The Audiolab 6000A sits at the heart of the 6000 Series, Audiolab’s entry-level range designed to deliver serious hi-fi performance at an accessible price. Above it in the lineup, the 7000A and flagship 9000A offer progressively higher power output and refined circuit design, while the 6000A Play adds network streaming to the same amplifier platform. The 6000A itself combines a Class A/B power amplifier, a high-quality DAC, a moving-magnet phono stage, Bluetooth and a dedicated headphone amplifier in a single chassis — a comprehensive hub for modern hi-fi systems.
Amplifier Design
The power amplifier stage is a fully discrete Class A/B design using a Complementary Feedback (CFB) topology. This approach ensures superior linearity and excellent thermal stability, as the idle current remains independent of the output transistor temperature. The 6000A delivers 50 watts per channel into 8Ω loads, rising to 75 watts into 4Ω, with a maximum output current of 9 amps for driving demanding loudspeakers. A substantial 200VA toroidal transformer feeds four 15,000µF reservoir capacitors — 60,000µF of total capacitance — providing the energy reserves needed for dynamic musical passages.
DAC & Digital Inputs
Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by an ESS Sabre ES9018K2M chip from the Sabre32 Reference family, employing ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator for low noise and high dynamic range. The DAC section achieves a signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 112dB (A-weighted) and THD below 0.0006% at 0dBFS. Four digital inputs — two optical and two coaxial — accept signals up to 24-bit/192kHz, and three selectable digital filter modes (Fast Roll-off, Slow Roll-off, Minimum Phase) allow fine-tuning of the reconstruction filter to suit personal preference.
Phono Stage & Analogue Inputs
Audiolab has included a dedicated phono stage for moving-magnet cartridges, built around a high-quality, low-noise JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalisation. The phono input presents a standard 47kΩ impedance with 100pF capacitance and delivers 55dB of gain. Three additional line-level analogue inputs (10kΩ impedance) complete the analogue connectivity, alongside Bluetooth for wireless streaming from mobile devices.
Headphone Amplifier
A dedicated headphone amplifier section uses current-feedback circuitry, offering high gain bandwidth and slew rate for a dynamic, detailed performance across a wide range of headphone types. With an output impedance of just 2.35Ω, it comfortably drives headphones from 20Ω to 600Ω.
Operating Modes
The 6000A offers three distinct operational modes reflecting its discrete internal architecture. In Integrated mode, the pre and power amplifier stages work together as a conventional integrated amplifier. The preamp and power amp sections can also be separated, allowing the 6000A to function as a standalone preamplifier driving an external power amplifier, or as a power amplifier fed from an external preamplifier or AV processor.
What the Press Says
- “Clear, refined and articulate sound” — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★★ (September 2018)
| Amplifier Type | Class A/B integrated amplifier |
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| Power Output (8Ω) | 2 × 50W (THD <1%) |
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| Power Output (4Ω) | 2 × 75W (THD <1%) |
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| Maximum Output Current | 9A |
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| THD (Power Amp) | <0.003% (1kHz, 40W/8Ω) |
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| Frequency Response | 20Hz–20kHz (±0.3dB) |
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| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | >110dB (A-weighted) |
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| DAC Chipset | ESS Sabre ES9018K2M (32-bit HyperStream) |
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| Digital Inputs | 2 × optical, 2 × coaxial (up to 24-bit/192kHz) |
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| Analogue Inputs | 3 × line-level RCA, 1 × phono (MM) |
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| Wireless | Bluetooth |
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| Outputs | Speaker, preamp, headphone (6.35mm) |
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| Headphone Output Impedance | 2.35Ω |
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| Power Supply | 200VA toroidal, 60,000µF reservoir capacitance |
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| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 445 × 80 × 330mm |
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| Weight | 7.8kg |
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| Also Available As | Black |
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