Audiolab 6000A
It’s not often we come across an amplifier that is able to challenge the Award-winning Marantz PM6007 (see left) – our reigning champion when it comes to mid-priced stereo amplifiers – but the Audiolab 6000A has a go.
The basic ingredients
The Audiolab 6000A uses Class A/B amplification, with a claimed power of 50W per channel into 8 ohms. The pre-amplifier section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal integrity, while the layout aims to keep noise interference and distortion down to a minimum. There are also independent power supplies for critical stages of the circuit, and a dedicated headphone amp that uses current-feedback circuitry.
Audiolab has paid special attention to the digital circuitry, with the 6000A using technology derived from the top-range 8300A series. It even uses the same DAC chip (ES9018) as a previous Award-winner, the Audiolab M-DAC.
The 6000A has four digital inputs
– two apiece for optical and coaxial – and all are capable of playing up to 24-bit/ 192khz hi-res audio files. There are also three line-level analogue connections and a pair of moving-magnet phono inputs. It has Bluetooth, too. A 6.3mm headphone port is mounted on the front panel, alongside a large easy-to-read display and rotary dials for analogue volume, input and mode selectors.
The amp mirrors the same design as its 8300A sibling, with the metal casing available in silver or black finishes. Build quality is of a high standard. The 6000A feels solid and neatly finished with its rounded corners and sturdy front panel.
The control dials turn smoothly and responsively, and selecting the sub-menu options (balance, digital filters, operating modes) is simple enough using either the physical dial or sleek remote control.
As a nod to the original 8000A amplifier, Audiolab has included the ability to switch between three modes. Select which mode you want in the menu and you can switch the 6000A between integrated, pre-amplifier and power amplifier configurations.
We listen to the Audiolab 6000A in its primary role – as an integrated stereo amplifier – and are taken with how clean and articulate it sounds. It has a gorgeous sense of clarity and ample detail, leaving you listening to your music library comfortably for hours on end.
The 6000A follows the lilting vocals and delicate tone of The Unthanks’ My Laddie Sits Ower Late Up effortlessly, gliding along the tracks with a nimblefooted assuredness. Voices cut through with emotion and nuance.
The edges of each note are crisp and punctual. Piano notes land with satisfying weight, bass is pulled taut, and strings are bowed with conviction – it’s a wonderfully confident performance.
Up to speed
But the 6000A isn’t all about refinement. Give it something with a charging rhythm, such as Amanda Palmer’s Runs In The Family with its underlying staccato beat, and the amp doesn’t pause for breath. It keeps the momentum going at a snappy pace – something amps twice the price don’t always manage.
The presentation is large and airy (more so than on the Marantz PM6007), giving instruments plenty of space to flaunt their wares. You can listen to this amp pretty loud, too – very little hardness creeps in when you turn the volume up.
The Marantz offers more texture and punch on grittier tracks compared with the Audiolab’s refined and spacious character. Both presentations are appealing, and which one you prefer will be down to personal taste.
The Audiolab’s clean, crisp presentation comes through across the analogue and digital inputs alike. The DAC inside the 6000A is of a good standard, and it’s impressive to hear such a capable and composed sound at this price.
Digital filter options
If you’re using the digital input, you get the option of three digital filters (slow roll-off, fast roll-off and minimum phase). We like ‘slow roll-off’ the best, but it’s worth experimenting with all three to find which works best with your partnering equipment.
Of course, we can’t forget the convenience of Bluetooth. The 6000A pairs swiftly with our iphone, and being able to stream songs in a flash is a bonus for a product of this kind. There’s the expected drop in quality when using Bluetooth, but the sonic character remains much the same.
It would take a lot to knock the Marantz PM6007 off its perch, but the Audiolab offers Bluetooth, and we can see plenty of appeal in its refined presentation and range of digital features.