A play as a first step in my hi-fi journey (which began from your chanel!). Now looking forward to see your speaker pairing with it as I'm considering an upgrade))
I compared 3 amplifiers: Exposure 3010S2D, Iota SA3/PA3 stack and an Audiolab 6000A in my own home for about a month. To my ears, with 40+ years of HI-Fi equipment listening, I preferred and kept the Audiolab. But trust your own ears and if possible listen to equipment in your own home before buying.
Wow! I own 3010s2 and with proac db3 is wonderful at lower volume, but too dark at medium high volume. How does the Audiolab sounds at low volume, in your opinion?
@@massimocover I think the Exposure gave a tiny bit more at low volume, but the Audiolab is still very good. I'm using Castle Knight 5 speakers, which are large transmission line floorstanders, so the bass doesn't get lost at low volumes. I'm not sure what you mean by "dark", but if you prefer a more open, forward or brighter sound then the Audiolab may not be for you. I kept it because it was the closest to analog sounding of the 3 amps I tested.
Please see if Kristi can get an Outlaw Audio RR2160 Mk.2 for you to review..I have been delaying as I wash bak and forth between the Audiolab and the Outlaw!
It was hard not to feel your love for this amp....so I bought one! I live in a condo and am running it with an old set of Monitor R152 speakers and have a Project Debut Carbon as my turntable. Being in a condo I don't have the luxury of raising the volume too loud so the amount of detail, control and balance this amp has at lower levels is really appreciated. It extracts everything out of my speakers that they have to offer and It has completely brought my set up to a whole new level. Streaming through Spotify has been flawless and the phono preamp sounds amazing. Without your review I am not sure I would have looked at AudioLab and despite it being a little above my original budget I could not be happier, so thank you to both you and Kristi for helping me pick out a new amp and look forward to all your new videos!
I don't thin k they like the CXA81 too much. That's the impression I got from a previous video they did on it anyway. I use CXA80 on my desktop driving ATC SCM-11 speakers and it seems to hold up ok and sounds fine to my ears.
Another terrific, passionate review. One, in fact, that influenced my decision to buy the 6000A 6 months ago, and sell my Marantz PM6005..........and, wow. What a difference. Even through my ageing Monitor Audio RS8 floor standers, the bass is so much more controlled. Tighter maybe? I wonder, in a small ish and acoustically terrible Spanish living room....would the 6000A drive KEF R3 Metas? They might be better suited to my room? Anyway, have a great Christmas guys and a very happy 2024.
I have the Audiolab 6000A and the 6000CDT transport. Both are excellent…here are a few things i noticed. 1) The digital filters REALLY change up the sound. I generally keep mine set on FAST, but SLOW and ANALOG are also available and they’re not just for show. They really change how the unit sounds. 2) One small annoyance is that the transport shares the same on/off remote frequency with the amp, so you can’t turn one off without the other clicking off too. 3) i have accidentally changed the mode when i meant to change the source because the knobs are the same size. it would have been nice if the mode knob was smaller. How often do you really switch between full integrated, preamp only and power amp only? 4) the synergy between the transport and the amp is really sweet. I have never heard my CDs sound better. 5) everything feels amazingly solid. aluminum knobs and a very heavy chassis given its size. the look is low flash but classic. 6) i wish it had tone controls ADDENDUM: The ability to switch the unit between a pure preamp mode, a power amp only mode and a full integrated mode is a feature that doesn't get enough praise. I have used it as both an integrated and as solely a preamp driving outlaw M2200 monoblocks.
@@thomasward00 I have to disagree. Tone controls are incredibly useful to adjust for bad recordings or issues with the room and concerns about “signal cleanliness”can be easily be addressed by adding a direct or bypass option. Personally, I think their removal from so many preamps and Integrated amps has more to do with manufacturers wanting a simpler circuit and lower tooling costs than “sonic purity”
@@davidrandall1953 I was initially concerned about that, I have the AXA25 and AXA35, both have tone controls, so when looking to step up for my bedroom system. When you do step up to better gear, the Audiolab, Arcam and Hegel honestly don't need them, each has it's own "House" sound.
Just blindly bought one and paired it with KEF Q150 in a 12x12 room with 9' ceiling, carpet and fabric sofa. (I feel many forget the limitations and influence of the room and its effect on sound, but I digress). The soundstage is so amazing. I listen to chill jazz to synthwave to rock and metal, and it all sounds great. Zero fatigue, even with some crappier recordings, I'm looking at you 80's metal... highs are detailed yet not harsh, but not so round and soft like with my Marantz. Bass is quick and punchy, no booming. Rich mids. Will be upgrading the speakers to either LS50's or Monitor Audio Silver 50, can't wait to hear those. I did try it with a pair of Dali Spektors and really nice for acoustic music and perfect recordings, but a bit too much clarity for my taste. I'd stick with more neutral warm speakers with this amp. Would love to hear it with some Wharefdale Dentons. Don't hesitate, buy this amp!
After your review of this I decided to research it more online and it looked great for the most part. I own Heresy IVs and had them hooked up to the Yamaha A-S701. You mentioned the Audiolab was better in every way to the Yamaha a-s801 except looks so I was like hmmmm, I may need to demo this. Got it from someone lightly used (literally looked so clean, pretty much new) for $700, didn’t need the PLAY version cuz I got a bluesound node. Blown away, don’t need to mess with settings or bass because it’s just clean overal (I mean you can’t anyway but it’s really not needed here)l. Definitely an upgrade from the A-S701, loving it so much. I’m so busy this weekend, but can’t wait to keep listening to my Heresys next week with this beast, thanks a lot for your review!
I have several old Audiolab mono blocks and a control amplifier. Control and dynamics were the key features. I don’t use them any more, as I moved to Naim, but their products are awesome. So excited to see you review this. Thanks
Thanks for this great review and always appreciated Kristi’s take! I’ve owned the Audiolab 6000a Play for several months now, I added it to my home theater set up which had a pair of Klipsch RP-250F tower speakers. I was disappointed at the beginning and it was only after I incorporated a subwoofer, Schiit Modi 3 and a Loki+ that found the sound I wanted, mainly on the high frequencies. Is this because my choice of speakers or just my aging ears? Or this is just how an audiophile non tone control amplifier should sound? I may be missing something. Thank you.
I ordered an Audiolab 6000a and you're absolutely right. Amazing amp. Sold my Hegel H80 and it is way better. Connected to a set Wharfedale Dentons 85. Good combination.
Thanks for the great review. The 6000A (non-play version) was one of 2 on my shortlist a few months ago (I used to own the Audiolab 8000S in the 90’s so I know how good they are). In the end I bought the Rega Brio. It is the same money, same power but a different aesthetic. The Rega is just an analogue input stereo amplifier with a great MM phono stage. It has no DAC, no tone or balance; just an input selector and a volume knob. I found the Brio to me more natural sounding and musical (less hi-fi I suppose) than the Audiolab. But both were great. If you get the chance, check out the Rega line of amplifiers, they are minimalist and offer a different presentation to the Audiolab. In terms of Play-Fi, I was put off by the app streaming many of the sources “through” your phone. If I put the internet radio on and leave the house taking my phone with me, the radio would stop for others in the house. That is why Inwas considering the non-play version of the 6000A.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, I love the 6000A, I’ve not actually heard the play yet, but I shall assume they’re basically the same albeit the streaming and DAC. Other amps you guys should try? My current amp the Copland CTA 408, valves but with the power and low end grunt of solid state and it’s just gorgeous. Maybe try a Prima Luna evo 400 the amp I considered along with the Copland. On a more budget friendly basis all of the Rega integrateds are rather brilliant. Great review BTW
You youtube audio reviewers are pretty much unanimously agreed on the incredible merits of the AUDIOLAB 6000A. Yours and Christie's assessment of the unit was the one I liked best. Thanks for the work you're doing!
Great review, this is really an amazing amplifier with the bells and whistles. I think it’s comparable with IOTAVX SA3 paired with IOTAVX PA3 power amplifier and still cheaper, looking forward to watch your comments on IOTAVX . Thanks
I have the IOTAVX SA3 & the PA3. So far I am very impressed. I am currently playing Elac Debut 2.0 Speakers. I am getting a pair of the Sonus Faber Lumina II coming in December. Psyched to hook those up.
