The Audiolab 7000 Series at a Glance
Audiolab has built British hi-fi electronics since 1983, and the 7000 Series brings the brand's engineering philosophy into a compact, modern three piece system. Each component is engineered in the UK and shares a clean, purposeful design language: a slim half footprint chassis, a 2.8 inch IPS display, and finish options in black or silver so a stack looks cohesive on the rack.
The three pieces are built to complement one another. The Audiolab 7000A is the heart of the system, the Audiolab 7000CDT is a dedicated disc source, and the Audiolab 7000N Play is the network streaming source. Understanding what each does, and what it deliberately does not do, makes choosing simple.
The Shared Design Language
Two of the three 7000 components use the ES9038Q2M reference DAC, the same converter family Audiolab specifies across the 7000 and 6000 tiers, which keeps the digital character consistent whether you are spinning a disc or streaming. The 7000A carries a certified hardware MQA full decoder, and the design theme throughout is quiet power supplies, clear IPS readouts, and control that fits a real living room. This is a family designed to be mixed and matched rather than a single do everything box.
Model by Model
Audiolab 7000A: The Integrated Amplifier and System Hub
The 7000A is the anchor. It uses Audiolab's Class AB amplification with CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology, rated at 2x70W into 8 ohms and 2x110W into 4 ohms. Inside is far more than an amplifier: an ES9038Q2M 32-bit DAC, certified hardware MQA full decoding, HDMI ARC for a television, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and aptX LL, a low noise MM phono stage for a turntable, and a current feedback headphone amplifier for private listening.
Its flexibility is a key strength. Three operating modes, Integrated, Pre-Power and Pre-only, mean it can serve as a complete amplifier today and adapt as a preamp or power stage if your system grows. The 2.8 inch IPS display even offers a VU meter for a touch of classic hi-fi character.
Who it suits: Anyone building a system who wants a single, capable core with connections for vinyl, TV, Bluetooth, headphones and external digital sources.
Audiolab 7000CDT: The Dedicated CD Transport
The 7000CDT is a pure CD transport. This is important: it has no built-in DAC and is designed to send the digital signal to an outboard DAC, such as the DAC section inside the 7000A. It reads CD, CD-R and CD-RW, and also plays files from USB storage in MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV. A 12V trigger and auto standby make it an easy citizen in an integrated system.
Who it suits: Listeners with a CD collection who want a focused, well built transport to feed a capable DAC rather than a self contained CD player.
Audiolab 7000N Play: The Network Streamer
The 7000N Play is a source component for the streaming era. It is a network streamer with its own ES9038Q2M reference DAC and an isolated power supply, built around DTS Play-Fi with Apple AirPlay 2 and multi-room support. It reaches the services most listeners use, including Amazon Music, Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, Pandora and Internet Radio, all shown on its 2.8 inch IPS display. Note that it is a source only and has no built-in amplifier, so it partners with an integrated like the 7000A.
Who it suits: Anyone who listens primarily from streaming services or a home network and wants a clean, dedicated source rather than streaming from a phone over Bluetooth alone.
Grouping the Series by Role
Rather than a simple better or worse ladder, the 7000 Series is organized by function:
- Amplification and control: the 7000A
- Physical media source: the 7000CDT
- Network source: the 7000N Play
Most systems begin with the 7000A and add the sources that match how you actually listen.
Which Should You Buy? By Scenario
You are starting a hi-fi system from scratch
Begin with the 7000A. It gives you amplification, a DAC, phono for a turntable, HDMI ARC for the TV, Bluetooth and a headphone stage in one chassis. Add sources as your habits dictate.
You have a large CD collection
Pair the 7000CDT with the 7000A. The transport handles the discs and the 7000A's ES9038Q2M DAC does the conversion, a tidy two box solution built to work together.
You stream most of your music
Combine the 7000N Play with the 7000A. You get a dedicated network source with its own reference DAC and isolated supply feeding a full featured integrated.
You want it all: streaming, discs and vinyl
Build the full stack. The 7000A at the center, the 7000N Play for streaming, the 7000CDT for discs, and your turntable into the 7000A's MM phono input. Matched aesthetics, one coherent system.
You listen mostly on headphones
The 7000A alone covers you with its current feedback headphone amplifier, and you can add a source later.
A Note on Clean Power
If you are refining an existing setup, remember that source and amplifier both benefit from clean mains. Ask us about pairing appropriate power solutions when you plan your system, since dedicated mains conditioning makes no sound of its own but supports the components that do.
Come Listen at AEA
All Elite Audio is an authorized Audiolab dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so please contact us to arrange a listen and we will help you match the right 7000 Series components to your room, your sources and your goals.