Paul Rigby | 21 Sep 2018
The new 6000A amp includes a DAC, Bluetooth, phono amp and headphone amps plus more
An ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip is included, utilising ESS Technology’s 32bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. The amp’s four S/PDIF digital inputs – two coaxial and two optical – handle hi-res PCM data up to 24bit/192kHz with digital filters: Fast Roll-Off, Slow Roll-Off and Minimum Phase. Bluetooth connectivity is also included.
The 6000A’s discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers 50W per channel into 8 Ohms, with a maximum current delivery of 9 Amps into difficult loads. The output stage of the discrete power amp circuits uses a CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology. A 200VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total) is featured.
Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the 6000A’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference.
Audiolab has included a phono stage for moving magnet phono cartridges – a JFET-based circuit. A dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry is also included.
The 6000A’s offers three distinct operational modes. The primary mode is Integrated – this combines the pre and power amp stages, for the connection of digital and analogue sources to the amp’s inputs and a pair of speakers to its binding posts.
Pre-Power Mode disconnects the pre and power amp stages. This allows the 6000A to be used solely as a power amp – for example, connected to an AV processor in a home cinema system. It also enables additional signal processing to be added, by connecting the 6000A’s preamp out socket to an external processor, then returning the processor’s output to the amp’s power amp in socket.
Finally, Pre Mode disables the power amp stage, turning the 6000A into a standalone preamp. This enables external power amplification to be added, thus providing a possible upgrade path. It is available from October in silver or black at £599.