There are 2 features of the 6000A that make it a killer choice as a dual-purpose amp for Home Theatre and HiFi Stereo operation. 1)The "Pre Power" selection lets you bypass the preamp and take line inputs directly from the line outs of an HT Receiver (you don't want the 6000A controlling the volume when driving the mains in HT mode). 2) The 12V trigger option is a completely full-proof way to have the HT Receiver turn on/off the 6000A when it is turned on/off. To watch HT, simply turn on the Receiver, which then automatically turns on the 6000A. If needed, select "Pre Power", but I always leave the 6000A in this mode, so my wife can watch TV by just turning the receiver on. For HT it takes one click of the power button on our Google Chromecast with Google TV remote. For Stereo, it takes one click of the power button on the 6000A and change the selector to "Integrated".
@@campbellmaclure7386 Depends on where you live.😀 Seriously, it is not very difficult. All you need is an HT Receiver that has both a 12V Trigger output connection and RCA pre-outs that can be used to bypass the Speaker outputs. In my 6.1 speaker setup I have speakers connected to all outputs except the Front L/R. Instead I connect the RCA Pre-outs for the Front L/R to any of the line inputs on the 6000A. Then you also connect the 12V output connection on the HT Receiver to the 12V input connection on the 6000A, using the 12V trigger cable that comes with the 6000A. The you make sure to switch the Mode to Pre Power so that your volume is controlled by your HT Receiver. My HT Receiver is an older Denon 3300. I am driving Triangle Genese Trio speakers with the 6000A. I use an external Topping D70 DAC, a Pro-ject Steam Box S2 Ultra streamer, and the audiolab 6000CDT. So, I use just the analog features of the 6000A.
@@bobdupuy5910 I have the dennon 3700 and now the 6000 A play. No separate DAC so I need to make sure I'm using the DAC in the 6000..... I have a L/R Kef LS50 and 5 Jamo sats Jamo sub. It's a one bedroom flat with a small living room...can't be helped. I'll be setting it up over the weekend. The sub will be in the AV yeah? So will it still play as a 2.1?
@@campbellmaclure7386 Regarding the DAC, there are plenty of digital inputs on the 6000A and I understand that the built-in DAC and streamer are good. I already had separate components. Since your feed from the Denon will be analog, you will also have to change the Input Selection when you switch between HT (or any other analog input such as a turntable) and your 2.1 setup. An advantage of an external DAC is that you don't have this extra step since all inputs are then analog. Denon will take care of the sub when running in HT mode, using Audessy. You would use the Pre Pwr Mode Selection to send the L/R signal from the Denon to an analog input on the 6000A, so that you are using it as a power amp. In 2.1 mode, you would select the Integrated Mode, so that you are using both the preamp and the amp sections of the 6000A. I think that may exclude the ability to use preamp section simultaneously to drive the sub. My SVS SB1000 sub has two sets of inputs, so it is capable. SVS tells me that it is not unusual to have separate amps driving the sub in different modes, but I just don't know that this will work using the Integrated Mode of the 6000A. If you find that it does, please let me know, mate.
Great review. I just loved both of your enthusiasm! I got turned into Audiolab some years ago, and they've never disappointed. I'm curious how the Outlaw Audio RR-2160 Mk II would compare. Please, please, pretty please do a review of this stereo integrated. It's on my short list (cool retro look), but only available direct to consumer, so no way to audition. Two thumbs up on this review... 👍👍
I have a the Hegel h120, its an amazing amplifier. It has everything i need in an amplifier, love the sound quality and its ability to drive speakers with ease
I have the Hegel H95. Only 2 weeks in with it, but loving it. Its airplay integration is outstanding for streaming. I wonder why Andrew never mentions Hegel, as they are a very friendly and open company.
Hi Andrew, first of all congrats for the amazing work you do. I enjoy it very much. What about Hegel H-120 ?? Would it be a good contender for the Audiolab? I have a Yamaha as801 and looking for an upgrade, could be hegel h120 or this one.
Just had a listen to this amp with some wharfdale diamonds at my local HiFi shop. Man its got some grunt! Finally saw the lintons in person too, they're very pretty.
Great review! This video gets a like from me. Andrew I noticed in the video description of speaker pairings you listed Model 5s as being tested but they were not mentioned in the review section itself on best pairings, which I can only assume means it wasn't your favorite by any stretch. Was there not sufficient headroom with the Model 5 pairing? I have the Model 5s myself and don't necessarily believe the rated 90db sensitivity (thinking it's more like 87-89), so while I've been actively shopping for a new solid state amplifier for the better part of a year now, I'm wondering if this Audiolab would be a great pairing or not? I guess I'm also wondering how much of this rave review on the sound quality you attribute to the Audiolabs internal DAC and how much you attribute to the amplification section? Either way thanks for the review!
Once again, an awesome review guys! Was just wondering if you’re going to review a Hegel integrated any time soon? Really wondering how that stacks up to this audiolab!! Keep up the great work💪🏻
I have the 6020A paired with the Quad S2 bookshelf speakers and the Audiolab 6000CDT (CD Transport). Neutrality, resolution, detail and soundstage are exceptional at a moderate price. The headphone amplifier, Andrew omitted to reviewing, is surprisingly very decent.
Audiolab has a long history of Giant killers, starting with the 8000A. I own One of those, the made in UK version, and I recognized the family sound when you described very well the 6000a play performance. In the 90ies Audiolab produced the 8000S version (more Power and remote control) the 8000 SE ( audiophile version with no phono stage and minimalistic preamp) the 8000Q (preamp only) and 8000M ( mono Power Amps). If you ever would like to do a comparison with vintage stuff this would be great! And of course we want to hear your opinion about the 8300!
Question Yama. I inherited my father’s AUDIOLAB 8000A (excellent condition) and I am thinking of using it for a Hi-Fi system I am planing to setup at my new place - amp + speakers + turntable. Would it be worth selling the 8000A and invest instead in the 6000A? Is the sonic performance character of the 6000A far beyond 8000A to justify the purchase? Thank you 🙏 in advance. Note: not interested on the DAC capabilities
I never Heard the 6000 Sorry, what I can Say Is that 8000a has good phono stages MM and MC if you want to use the turntable as main source. Also, price in Europe for It Is around 250-300, not very High. For that Money and if you dont Need Digital part and the REMOTE, Is definitely worth to keep it. Start your project with the 8000 and enjoy It, then you Will see that It Will be difficult to upgrade it
Just found you channel and I’m loving it. I need a new integrated and your reviews are really helpful. 6000A Play was on my possible list before, nice to see it getting some positive reviews.
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yes, finally, the Audiolab gets the attention it deserves. I had the Denon PMA-800NE and it was great, but I sold it and kept the Audiolab 6000A. The detail, neutrality, good highs, bass , tone is awesome. Rebuilding my crossovers with good poly caps, Miflex bypass caps (bypass caps alone 1 more level up), Solen air core inductors, Mills Resistors, PE jacket high purity copper wire… stepped up my setup a whole other level, just like the Audiolab did. Incredible miss and highs. I tested and compared each tweak methodically, have rebuilt many crossovers now, you wouldn’t believe the difference. Even with Dayton caps, and Dayton Bypass caps, amazing.
So it will play Apple Music in HiRes?
Man you have been listening!!! You really put us on to those HECOs! Ahead of the game Sir!
What about the NAD C368 ?
00
A big thank you to Andrew for his reviews of the Audiolab 6000a (and also the Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers). Both these reviews finally put an end to a somewhat long and frustrating search for an excellent system.
I’ve never written a youtube comment, but have read lots of them. I understand that everybody’s tastes are different, but in an effort to attest to Andrew’s reviews of the Audiolab 6000a (and the Lintons), and pay it forward to someone who may be struggling to find a great system, here’s a quick summary of what I was looking for, what I auditioned, and why I ended up with the 6000a + Linton combo.
