Audiolab D9 - Everything You Need to Know
BIKMAN TECHFollowing a legendary act is never easy, but that's the challenge facing the Audiolab D9. As the spiritual successor to the iconic M-DAC, which set the benchmark for digital-to-analogue converters for years, the D9 arrives with high expectations. It promises to blend the functions of a reference-grade DAC, a high-performance preamplifier, and a dedicated headphone amplifier into one sleek package. In this comprehensive guide from BIKMAN TECH, we'll dive deep into every aspect of the Audiolab D9 to help you decide if this is the digital heart your audio system has been waiting for.
1. Design and Build Quality
The Audiolab D9 makes a strong first impression with its premium, all-aluminum chassis, available in classic silver or black finishes. This isn't just for looks; the solid construction provides excellent shielding from electrical interference, ensuring the internal components can perform at their best. The design language is clean and modern, borrowing cues from Audiolab's flagship 9000 Series. Its compact form factor, measuring 315 x 88.3 x 277mm (12.4 x 3.5 x 10.9 inches), makes it a perfect fit for a desktop setup or a minimalist hi-fi rack. The front panel is dominated by two wonderfully tactile rotary controls and a vibrant 2.8-inch full-color IPS LCD screen, which gives it a modern, user-friendly feel.
2. The Digital Heart: ESS Sabre ES9038PRO
At the core of the Audiolab D9 is the flagship ESS Sabre ES9038PRO, a 32-bit, eight-channel reference-class DAC chipset. This is the engine that drives its exceptional performance. Audiolab employs a sophisticated quad-DAC architecture, using four of the chip's channels for the left audio signal and the other four for the right. This differential configuration is a high-end design choice that significantly lowers the noise floor and enhances dynamic range. The result is a sound that is incredibly clean, detailed, and precise, allowing you to hear every nuance in your music.
3. Uncompromising Power and Purity
A great DAC chip needs an equally great power supply to shine, and Audiolab didn't cut any corners here. The D9 uses a high-grade linear power supply built around a low-noise 40VA toroidal transformer. This is a significant step up from the more common switch-mode power supplies found in many components. Multiple discrete, ultra-low-noise regulators provide clean, isolated power to each stage of the conversion process. This meticulous design ensures that the sensitive DAC and analogue circuits are fed pristine power, which is essential for achieving the D9's reference-level performance.
4. Sonic Performance: Clarity and Musicality
So, how does it sound? In a word: exceptional. The Audiolab D9 delivers a sonic signature characterized by incredible clarity and organization. It presents a massive amount of information without ever sounding congested, creating a wide-open and airy soundstage. The tonal balance is perfectly even-handed; bass is muscular but controlled, the midrange is lucid and direct, and the treble is sharp yet refined. While it prioritizes articulation, it never sacrifices musicality. The D9 has the dynamic punch and rhythmic drive to make music engaging and entertaining, striking a beautiful balance between analytical insight and pure listening pleasure.
5. A Hub for Your Digital World: Connectivity
The Audiolab D9 is designed to be the central hub of your digital audio system, and its connectivity options reflect that. The rear panel is packed with inputs to accommodate nearly any source. You get two coaxial and two optical S/PDIF inputs, a professional-grade AES/EBU input, an asynchronous USB-B port for your computer, and a USB-A port for playing files directly from a hard drive. For outputs, it offers both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR connections, which can be set to fixed or variable levels, allowing it to function as a preamplifier connected directly to a power amp.
6. High-Resolution Wireless Audio
For those who value convenience, the D9 includes state-of-the-art wireless connectivity. It features Bluetooth 5.1 with support for high-resolution codecs, including aptX HD and, crucially, LDAC. Sony's LDAC technology allows for the wireless transmission of audio at near-hi-res quality, making streaming from your smartphone or tablet sound better than ever. This makes the Audiolab D9 a fantastic solution for both critical listening sessions and casual, everyday use.
7. Future-Proof Format Support
No matter how you listen to your digital music, the Audiolab D9 has you covered. Through its PC USB connection, it supports ultra-high-resolution files, including PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD up to DSD512. It also provides full, on-board MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) decoding, allowing you to experience master-quality audio from services like TIDAL exactly as the artist intended. To top it off, the D9 is also certified as Roon Tested, ensuring seamless integration into a Roon-based music management ecosystem.
8. For the Headphone Enthusiast: The "Can-Jam" Amp
The D9 is a dream come true for headphone lovers. It incorporates a dedicated, high-power headphone amplifier internally dubbed "Can-Jam." This amp uses a current-feedback circuit design, known for delivering a dynamic, detailed, and spacious performance. It's powerful enough to drive a huge range of headphones, from sensitive in-ear monitors to demanding planar magnetic models, with a specified load impedance of 20 to 600 ohms. This isn't just an afterthought; it's a formidable headphone amp that makes the D9 a sensational all-in-one desktop audio solution.
9. Ease of Use and Customization
The user experience is centered around the bright 2.8-inch color screen and intuitive rotary controls. The display provides clear feedback on volume, input, and file format, and can even be set to show digital or analogue-style VU meters. For those who like to fine-tune their sound, the D9 offers five selectable digital reconstruction filters (such as Linear Phase and Minimum Phase) to tailor the sonic presentation. You can also choose to upsample lower-resolution signals to 352.8kHz or 384kHz to potentially extract even more detail from your music.
10. Technical Specifications
Here’s a quick look at the key specifications for the Audiolab D9:
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| DAC Chip | ES9038PRO 32-bit |
| Max Sampling Rate (PC USB) | PCM 768kHz, DSD512 |
| Digital Inputs | 2x Coaxial, 2x Optical, 1x AES/EBU, 1x PC USB-B, 1x USB-A |
| Wireless Input | Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX, aptX HD, LDAC) |
| Analogue Outputs | 1x RCA (Unbalanced), 1x XLR (Balanced) |
| Headphone Output | 6.35mm (1/4 inch) |
| Headphone Amp Load Impedance | 20-600 ohm |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 315 x 88.3 x 277mm |
| Weight | 4.2 kg (9.3 lbs) |
Is the Audiolab D9 Right for You?
The Audiolab D9 is a resounding success, living up to the legacy of its predecessors. It masterfully combines reference-level performance, comprehensive features, and outstanding versatility into a single, beautifully crafted unit. It is an ideal choice for the dedicated headphone enthusiast seeking a powerful and refined desktop system. It's also perfect for anyone looking to build a minimalist yet high-performance hi-fi system by connecting it directly to a power amplifier. If you're looking for a significant audio upgrade that offers both exceptional sound and incredible value, the D9 should be at the top of your list. Ready to elevate your audio experience? Check out the latest deals on the Audiolab D9. Let us know at BIKMAN TECH if you have any questions in the comments, and feel free to share this post!
