The Article
AUDIOLAB 9000CDT ON YOUTUBE
29th January 2023
Includes a comparison with an integrated CD player from Leema, the Heed CD transport & Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport
Check out the YouTube Description for an edited interview with lead engineer, Jan Ertner.
Check out my Patreon page for the full interview: www.patreon.com/audiophileman.
To see the video, click:
Great review the 9000 sounds like a real winner: and I’ve been waiting for this review with some anticipation it has to be said. I’ve also been keen to see a review of the roksan attessa transport for some time, but incredibly nothing seems forthcoming anywhere I can find in print or online.
So, I’ve been using the oppo 105 universal player quite happily for many years, but with a suspicion that I could get more from CD playback by adding a transport. I’ve been hesitant about the audiolab CDT 6000 as a slot loader despite it’s giant killer reputation. My feeling now is that some extra pennies need to be saved for the new audiolab CDT 9000!
My only criticism of the design would be the usb port. I’m not sure why it’s included really. Any DAC you hook the transport up to is likely to have a usb input. The oppo has a decent DAC which I’m sure would reveal a good portion of the 9000’s performance capability, if not all. It would be a good starting point at least, and also allow me continued access to SACD and DVD/Blu-ray audio. Although I’m wondering that the audiolab’s ability with CD might actually surpass the SACD and DVD capabilities of the oppo? Which would be quite something!
Just as an aside, I would love to see you review the Rotel dt-6000 CD player DAC which has had some incredibly strong reviews. Obviously, this is a one box solution which generally entails all those compromises you clearly outline. Nevertheless, it does have some really very strong reviews. I would be so interested to know your thoughts on its performance in comparison to the new audiolab transport. (Perhaps the audiolab hooked up to the Graham Slee DAC you recently reviewed would be pretty amazing and hard to beat!) Anyway, I’m conjecturing away!
As always, I can’t thank you enough for your effort and insight into this hobby/obsession. It is always enjoyed and really appreciated. Many thanks!
I’ve been waiting for a Roksan review sample for a while and reminded the company about it a week ago, oddly enough. I’ll see what happens.
I too wonder why there’s a USB port there 🙂
I haven’t chatted to a Rotel rep for a long time. It happens. Sometimes you lose touch with companies…just because. So I’ll makes note to say ‘hello’.
I’ve had to send the Graham Slee back because a potential buyer wanted to use it as a loan ‘try it first’ thing otherwise I would have tested it.
Thank you for your kind comments 🙂
Hi Paul,
another great review:) I bought the Audiolab 6000 CDT after listening to your review and it seems that the 9000 will be an upgrade… I have QED cables (reference digital USB and reference analogic xrl) and Tellurium (waveform digital rca black and analogic xrl ultra black) and I confirm your reviews.
The post of Mr Timothy Cook was a nice surprise because I am writing to you to ask as well of any chance for you to review the Rotel DT-6000 DAC/transport and I own the Oppo 105!
I am really curious how the DT-6000 perform as transport by comparing with Audiolab 6000 and 9000 CDT connected to its DAC and how good is the latter compared to other DAC!
keep going with your good reviews:)
PS: To Mr Timothy, the Oppo 105 remain a reference for its time and I will keep it because it reads all formats but Audiolab 6000 CDT connected to a more recent DAC sound different… I have the CDT6000 connected to the Rotel RC-1590 through a coaxial cable and it sounds more open and detailed compared to the Oppo and I assume, as Paul said, better is the DAC and the coaxial cable better it will be the sound…
Consider an German Oymann ugrade DIY at 220EU for the CDT6000. maybe that will bring it into CDT9000 territory. We won’t know till Oymann tests the 9000 or.. even has an upgrade for that.
And to further entice (or cause hesitation) is Audiolab’s new 7000CDT transport. I wonder what you’ll make of that!
Hi Rick – I have put in a request – so finger’s crossed!