From a system standpoint I was looking for something simple which allowed me to stream music from a music streamer (how I listen 90% of the time at least for now) and allowed for the potential to upgrade my system. Sound wise I was looking for something that had the following characteristics: Detailed, but non-fatiguing sound (slightly warm?); engaging sound that pulls you into the music, but not in a sterile, overly analytical way; three-dimensional sound; wide, deep, spacious and accurate sound stage… Essentially something that, to me at least, provides a truly immersive and enjoyable listening experience.
For reference my listening rooms fluctuate from a ~17’ wide x ~43’ deep room to a 14’ wide x 16’ deep room. I listen to an equal amount of all varieties of music from Jazz/Jazz Fusion, Ambient, Electronic, Bluegrass, Folk, World, and a fair amount of the Grateful Dead as well… even though most their live recordings sound less than ideal.
I knew fairly quickly upon plugging in the Audiolab that this amp was probably going to be the one. That said, I did compare it to the AXR100, CXA 81 and even the Rotel RA-1572 mkII with the Lintons. The Audiolab just had, at least to my ears, something special about it. Each time I switched back to the Audiolab, those sound qualities I felt may be slightly missing from the others, came back. The Audiolab put a smile on my face, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about.
Unless you’re a fan of premature hearing loss, the Audiolab at 50 watts has enough power for most speakers, especially those that are more efficient. With the Lintons it provides enough volume for even my larger room.
Here's the amps that I auditioned:
CXA 61 & 81: I waited for all the hype to come through on these but it never happened. Just my ears and opinion though
AXR100: Not as detailed and the fan noise was a deal breaker
Yamaha as501: To harsh on the high end despite my efforts to break in the amp, also lacking a little bass or “umph”
Denon PMA 600NE: Lacked the spaciousness, 3d and detailed sound
Bluesound Powernode: Too me it just was missing something or a few things, not engaging enough?
Sonos Amp: Same as the Powernode
Rotel RA-1571mkII: To finalize my Audiolab 6000a decision (paired with the Lintons) I decided to see if doubling my spend on an amp would be justified with an increase in performance. Although it provided more power and other nice features, I preferred the Audiolab sound. In fact, in an A/B comparison, when I switched from the Rotel to the Audiolab my wife (who appreciates music but could care less about “hi-fi”) almost immediately said “That one sounds better, which one is that?”
Regarding the Audiolab 6000a + Linton combo... This is an excellent match. Perhaps this is due to both companies being under the same parent company umbrella?
My first impressions of the Lintons with the Audiolab were that I might have made a mistake and would have to go back to the drawing board. They initially had a muffled, boxy sound that lacked detail, particularly on the high end. I read that others said to give them time “break in” and they open up. I can 100% confirm that within a week of playing them that is exactly what happened. The treble somehow became as detailed as I would like it. The soundstage became extremely spacious. They became the speakers that everyone raved about. Did they “break in” or did my ears readjust? It really doesn’t matter to me what happened, they sound great.
Speakers I auditioned:
B&W 606: Too much treble
Q Acoustics 3050i: Not detailed enough, missing something?
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 and F6.2: Great sound, but not engaging enough
Kef LSX: Awesome sound, but too small
So I ended with this: WiiM Mini into the optical on the Audiolab 6000a powering the Lintons. Very happy with the results.
Thank you again to Andrew for his reviews and especially for Kristi’s succinct comment about the Audiolab 6000a being “the un-suck it button for speakers”. That comment helped me hit the buy button for the Audiolab.
Hope this helps!
Having watched countless of your reviews I just trusted you and bought one in blind. And my gosh, was it a great decision! Andrew, please accept my sincere thanks for bringing this piece of joy to my attention!
As a side note I'd add an amazing, pleasant surprise when connecting my Sennheiser HD800s which sounded *noticeably* better connected via the 6000A than directly to the Chord Hugo2 who clearly could not fully stand up to driving them to their full potential. I'm rediscovering all my favourite music all anew - many thanks again!
Good morning Kristi and Andrew! I use the Audiolab 6000cdt in concert with a dac, and my MF M2si. Such an incredible combo! Thank you for all that you do, and for bringing products to our attention that aren’t usually covered.
Yes the 6000CDT is a future proof great transport.
Following your excellent review, I purchased the Technics SU-G700 amp two years ago and decided to add this year the SB-G90 loudspeakers with a BlueSound Node 2i for streaming using the amp’s DAC. I wanted to share with Kristi and you, how grateful I am for your reviews, the combination has been a wonderful listening experience for me !! I wanted to give my old Cabasse speakers a chance and ordered last week the Audiolab 6000A play :) and can’t wait to receive it. A BIG thank you to the two of you !!
I recently purchased an Audiolab CD transport after watching Tee Jay's review of it. Very impressed with the build quality. I dig the looks too. It gave me every confidence that Audiolab is a company worth my time.
I would urge everyone to put Audiolab on their hifi lists.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews 😃
🎯 *HEADS UP: The 6000A Play is currently on sale ($200 off) here **bit.ly/3AiW43w*
In the section where he mentions the pre-amp (in the "Downsides" chapter) note that it has "PRE" and "PRE-PWR" settings. That second one is "pre and power". It's for bi-amping, and (speaking as an 8000S and 8000SX owner) this is a hidden gem that doesn't get talked about enough.
Basically, if you get a power matched power amp you can hook it up to this amp, and get a second set of speaker cables. Wire the 6000A's speaker cables up to your speaker's tweeter binding posts and the power amp's speaker cables up to the woofer binding posts. Remove any breakers between the two sets of posts. And now you should be experiencing weightier and crisper bass and more detailed treble. Hurrah.
I really love it when your videos drop on a gorgeous weekend morning. Ive got my coffee, my audio news fix. Its like a morning newspaper, only better.
Aw, thank you so much!
Loving the weekend reviews as well!
@@umrryan for sure!
Andrew, spot on- “Awesome” and “Greatness”. I’ve had my 6000A for around 6 months now paired with either the Borea BR03 or Q3030i. Still in awe till now.
I have the 6000A + Borea BR03 combo. Do you like like 6000A + Q3030i better, or just different?
I'm another satisfied Audiolab 6000a owner, my sources are a uTurn Orbit with Ortofon OM5E cart and a Marantz CD player, and I have it driving a pair of KLH Quincy speakers. Everything you describe about this amp mirrors my experience. I did end up ditching my Cambridge Audio phono preamp for the built in on the Audiolab. It can be a bit more noisy but I think the dynamics are better in the mid to high frequencies. The Audiolab also comes with a headphone amp built in that really makes my Grado and Sennheiser headphones sing. I'd recommend Audiolab to anyone looking for the best bang for the buck in this power range.
A Big THANK U to Andrew & Kristi.
For bringing in the Audiolab 6000A for a review.
And u answered all my questions,
Bluetooth’s sound quality, comparing it to Rotel, Cambridge Audiio.
Really excited the moment I saw the RUclips notification of your Audiolab review.
Thank you.
👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for tuning in and I am so glad our review was what you were looking for!
I own and adore the non play version the 6000A, currently driving a pair of now discontinued Monitor Audio Bronze II, I sometimes find myself smiling just remembering how good it sounds.
I got mine 2 weeks ago, never been so exited to use an electronic, maybe since my first ipod.
@@rickypelletier363 the play version? I wish it had been a thing when I got mine, I would have saved up the extra scratch.
What music have you found you like to play on it? I expected to go on a massive tool binge when I got mine, I did eventually, but first I found myself listening to lots of contemporary country/singer song writer stuff.
This review is my introduction to this channel, and the inclusion of our second host totally makes it. We have a long, more-scripted, deep-dive-informative review, and then some really earthy and differently-faceted perspectives. The two hosts make a terrific team.
I've had the 6000a (non-Play version) for about a year, paired with Elac UB52s and agree 100% with your review. I find the combo surprisingly detailed, controlled, engaging and with great overall dynamic presence. The mid-range with the UB52s is particularly great. Sources include a vintage Pioneer PL560 turntable and a RPi w/Allo DigiOne for streaming Spotify and Qobuz. My music tastes are eclectic and everything sounds awesome to my ears. It was the British Audiophile reviewers that turned me on to the Audiolab. Glad to see it getting some stateside love now too. Definitely an under-the-radar product. You and Kristi do a consistently superb job. You make a killer combo!
