audiolab 7000A – Integrated Amplifier with DAC & HDMI ARC
Modern, compact and seriously capable. The audiolab 7000A is a Class AB integrated amplifier that combines 2 × 70 W of clean power, an ES9038Q2M DAC, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth and an MM phono stage in a single elegant chassis. It is designed to be the heart of a contemporary hi-fi system built around TV, streaming, digital sources and vinyl.
- 2 × 70 W into 8 Ω / 2 × 110 W into 4 Ω Class AB power stage
- ES9038Q2M 32-bit DAC with PCM up to 768 kHz and DSD512 support
- HDMI ARC for direct TV connection and system-level volume control
- MM phono stage, Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX / aptX LL) and dedicated headphone amp
Product Overview
The audiolab 7000A sits between the 6000 and 9000 series, taking many of the engineering ideas from its bigger sibling and distilling them into a more compact, living-room-friendly design. Its discrete Class AB power amp stage delivers a genuine 70 W per channel into 8 ohms (110 W into 4 ohms), backed by a 250 VA toroidal transformer and 60,000 µF of reservoir capacitance for excellent dynamic headroom and loudspeaker control.
At the digital front end, an ES9038Q2M 32-bit DAC handles hi-res audio from USB, coaxial and optical sources, supporting PCM up to 768 kHz and DSD up to DSD512, with full MQA decoding from USB and S/PDIF. A 2.8" full-colour IPS display presents input, format and level information clearly, with optional analogue or digital-style VU meters.
Listening Experience
The 7000A delivers a clean, engaging and dynamically agile listening experience. Its CFB (Complementary Feedback) output stage provides excellent linearity and thermal stability, keeping distortion low and tonal balance consistent across volume levels.
Bass is tight and tuneful, with enough weight to drive modern floorstanding speakers while remaining articulate at lower listening levels. The midrange is open and natural, presenting vocals and instruments with clarity and body. High frequencies are extended and detailed but avoid harshness, allowing the ES9038Q2M DAC to reveal fine textures and ambience in both hi-res files and well-recorded CDs or streams.
Recommended Room Size
With 2 × 70 W into 8 Ω and high current delivery (up to 9 A), the audiolab 7000A is ideal for small to medium-large rooms:
- Dedicated listening rooms or studios with standmount or compact floorstanding speakers
- Living rooms where the amplifier also serves as the hub for TV, streaming and gaming
Speaker Pairing
The 7000A is designed to work with a wide range of hi-fi loudspeakers:
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Bookshelf speakers – benefit from the amplifier’s low noise floor, control and imaging precision.
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Floorstanding speakers – appreciate the extra current and headroom, especially in medium-sized rooms.
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Neutral or slightly warm designs – pair particularly well with the 7000A’s transparent, smooth sonic character.
Thanks to the separate power-amp input and pre-out, the 7000A can also be used with external power amplifiers or integrated into more complex systems as your setup grows.
System Integration & Connectivity
The audiolab 7000A is built to be a complete system hub:
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Analogue: 3 × line-level RCA inputs, 1 × MM phono input for turntables, 1 × power-amp input
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Digital: 2 × coaxial and 2 × optical S/PDIF inputs
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USB: 1 × USB-B (PC audio) up to PCM 768 kHz and DSD512
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HDMI ARC: 1 × HDMI ARC input for direct TV audio and volume control via TV remote
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Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and aptX Low Latency for high-quality, low-lag streaming
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Outputs: Speaker terminals, pre-out, headphone output, 12 V trigger
Three operating modes (Integrated, Pre-Power and Pre-only) let you use the 7000A as a classic integrated amplifier, as a standalone power amp fed by an external preamp, or purely as a preamplifier/DAC feeding an external power amplifier.
Ideal Applications
- Modern two-channel hi-fi systems combining TV, streaming, digital and vinyl sources
- Compact living-room setups needing HDMI ARC and Bluetooth without sacrificing sound quality
- Desktop or media-room rigs where a single unit must handle DAC, preamp and power amp duties
- Systems that may later expand into separate pre/power configurations
Technical Specifications
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Type: Integrated amplifier with DAC, MM phono stage, HDMI ARC and Bluetooth
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Amplifier topology: Class AB, discrete with CFB output stage
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Rated power output: 2 × 70 W (8 Ω, THD < 1%), 2 × 110 W (4 Ω, THD < 1%)
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Frequency response (power amp): 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.3 dB)
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THD (power amp): < 0.003% (1 kHz @ 40 W / 8 Ω)
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Max output current: 9 A
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DAC: ESS ES9038Q2M 32-bit
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Digital support: Optical/Coaxial 44.1–192 kHz; USB PCM up to 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD512; MQA full decoding via USB and S/PDIF
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Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX / aptX LL
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Preamplifier gain: +6 dB (Line), +55 dB (Phono MM)
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Input sensitivity: 820 mV (Line, 0 dB), 3.1 mV (Phono MM, 0 dB)
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Input impedance: 10 kΩ (Line), 47 kΩ // 100 pF (Phono MM)
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SNR: > 110 dB (Line, A-weighted), > 76 dB (Phono MM, A-weighted)
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Headphone output: Dedicated current-feedback stage, 20–600 Ω load
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Display: 2.8" full-colour IPS LCD with configurable VU meters
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Dimensions (W × D × H): 444 × 340 × 78 mm
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Net weight: 8.4 kg
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Finish: Black or Silver
Why Choose the audiolab 7000A?
The audiolab 7000A is ideal for enthusiasts who want a compact, elegant integrated amplifier that can genuinely do it all: powerful Class AB amplification, a high-performance ES9038Q2M DAC, HDMI ARC for TV, Bluetooth, MM phono and a serious headphone stage. It provides a refined, future-ready core for demanding hi-fi systems without the complexity of multiple separate components.
