The Article
6000A Play streaming amp from Audiolab
1st July 2020
The 6000A Play takes the circuitry from the 6000A stereo amplifier and marries it with the streaming architecture of the 6000N Play
The 6000A Play’s Wi-Fi networking is powered by DTS Play-Fi: an app-controlled platform capable of streaming hi-res music up to 24bit/192kHz.
The free Play-Fi app (available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, Windows PCs and Apple and Android smartwatches) includes Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, HDtracks, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM and is able to serve up a streaming library stored on any DLNA-compatible NAS drive or media server on the same home network.
Playlists and radio stations can be assigned as shortcut ‘presets’ within the app, while Works With Alexa support enables voice-controlled playback when the 6000A Play is paired with any Amazon Alexa-equipped device.
Users can play directly from the Spotify app thanks to Spotify Connect and stream from smartphones and tablets without connecting to the local Wi-Fi network using aptX Bluetooth.
Four stereo RCA inputs – three line-level and one MM phono input are included. There are five digital inputs, too as well as an Ethernet port.
The 6000A Play’s digital stage incorporates the ES9018K2M DAC chip from the Sabre32 Reference family.
The 6000A Play’s Class AB power amp sports a discrete circuit design and delivers 50W per channel into 8 Ohms.
According to the company, “Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the 6000A Play’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference.”
User-selectable modes enable separation of the preamp and power amp stages – so, for example, the 6000A Play can operate as a power amp connected to a separate preamp or processor, or as a streaming DAC/preamp to feed an external power amp.
Other features include a built-in headphone amp with dedicated current-feedback circuitry.
The 6000A Play is available from late July in a choice of silver or black, at £799.
To learn more, click www.audiolab.co.uk
An Alexa controlled streamer , either the stuff of nightmares or they have stolen a march on Linn, Naim etc
As of May 29 2020, DTS Play-Fi still says “there’s no Gapless playback at this time”. And after all these years the best they can promise is “it is something we’re taking a look at”.
https://play-fi.com/news/new-features-quality-of-life-improvements-for-dts-play-fi
I’m sorry Audiolab, but a piece of equipment that cannot reproduce music as performed is not a true high-fidelity product, no matter how good it sounds.
If one would have the choice between buying the 6000a and 6000n or only the 6000a play. What would you buy? I’m wondering if two separated products that were build for what they are supposed to do, amp and stream will outperform a product which combines the two.
I’d go for the 6000A plus a separate streamer on sounds terms but the other models are ideal in terms of convenience and space saving.
Thanks Paul. What streamer would you advice? So many choices. I could go for Bluesound Node 2i or Audiolab 6000n. Or even buy a raspberry pi for streaming and focus on an more expensive dac. Maybe something from Topping D50? I want most out of a budget not much exceeding a Node 2i.
I like the 2i to be honest. I haven’t reviewed the D50, I use admit. Topping provides good value for money, though I have to say.