💯 percent 👍💪
I haven't had much look with audiolab, had two 6000a amps and the selector knob fell off the first as soon as I took it out the box... They both had an issue with the toroidal transformer's making a loud buzzing noise, so I gave up 🤷🏻♂️ bought a Yamaha as1100 and never looked back 🙌🏻
Thanks for the detailed review 👌🏻
Thats unusual as the volume Knobs felt really solid to me.
I had issues with optical ports,
Both plastic spring/flap covers snapped right off after i removed my optical leads.
Not major buy definitely annoying as it happened on the first day i got it.
@@hclandscapes The other knobs on there seemed fine. When I looked how it attached it literally was pushed on and relied on friction to hold it in place, I guess the tolerances must have been out or something.
I didn't have any issues with the optical port but in all fairness I didn't have either unit that long before sending them back, the finish wasn't great as the knobs are aluminium but the fascia was plastic painted silver which bugged me... Maybe I was expecting a little too much from a £600 amplifier. I don't regret getting the Yamaha it was another £400 to get a used as1100 but worth every penny.
I own the Audiolab 6000a play amp and its a very versatile Integrated amplifier. 🎶
I am currently using it as a power amp in a home theater set-up (To help out the Yamaha TSR-700) but also as a two channel set-up in the living room - All I have to do is switch its settings from Power to Integrated.
I haven't used its Pre -Amplifier mode, but its good to know its there, if down the line I have an external amp or powered speakers that I can connect it to - like the Elac Navis ARB-51
Glad I bought it when I did, because I was able to purchase it for $1,100 earlier this year - big jump in price. 😲
Also, very happy with its internal DAC and its ability to have 3 different settings for it.
Streamer ✅
Phono✅
Nice sounding DAC ✅
Bluetooth✅
Power Amp✅
Pre Amp✅
Home Theater Pass Through✅
SOUDS GREAT! ✅✅✅
I remember walking into my local audio dealers outlet back in the early 2000's and immediately being spellbound by this rich,detailed and inoffensive beautiful music.The reason I said inoffensive is because I have always had very sensitive hearing and this sound just wrapped me in this amazing aura.I just stood there dumbstruck...it was the Audiolab 8000A.Unfortunately it was way out of my price range and until today I regret hearing it because nothing else compared.
This integrated is good stuff. I have one paired with Wharfedale Denton 80th anniversary speakers and it it thoroughly enjoyable listening. The speakers are thirsty no doubt but the Audiolab has no problems powering them at all. Andrew nailed it, the sound is neutral, the soundstage is focused with presence. I shopped endlessly until I decided on this integrated and wound up getting it for almost 30% off of retail. One last thing, the remote is nice, not a plastic piece of junk.
I have wharfedale denton 80ths too! And loving them! Took about 80 hrs to really hit their straps, but quite amazing for the money. I wavered over the audiolab 6000a play as a pairing but went in the end with a Hegel H95. About 30 hours in with it and am very happy. Great to hear that the audiolab is the real deal tho. I have my eyes on the audiolab 6000 cd transport.
@@hamdc4291 We are on the same page, I had been looking at the Dentons and got them
Open box at MD for 1/2 off. Could not pass up and Couldn’t be happier. That Hegel is a great amp too, glad to hear you are enjoying the pair together.
@@ElDirkTheDirk Cheers Jon. Enjoy your Audiolab and Dentons!
I ordered one after seeing this review and I didn't even need an amp (already have two) but I couldn't resist!
I own the audioLab Play and absolutely love the sound, it is incredibly neutral and uncolored. I use it with the B&W 606S2, but I still think I would get better sound from a Dynaudio Evoke or KEF Meta speaker System.
Hey Andrew ,
I Purchased the 6000a based on many RUclips video reviews. Andrew your impression of 6000a Sound Chacter was very close to TeeJays reviews Sound impressions
and he calls the Audiolab Relaxed and natural sounding that the 6000a has that sweet Layed back 🇬🇧 sound. Once I saw the build quality inside the Audiolab on TeeJays review
I was sold . That 👦 loves to Pop the Hood lol Thanks Andrew n Christi Awesome review!!
My Klispch rp 600m sounds amazing with the 6000a !!
excellent review and corroborates exactly what Tee Jay said on his own review of the Audiolab 6000A. in my case, the Audiolab replaced an Iotavx sa3 and i'm extremely happy with the Audiolab powering a pair of Q acoustics concept 40 tower speakers. the only not so enthusiastic part of the Audiolab is indeed its phono preamp. it's adequate, but definitely not the best in its price range! I recently bought an Arcam SA10 and despite liking its sound presentation a bit less than the Audiolab, the Arcam phono preamp is absolutely superb! very dynamic, articulate engaging sound way superior to the Audiolab phono preamp. my 2 cents.
Ok I did it the hard way! I wanted to compare the Audiolab 6000a vs Rotel A11 Tribute. I didn’t find anyone to say it out loud. So I bought them both aaaaand the Audiolablab wins! The sound is thicker fuller darker and punchier and a very good 3D kind of sound because there is air between the instruments and back in front. The Rotel is very detailed and clean, but against the Audiolab the sound is like flat on the wall in front of you and not all the instruments are so noticeable as they’re in Audiolab, it’s missing their punch. From the other hand the Rotel has a bigger bass not tighter just bigger which in my listening experience it isn’t the best because it sticks out from the rest too much, by the Audiolab the bass is either not as boomy or all the instruments are sticking out as well so they have a good balance, which makes it more pleasing to listen for longer periods of time. Although the Rotel has tone controls and a sound booster I still didn’t find it to be as good as the Audiolab. Both have a professional hifi sound, just Audiolab have more of that balanced muscular sound.
Good to know that you liked Audiolab. Which speakers did you pair it with? I have a buchardt s400 and Elac unifi reference bookshelf. Just wondering if these will match well with Audiolab.
@@aiCorner I have the Evo 4.1. I heard very good things on the s400 and unifi reference. They should work and match well. I heard the s400 is even better, what’s ur experience?
Glad you liked it! I have the 6000A amp in silver (without the play facility) -- it costs £599 ($813) here in the UK and has to be one of the the biggest bargains available at the moment. I use a pair of Quad S2 speakers (also £599) with it and play CD-ripped FLACs from my laptop through a Douk Audio XU208 USB digital-to-digital convertor (as little as $40, with both optical and coax output options).
I find it projects a lovely, very detailed and airy soundstage, very well presented by the Quad S2's. Everything is very precisely placed and tremendously involving. The bass through the S2's is very good and I find personally I don't need a subwoofer. The midrange is to die for and voices, both male and female, sound so natural.
I know there must be better combos out there -- but significantly more pricey, I'd wager. BTW, some reviews seem to indicate that the 6000A Play doesn't sound quite as good as the basic amplifier, but I myself haven't heard the Play version and so can't really comment.
I'd add that it has a good remote, and can act as an integrated, power or pre-amp. It also has a splendid implementation of the ESS Sabre 9018 DAC chip that Audiolab has a lot of experience with (e.g. in the the MDAC and MDAC+). There are three DAC filters provided. Most people prefer the SLOW option, as do I, but I sometimes use the FAST option instead if I want to add a little sparkle to the odd recording. On two (one of the optical and one of the coax) of the four digital inputs one can activate an anti-jitter option. It automatically goes into standby after 20 mins if it doesn't detect any signal and runs pretty cool if well ventilated.
I'm hoping one day you'll be able to review the Quad S2's also, though I understand they're quite hard to come by in the USA at the present time. I'm going to add a D-Class power amp very soon, an XTZ A2-300. I've taken a punt on it, but if it works out (otherwise I'll sell it and hopefully get a good proportion of its £500 cost back), it will end up being a lot cheaper than Audiolab's own 8300 XP power amp at £1300, some of the technology of which is reportedly already in the 6000A.
To be honest, it's the best sounding system I've ever had and I can thoroughly recommend the 6000A for anyone looking to spend around $1000 on an amp. One would be very hard pressed to find anything better at the price!
