The Audiolab 9000CDT sits at the top of Audiolab's three-tier CD transport range, above the entry-level 6000CDT and mid-range 7000CDT. As a dedicated transport, it outputs a pure digital signal via coaxial and optical S/PDIF connections, leaving digital-to-analogue conversion to an external DAC where it can be handled with greater precision and flexibility.
Transport Mechanism & Isolation
At the heart of the 9000CDT is a high-precision optical system paired with a slot-loading mechanism. The entire transport assembly is mounted within its own electromagnetically shielded enclosure with a dedicated power supply, isolating it from interference generated by the digital processing and display circuitry. A read-ahead digital buffer reduces disc-reading failures, while a high-accuracy crystal oscillator keeps jitter at vanishingly low levels.
Display & Control
A 4.3-inch IPS LCD provides a full-colour GUI displaying system settings, playback format, folder structure, and track information. The front panel carries a single rotary select knob and power button, complemented by a full-function remote control. The display and industrial design are shared with the 9000A integrated amplifier, allowing the two units to form a visually matched stack.
USB Playback
Beyond CD playback, the 9000CDT includes a rear-panel USB Type A input for playing digital audio files from a USB drive. Supported formats include MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV, with FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 file systems supported. Files encoded at 48 kHz are automatically resampled to the native 44.1 kHz sampling rate.
Digital Outputs
The rear panel provides one coaxial and one optical S/PDIF output, each driven by a differential line driver. Output amplitude is 500 mVpp (+/−50 mVpp) into 75Ω, with frequency response measured at −0.01 dB across the 20 Hz–20 kHz band and total harmonic distortion below 0.002%.
| Type | CD Transport & USB HDD Player |
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| Digital Outputs | 1 x Coaxial (S/PDIF), 1 x Optical (S/PDIF) |
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| USB Input | USB Type A (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV) |
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| Sampling Rate | 44.1 kHz |
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| Frequency Response | −0.01 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz) |
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| THD | < 0.002% |
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| Output Amplitude | 500 ± 50 mVpp |
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| Output Impedance | 75Ω |
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| Display | 4.3" IPS LCD |
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| Mechanism | Slot-loading |
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| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 444 x 90 x 327 mm |
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| Weight | 5.74 kg |
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| Finish | Black |
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| Also Available As | Silver |
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