Edit:
a). The 6000A sounds good even at pretty low volumes, with little loss of tonal quality.
b). Although it has no tone controls, if you use a laptop or other device with an app like AIMP to play FLACS or MP3's from, you can play around with EQ and DSP settings from there. I have my favourite settings applied quite often.
The three DAC filters may also help a bit. Not sure about streaming apps as I don't stream, but maybe they have EQ + DSP controls too?
Thank you very much for that and I agree with you quite an excellent app for the price even if it was double the price it would still be A nice buy
Your reviews are always thoughtfully detailed, articulate and refreshingly, pull no punches.
It would be outstanding if you continue your string of reviews of integrated amplifiers with streaming capabilities.
This review along with your reviews of Musical Fidelities M3, M5 and M8 integrated’s were insightful and incredibly illuminating.
It would be fantastic if you would do the same for Hegel’s 120, 190 and 390 integrated amplifiers.
My time as an audiophile ended up with audiolab in the 1990s. Went through early home cinema set ups (Sony then Yamaha) then ditched all the extra speakers to focus on music only with an audiolab 8000A. Loved it and wish I could go back!! Running Sonos all round now and never really sit down to listen like audiophile does any more. Maybe one day I’ll go back 🙂
Great that you got the audiolab in. I have the 6000a amp and 6000n streamer and love the 6000a amp sound. It just sounds solid and right. Sound from the 6000n streamer is great, but reliance on the playfi ap is a real downer. I know you said it was Okay, but for me it's definitely the weakpoint. It's just had a major update, which has made things much better, but the streaming apps via playfi are still a poor reflection of their normal selves. Especially Amazon Music HD. It's like stepping back in time 10 years from a UI perspective.
I came here to write this! I have the 6000N in my office with a Cambridge amp - great sound, terrible interface!!!
What an awesome integrated! My audiophile journey had this Audiolab up against a Rega Brio…which I upgraded to an Elex-R. So many great products at more affordable price points these days making purchase and upgrade paths more doable. Another great review Andrew and Kristi!
Thank you @Sal Taormina
As an owner of a 6000a amp myself, this is one where I had to skip straight to the conclusion to see if you were going to say what I suspected you were going to say. This amp transformed
my old Kef Cresta 2 speakers, but when I paired it up with my new LS50 Metas, all I can say is OMG!!! It was because I was so blown away with how the Metas sounded with this amp that I considered upgrading it for a better amp, because I thought if this is what a £600 amp could do to the Metas, what could a £2,000 amp do? However, I actually asked for advice on how much better sound I could expect from a better amp on a forum, and someone actually said they upgraded to a £2,500 amp and thought the Metas sounded better with the 6000a. The difference in sound between by old Cambridge Audio £200 amp and the 6000a is night and day, and I do think this amp is so good that it really is hits the point of diminishing returns where a significant number of audiophiles could not justify the expense of upgrading and would be perfectly happy with it for the rest of their lives.
@Spiritual Insanity you get it 👍
@@andrewrobinsonreviews This amp taught me a very important audiophile lesson.... when you have a budget system, always upgrade your amp before you upgrade your speakers. I actually recently tried my Metas with my old £200 amp out of curiosity and the sound was excruciating, so it goes to prove that a good amp can improve an average pair of speakers, but all a good pair of speakers does for a cheap amp is show why the amp was so cheap in the first place.
I completely love it. Bought the basic 6000A since you started mentioning it in your reviews. Thought it could bring my ELAC DBR62 to life before I give up and it did. I love this combo.
It has a way about it where it just works with practically everything!
Original old school audiolab was classic hifi back in its day, good to see the newer versions are holding up. Now find the modern day pioneer a400.
Good to see Audiolab getting a guernsey. I have the Audiolab 8300A and was unsure but love it. i have thought of using it as a pre as well with an Audiolab power amp. I preferred it over the Musical Fidelity as well. I use the Denafrips Ares 2 with it. And yes the phono stage gives me hum as well so I need to play around with that sometimes. Thanks for highlighting the brand. Cheers
I own it, and yah, it’s hitting so high above its price category it’s crazy! Great review guys
I am totally in love for my 6000A (not play), paired with Dali Oberon 1, both in how it looks and how it performs.
It changed the way I listen to music in my home office room!
Thank you Andrew and Kristi, for bringing this wonderful sounding amplifier to my attention, and to many other audio enthousiasts in the hobby.
I was able to purchase an Audiolab 6000A for a very good price, here in the Netherlands, and when hooked up to my B&W705s2 bookshelve speakers I entered a completely different sound level. It sounds really, really great.
At first I was a little sceptical because of the lacking tone controls, but I don’t miss them at all. Instead, the built-in DAC can be tweaked to one’s taste.
I’ve been following your reviews for some years now and this is the first time I actually bought a highly recommended amplifier. The Technics SU-G700 is also on my list and I am certain it will meet my expectations as well.
Thank you once again and keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Goed om te horen dat ie in de smaak valt Rogier! Ik til mijn aanschaf nog even over m'n verhuizing heen, ik moet nog even wachten tot januari as, maar me handen jeuken! Ik doe direct maar de combideal met de 6000 CDT denk ik zo, lijkt me een fantastisch duo. Jij ervaring met een DC-block? Ik dub nog wat speakers betreft, Chora 806 en Evo 4.1 staan op m'n lijst, maar ik zal ook eens kijken naar jouw B&W's 705s2! Groet Gerlach.
@@gerlachsieders4578 Hoi Gerlach, de 6000A geeft meer dan genoeg bas, en de 705s2 weet daar wel raad mee. Ook de Chora en Evo 4.1 zijn mooie speakers maar ik heb ze zelf nog niet gehoord. Hoe dan ook, ik denk dat de Audiolab 6000A met vrijwel iedere speaker uit de voeten kan, maar kijk wel even naar de gevoeligheid. Zo rond de 90dB en hoger verdiend aanbeveling omdat je dan wat meer uit deze mooie versterker haalt. De B&W705s2 zijn 88dB en doen het uitstekend. Succes met de aanschaf!
@@rogier2124 Hi Rogier, leuk om zo snel van te horen! Dank voor je tips, de Focal's Chora (is Andrew lovend over) of Aria hebben m'n voorkeur, inderdaad vanwege hun hoge gevoeligheid van 89 dB. Zelf luister ik meestal bij een laag volume, ik begreep in een video van Nemo Propaganda dat de speakers van Focal ook bij een laag volume al goed tot leven komen. Ik denk dat ik een keer langsga bij iEar om verschillende luidsprekers te beluisteren, naast de Focals verkopen ze ook de 705, die staat inmiddels ook m'n shortlist! Veel luisterplezier, dank en groet, Gerlach.
Thanks for the review Andrew. I have been on the fence for about a year and was leaning towards the Marantz PM7000N, but then I started to see reviews for the Audiolab. Your review just sealed the deal! I just ordered the Audiolab 6000A Play and a pair of KLH model 5's. I am pretty psyched.
How does it pair with your model 5s? I have the KLH model 5s as well, and I am shopping a new amp for them.
@@GrindCityGuitars Wish I could tell you. I ordered the Model 5's direct from KLH beginning of October, as they are impossible to get at the moment. Best case scenario is I get them the beginning of November. I currently have the Audiolab 6000A Play paired with some Klipsch r620f's and they sound pretty amazing, especially compared to what was driving them before - a Yamaha RX-V481 AV receiver. Given how the Play brought the Klipsh's alive, I think the pairing with the KLH's is going to be pretty awesome.
Andrew, do some Hegel stuff, really. Do Hegel + KEF LS50 and you will skyrocket (you already doing it but...). Currently doing AB between H95 and POWERNODE and to me, there is a night and day difference in favor of Hegel. Literally. Didn't expect to hear that much difference. Really curious how H95 would stuck up against Audiolab 6000A.
I'd be dismayed if the Hegel wasn't vastly better than the $300 class D amplifier added on to the Node!
I've stacked both of those amps back to back in my house for a month...the Hegel was clearly better than the Audiolab 6000a, more effortless....but it should have been, it was clearly more expensive.....I ended up with the Arcam SA20 they also let me borrow, which was equal or maybe slightly more muscular than the Hegel...and had a better DAC ...helped by the fact it was an open box product that the dealer gave me £300 ($380) off.
I'd recommend the Hegel as an audition to anyone with that budget though, it's very good.
@@DomRivers67 Hi Dominic, Would you consider the SA20 as one of the best Powernode replacements around that price point and a little more(provided I get a Node for the BluOS). My head is hurting from watching/reading reviews. Thanks!
I've been using the 6000 A, CDT, and the 6000N for 3 months now, it brings a smile everytime I switch it on. I have it paired with monitor audio bx5. Discontinued.
I had my eyes set on the 6000A but my dealer didn't carry Audiolab so I ended up buying a Rega Elex-R on a Black Friday deal for €869. I was told by a very knowlegeable person that in pure sound performance my Rega picks up where the 6000A starts and takes it a little further but I still wonder how they'd compare face to face. I love the Rega to bits but there's always that audiophile "what if" feeling nagging me.
If you are able to get a hold of Rega gear for review, I'd very much love it if you made a comparison between the 6000A and the Elex-R which is until now nowhere to be found on the interwebs.
Great review, though. Keep it up!
I too have an Elex-R. Mine is paired with a Rega P3, Focal Aria 906 and a Rel T5x for the low end. Great combo. I think the 6000A is more in line with the Brio in terms of power and price …at least here in Toronto.
@@saltaormina9404 my Elex-R is driving a pair of Dali Oberon 5 speakers, I can tell you I'm a very happy camper listening to music at home.
I picked the Elix-R as well, mainly for the phono stage and the fact that we have an excellent local Rega dealer. I bought the P6 with an Ortofon 2m Bronze and am very happy with the combo.
i have the Audiolab 6000A,Audiolab Cdt,Audiolab Mdac+ and Spendor bc2 speakers.Also i bought the AUDIOLAB DC BLOCK its sound really great
Love my 6000A Play! Glad to hear you enjoyed it as well
So good!
You've convinced me on not getting rid of my 6000a (in fact I loved it, I don't know why I was selling it..) and making a second listening position with it.. The only speakers it struggled driving was my previous KEF R7 which lacked bass completely with the Audiolab
i bought this and returned it some time ago. was very impressed by the sound but the play fi app was a disaster - kludgy to use and constant resets. it seemed at the time that the consortium backing play fi had almost given up. if the app is better, good for them, but it was a deal breaker for me.
An amp I've had since 2013 is the Rega Brio (there's now a newer version that retails for about $1000). It's been excellent and might be worth a listen (at my home, it's paired with the solid Rega DAC, which is probably long in the tooth now but still sounds great). Rega makes a less expensive amp, too, but I have not listened to that yet.
I will watch later at work but love my 6000a works amazing as a preamp also running to my 8300xp videos uploaded !
Thanks ! Ess9016 dac ps i popped the hood !!
I have the Audiolab 6000CDT and it's a really nice transport. Solid build and clean sounding. If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought a Cambridge transport for the aesthetic, but no complaints. The built in phono pre on this is a nice addition for newbies, I would think. Good review as always.
Wow that was such an impressive review.
I wish it had a USB connection for a computer.
Any plans to check out the Audiolab 8300A?
I wonder if it would have the same feel in performance.
I would also love you to try out the:
Rotel RA-1572 MKII
Burson Timekeeper 3i.
Hegal H120.
Not that I'm being pushy! 😎
Keep up the great work.
You make lockdown so much better.
Hi Andrew & Kristi, I’m on the hunt for an amp and I’m glad to hear good things about the audio lab. I think another amp that is comparable is the iotavx sa3 and pa3.
Running my 6000A with KEF LS50's and two class AB REL 5i subs in stereo and an AudioLab CD Transport and a CleardAudio/Marantz turntable with Sumiko Cartridge. This in my opinion is right at the edge of diminishing returns. In other words the best you can do for the money.
Nice system
You can do a lot better for the LS50, I had the 6000A running my KEF meta's and swapped it out for a roksan K3, it made the world of difference. i feel the meta need more power. You will get more separation and the bass is a lot stronger. The 6000A is a great amp though.
I bought this amp 5 months ago. I enjoy it every day. I pair it with QAcoustics 3020 (old model) and an Emotiva BasX S12 subwoofer. I was afraid it wont drive floor standing speakers but, after your great review I want to try some floor standing speakers too.
It's been 3 days now with the audiolab6000a. What an upgrade! I was using a 225watt per channel anthem power amp with the cambridge cxnv2 as the pre, dac and streamer. Every aspect of sound is better minus the dynamics when having it cranked to 11. But the bass. Wow. I had no idea my old b&w cm10 could produce such lows! I configured the audiolab to pre amp only and used the power from the anthem and it sounded almost as good but with huge dynamics. I switched back to using the audiolab as an integrated as I shouldn't be listening to it that loud anyways, the extra sparkle on the highs is a good trade off. For like 1500 bucks CAN. It as an absolute steal.
So glad to hear you like it! Enjoy!
*Update* huge dynamics. Outperforms the ol anthem that sits at a 225 wpc rating. Very, very, impressive. That feeling of something missing is so tiny I can just smile and listen to music.
Out of curiosity, did you hook up the CXN v2 to the Audiolab? I'm a Roon fan and I love Roon integration with the Cambridge.
This tempting me to relook at the 6000a again. I had one, sold it because it just wasn't right with my AE1 Classic. But my old 6000a didn't have the Play function.
I’ve been waiting for this review, glad to hear you like it as it’s been on my short list for a while. Do you think the “play” version is worth the extra cost for what you get? Is the dac good enough that I won’t want/need to upgrade?
I would love for you guys to review the Outlaw Audio RR2160 Mk.2 (an American brand). I’ve heard good things about it but it’s only available through online direct to consumer sales. That makes it difficult to listen to one up here in Canada.
Thank-you both for what you do - you are informative and entertaining at the same time.
The play just allows for wifi, ethernet streaming. The non-Play still has a DAC, so if you don't need streaming the regular old A should be fine for you. I think the DAC is on par with the DacMagic 200M which is $500 on its own, which speaks to the value of the 6000A.
A cool discovery: with the 6000A (not the play) I play music via Bluetooth from my iPhone and I discovered that I can use the 6000A remote control to pause/play/skip a song that's playing in Spotify on my iPhone. 😊
Great review! I love my 6000A play. Play fi isn't perfect but it's good enough for sure. I gotta laugh because I own your most favorite amp and least favorite speaker the BW 606 S2. Maybe the audiolab is helping tame the 606s? Looking forward to the Project turntable review. I don't have a turntable yet. Great job as always!
What a brilliant review - your passion and enthusiasm is so engaging...Kristi is so great to listen to; she speaks honestly and knows her own mind. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank yoy👍❤👍
Great video and review! I always enjoy your videos and Kristi’ off camera input! Would the Audiolab 6000A be a good pairing for KEF LS50 Metas?
Andrew & Kristi, thank you for the great review(as always)! Bought 6000A play as a first step in my hi-fi journey (which began from your chanel!). Now looking forward to see your speaker pairing with it as I'm considering an upgrade))
I think we share a few goodies in this video for sure.
I compared 3 amplifiers: Exposure 3010S2D, Iota SA3/PA3 stack and an Audiolab 6000A in my own home for about a month. To my ears, with 40+ years of HI-Fi equipment listening, I preferred and kept the Audiolab. But trust your own ears and if possible listen to equipment in your own home before buying.
Wow! I own 3010s2 and with proac db3 is wonderful at lower volume, but too dark at medium high volume. How does the Audiolab sounds at low volume, in your opinion?
@@massimocover I think the Exposure gave a tiny bit more at low volume, but the Audiolab is still very good. I'm using Castle Knight 5 speakers, which are large transmission line floorstanders, so the bass doesn't get lost at low volumes. I'm not sure what you mean by "dark", but if you prefer a more open, forward or brighter sound then the Audiolab may not be for you. I kept it because it was the closest to analog sounding of the 3 amps I tested.
Just wanted to say thank you for the review. Now I'm a lucky owner of 6000A Play. What a sound. I really enjoy the music. Thank you!
Please see if Kristi can get an Outlaw Audio RR2160 Mk.2 for you to review..I have been delaying as I wash bak and forth between the Audiolab and the Outlaw!
It was hard not to feel your love for this amp....so I bought one! I live in a condo and am running it with an old set of Monitor R152 speakers and have a Project Debut Carbon as my turntable. Being in a condo I don't have the luxury of raising the volume too loud so the amount of detail, control and balance this amp has at lower levels is really appreciated. It extracts everything out of my speakers that they have to offer and It has completely brought my set up to a whole new level. Streaming through Spotify has been flawless and the phono preamp sounds amazing. Without your review I am not sure I would have looked at AudioLab and despite it being a little above my original budget I could not be happier, so thank you to both you and Kristi for helping me pick out a new amp and look forward to all your new videos!
As mentioned by Simon Boye Nielsen below would love to hear your thoughts on how the Cambridge Audio CXA81 stacks up against the Audiolab 6000A.
I don't thin k they like the CXA81 too much. That's the impression I got from a previous video they did on it anyway. I use CXA80 on my desktop driving ATC SCM-11 speakers and it seems to hold up ok and sounds fine to my ears.
Cxa81 is more transparent.
Another terrific, passionate review. One, in fact, that influenced my decision to buy the 6000A 6 months ago, and sell my Marantz PM6005..........and, wow. What a difference. Even through my ageing Monitor Audio RS8 floor standers, the bass is so much more controlled. Tighter maybe? I wonder, in a small ish and acoustically terrible Spanish living room....would the 6000A drive KEF R3 Metas? They might be better suited to my room? Anyway, have a great Christmas guys and a very happy 2024.
I have the Audiolab 6000A and the 6000CDT transport. Both are excellent…here are a few things i noticed.
1) The digital filters REALLY change up the sound. I generally keep mine set on FAST, but SLOW and ANALOG are also available and they’re not just for show. They really change how the unit sounds.
2) One small annoyance is that the transport shares the same on/off remote frequency with the amp, so you can’t turn one off without the other clicking off too.
3) i have accidentally changed the mode when i meant to change the source because the knobs are the same size. it would have been nice if the mode knob was smaller. How often do you really switch between full integrated, preamp only and power amp only?
4) the synergy between the transport and the amp is really sweet. I have never heard my CDs sound better.
5) everything feels amazingly solid. aluminum knobs and a very heavy chassis given its size. the look is low flash but classic.
6) i wish it had tone controls
ADDENDUM: The ability to switch the unit between a pure preamp mode, a power amp only mode and a full integrated mode is a feature that doesn't get enough praise. I have used it as both an integrated and as solely a preamp driving outlaw M2200 monoblocks.
I recently had the same fear when buying my Arcam SA10, also demoed the 6000a,. They don't need tone controls.
@@thomasward00 I have to disagree. Tone controls are incredibly useful to adjust for bad recordings or issues with the room and concerns about “signal cleanliness”can be easily be addressed by adding a direct or bypass option. Personally, I think their removal from so many preamps and Integrated amps has more to do with manufacturers wanting a simpler circuit and lower tooling costs than “sonic purity”
@@davidrandall1953 I was initially concerned about that, I have the AXA25 and AXA35, both have tone controls, so when looking to step up for my bedroom system. When you do step up to better gear, the Audiolab, Arcam and Hegel honestly don't need them, each has it's own "House" sound.
Just blindly bought one and paired it with KEF Q150 in a 12x12 room with 9' ceiling, carpet and fabric sofa. (I feel many forget the limitations and influence of the room and its effect on sound, but I digress). The soundstage is so amazing. I listen to chill jazz to synthwave to rock and metal, and it all sounds great. Zero fatigue, even with some crappier recordings, I'm looking at you 80's metal... highs are detailed yet not harsh, but not so round and soft like with my Marantz. Bass is quick and punchy, no booming. Rich mids. Will be upgrading the speakers to either LS50's or Monitor Audio Silver 50, can't wait to hear those. I did try it with a pair of Dali Spektors and really nice for acoustic music and perfect recordings, but a bit too much clarity for my taste. I'd stick with more neutral warm speakers with this amp. Would love to hear it with some Wharefdale Dentons. Don't hesitate, buy this amp!
Great review guys. Loved the warning intro!
Thanks so much!
You can feel your excitement from the very beginning. Great review as always Andrew and Kristi!!
Thank you so much @Scott Pledger
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Of course! I hope you both have a wonderful Sunday!
HA! .. The disclaimer. Starting off with trigger mechanisms. lol
After your review of this I decided to research it more online and it looked great for the most part. I own Heresy IVs and had them hooked up to the Yamaha A-S701. You mentioned the Audiolab was better in every way to the Yamaha a-s801 except looks so I was like hmmmm, I may need to demo this.
Got it from someone lightly used (literally looked so clean, pretty much new) for $700, didn’t need the PLAY version cuz I got a bluesound node. Blown away, don’t need to mess with settings or bass because it’s just clean overal (I mean you can’t anyway but it’s really not needed here)l. Definitely an upgrade from the A-S701, loving it so much. I’m so busy this weekend, but can’t wait to keep listening to my Heresys next week with this beast, thanks a lot for your review!
👏🏻💪👍
Hi 😊
Well I guess it's time for rega Brio vs audiolab in this channel 👌🏿 Less functionality (because all analog) but same playing field....
I have several old Audiolab mono blocks and a control amplifier. Control and dynamics were the key features. I don’t use them any more, as I moved to Naim, but their products are awesome. So excited to see you review this. Thanks
Thanks for this great review and always appreciated Kristi’s take! I’ve owned the Audiolab 6000a Play for several months now, I added it to my home theater set up which had a pair of Klipsch RP-250F tower speakers. I was disappointed at the beginning and it was only after I incorporated a subwoofer, Schiit Modi 3 and a Loki+ that found the sound I wanted, mainly on the high frequencies. Is this because my choice of speakers or just my aging ears? Or this is just how an audiophile non tone control amplifier should sound? I may be missing something. Thank you.
I ordered an Audiolab 6000a and you're absolutely right. Amazing amp. Sold my Hegel H80 and it is way better. Connected to a set Wharfedale Dentons 85. Good combination.
Thanks for the great review.
The 6000A (non-play version) was one of 2 on my shortlist a few months ago (I used to own the Audiolab 8000S in the 90’s so I know how good they are). In the end I bought the Rega Brio. It is the same money, same power but a different aesthetic. The Rega is just an analogue input stereo amplifier with a great MM phono stage. It has no DAC, no tone or balance; just an input selector and a volume knob.
I found the Brio to me more natural sounding and musical (less hi-fi I suppose) than the Audiolab. But both were great.
If you get the chance, check out the Rega line of amplifiers, they are minimalist and offer a different presentation to the Audiolab.
In terms of Play-Fi, I was put off by the app streaming many of the sources “through” your phone. If I put the internet radio on and leave the house taking my phone with me, the radio would stop for others in the house. That is why Inwas considering the non-play version of the 6000A.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, I love the 6000A, I’ve not actually heard the play yet, but I shall assume they’re basically the same albeit the streaming and DAC.
Other amps you guys should try?
My current amp the Copland CTA 408, valves but with the power and low end grunt of solid state and it’s just gorgeous. Maybe try a Prima Luna evo 400 the amp I considered along with the Copland. On a more budget friendly basis all of the Rega integrateds are rather brilliant. Great review BTW
Good morning. Enjoying my Sunday morning with my favourite RUclips couple.
Morning Sean!
Good morning!
My too!!! Hugs!!!!
So eloquent, knowledgeable and informative. If only you did wine reviews too my life would be complete
The amplifier that I feel can go head to head with the 6000A is the Rega Brio-R.
Too bad the Rega lacks the features the Audiolab has.
You youtube audio reviewers are pretty much unanimously agreed on the incredible merits of the AUDIOLAB 6000A. Yours and Christie's assessment of the unit was the one I liked best. Thanks for the work you're doing!
Great review, this is really an amazing amplifier with the bells and whistles. I think it’s comparable with IOTAVX SA3 paired with IOTAVX PA3 power amplifier and still cheaper, looking forward to watch your comments on IOTAVX . Thanks
I have the IOTAVX SA3 & the PA3. So far I am very impressed. I am currently playing Elac Debut 2.0 Speakers. I am getting a pair of the Sonus Faber Lumina II coming in December. Psyched to hook those up.
@@davidlettau6878 Hi looking forward to hearing from you regarding the Sonus Faber experience
Andrew, I could tell you were really excited about this product, hence the warning at the beginning of the video, thanks A/K for the great review.
Thanks for watching!
There are 2 features of the 6000A that make it a killer choice as a dual-purpose amp for Home Theatre and HiFi Stereo operation. 1)The "Pre Power" selection lets you bypass the preamp and take line inputs directly from the line outs of an HT Receiver (you don't want the 6000A controlling the volume when driving the mains in HT mode). 2) The 12V trigger option is a completely full-proof way to have the HT Receiver turn on/off the 6000A when it is turned on/off. To watch HT, simply turn on the Receiver, which then automatically turns on the 6000A. If needed, select "Pre Power", but I always leave the 6000A in this mode, so my wife can watch TV by just turning the receiver on. For HT it takes one click of the power button on our Google Chromecast with Google TV remote. For Stereo, it takes one click of the power button on the 6000A and change the selector to "Integrated".
Can you come to my house 😂
@@campbellmaclure7386 Depends on where you live.😀 Seriously, it is not very difficult. All you need is an HT Receiver that has both a 12V Trigger output connection and RCA pre-outs that can be used to bypass the Speaker outputs. In my 6.1 speaker setup I have speakers connected to all outputs except the Front L/R. Instead I connect the RCA Pre-outs for the Front L/R to any of the line inputs on the 6000A. Then you also connect the 12V output connection on the HT Receiver to the 12V input connection on the 6000A, using the 12V trigger cable that comes with the 6000A. The you make sure to switch the Mode to Pre Power so that your volume is controlled by your HT Receiver. My HT Receiver is an older Denon 3300. I am driving Triangle Genese Trio speakers with the 6000A. I use an external Topping D70 DAC, a Pro-ject Steam Box S2 Ultra streamer, and the audiolab 6000CDT. So, I use just the analog features of the 6000A.
@@bobdupuy5910 I have the dennon 3700 and now the 6000 A play. No separate DAC so I need to make sure I'm using the DAC in the 6000..... I have a L/R Kef LS50 and 5 Jamo sats Jamo sub. It's a one bedroom flat with a small living room...can't be helped. I'll be setting it up over the weekend. The sub will be in the AV yeah? So will it still play as a 2.1?
Ps thanks for the reply 👍
@@campbellmaclure7386 Regarding the DAC, there are plenty of digital inputs on the 6000A and I understand that the built-in DAC and streamer are good. I already had separate components. Since your feed from the Denon will be analog, you will also have to change the Input Selection when you switch between HT (or any other analog input such as a turntable) and your 2.1 setup. An advantage of an external DAC is that you don't have this extra step since all inputs are then analog. Denon will take care of the sub when running in HT mode, using Audessy. You would use the Pre Pwr Mode Selection to send the L/R signal from the Denon to an analog input on the 6000A, so that you are using it as a power amp. In 2.1 mode, you would select the Integrated Mode, so that you are using both the preamp and the amp sections of the 6000A. I think that may exclude the ability to use preamp section simultaneously to drive the sub. My SVS SB1000 sub has two sets of inputs, so it is capable. SVS tells me that it is not unusual to have separate amps driving the sub in different modes, but I just don't know that this will work using the Integrated Mode of the 6000A. If you find that it does, please let me know, mate.
Great review. I just loved both of your enthusiasm! I got turned into Audiolab some years ago, and they've never disappointed. I'm curious how the Outlaw Audio RR-2160 Mk II would compare. Please, please, pretty please do a review of this stereo integrated. It's on my short list (cool retro look), but only available direct to consumer, so no way to audition.
Two thumbs up on this review... 👍👍
The hegel H120 sounds fantastic with my Forte IVs. Have you guys looked into reviewing anything they make?
I have a the Hegel h120, its an amazing amplifier.
It has everything i need in an amplifier, love the sound quality and its ability to drive speakers with ease
I have the Hegel H95. Only 2 weeks in with it, but loving it. Its airplay integration is outstanding for streaming. I wonder why Andrew never mentions Hegel, as they are a very friendly and open company.
Thanks to you, Big Ears, I now have my very own Audiolab 6000 A Play. Thanks for the video!
Hi Andrew, first of all congrats for the amazing work you do. I enjoy it very much. What about Hegel H-120 ?? Would it be a good contender for the Audiolab? I have a Yamaha as801 and looking for an upgrade, could be hegel h120 or this one.
Just had a listen to this amp with some wharfdale diamonds at my local HiFi shop. Man its got some grunt! Finally saw the lintons in person too, they're very pretty.
Great review! This video gets a like from me. Andrew I noticed in the video description of speaker pairings you listed Model 5s as being tested but they were not mentioned in the review section itself on best pairings, which I can only assume means it wasn't your favorite by any stretch. Was there not sufficient headroom with the Model 5 pairing? I have the Model 5s myself and don't necessarily believe the rated 90db sensitivity (thinking it's more like 87-89), so while I've been actively shopping for a new solid state amplifier for the better part of a year now, I'm wondering if this Audiolab would be a great pairing or not? I guess I'm also wondering how much of this rave review on the sound quality you attribute to the Audiolabs internal DAC and how much you attribute to the amplification section? Either way thanks for the review!
Model 5 was good too.
Once again, an awesome review guys! Was just wondering if you’re going to review a Hegel integrated any time soon? Really wondering how that stacks up to this audiolab!! Keep up the great work💪🏻
Save your self the PlayFi problems and get the 6000A with another streamer 🙂 **cough** bluesound node **cough**
Life is good! Enjoy the music 😎
Bought based on your recommendation to replace my Sprout100 driving Klipsch Forte 1’s. Wow. Blown away and so happy with sound upgrade. Thank you.
I really should like you to test the hegel h95 and find out what you think of it
I have the 6020A paired with the Quad S2 bookshelf speakers and the Audiolab 6000CDT (CD Transport). Neutrality, resolution, detail and soundstage are exceptional at a moderate price. The headphone amplifier, Andrew omitted to reviewing, is surprisingly very decent.
The Audiolab 8300A amp has 75W. I wonder if it sounds as great as the 6000A?
Hi Andrew, I’d love to hear a review of the Arcam A5. Thanks. Keep up the great reviews!
Are you ever going to get any Hegel integrated amplifiers 120 190 390 please!
Audiolab has a long history of Giant killers, starting with the 8000A. I own One of those, the made in UK version, and I recognized the family sound when you described very well the 6000a play performance. In the 90ies Audiolab produced the 8000S version (more Power and remote control) the 8000 SE ( audiophile version with no phono stage and minimalistic preamp) the 8000Q (preamp only) and 8000M ( mono Power Amps).
If you ever would like to do a comparison with vintage stuff this would be great!
And of course we want to hear your opinion about the 8300!
Question Yama.
I inherited my father’s AUDIOLAB 8000A (excellent condition) and I am thinking of using it for a Hi-Fi system I am planing to setup at my new place - amp + speakers + turntable.
Would it be worth selling the 8000A and invest instead in the 6000A?
Is the sonic performance character of the 6000A far beyond 8000A to justify the purchase?
Thank you 🙏 in advance.
Note: not interested on the DAC capabilities
I never Heard the 6000 Sorry, what I can Say Is that 8000a has good phono stages MM and MC if you want to use the turntable as main source.
Also, price in Europe for It Is around 250-300, not very High. For that Money and if you dont Need Digital part and the REMOTE, Is definitely worth to keep it. Start your project with the 8000 and enjoy It, then you Will see that It Will be difficult to upgrade it
Hi, did you try the A6000 with the KEF LS50?
Just found you channel and I’m loving it. I need a new integrated and your reviews are really helpful. 6000A Play was on my possible list before, nice to see it getting some positive reviews.