Audiolab 9000CDT black

The Audiolab 9000CDT CD transport represents the culmination of decades of expertise in high-fidelity sound reproduction. Part of the new premium 9000 series from the British manufacturer, this dedicated CD player offers remarkably precise digital extraction, ensuring faithful reproduction of every musical nuance on your compact discs.

Precision Mechanics

At the heart of the 9000CDT is a high-end CD transport mechanism specifically developed to meet Audiolab’s standards of excellence. This high-precision optical system is paired with an electronic buffer memory that ensures smooth, uninterrupted playback. One of the major innovations of this device is its Read-Ahead Digital Buffer, which significantly reduces reading errors and even allows scratched or damaged CDs, unreadable on conventional players, to be played.

The robust aluminum chassis and low-friction loading tray are designed to minimize vibrations, while the CD transport is housed in an electromagnetically shielded enclosure with a dedicated power supply. This meticulous design eliminates parasitic resonances and ensures exemplary digital extraction purity.

Impeccable Signal Quality

To ensure perfect signal transmission to your external digital-to-analog converter, the 9000CDT features a high-precision crystal oscillator master clock that guarantees ultra-low jitter levels. Its coaxial output is powered by a differential line driver delivering a signal amplitude of 500 mV (±50 mVpp) with an impedance of 75 Ω. These technical characteristics ensure optimal compatibility with all DACs on the market.

The audio performance is exemplary, with a frequency response of -0.01 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz, reference 1 kHz) and total harmonic distortion below 0.002%. These specifications highlight the technical excellence of this CD transport, which extracts digital data with absolute fidelity.

Versatility and Extended Connectivity

The 9000CDT is not limited to CD playback. It also features a USB Type-A port on the rear panel, allowing playback of digital audio files stored on USB drives or external hard drives. Compatible with devices formatted in FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32, it supports WAV, AAC, WMA, and MP3 audio formats. Files sampled at 48 kHz are automatically resampled to 44.1 kHz to ensure optimal compatibility.

In terms of connectivity, the 9000CDT offers a coaxial digital output and an optical output, allowing flexible integration into your existing audio system. The device also includes a 12V trigger connection, enabling synchronized power-on with other devices in the 9000 series.

Intuitive User Interface

The user experience has been carefully designed with a 4.3-inch color IPS LCD screen (480 × 800 pixels) that provides a clear and intuitive graphical interface. This screen displays system settings, track format and details, folder and file organization, as well as all relevant information about the current playback.

Navigation is easy via the front panel controls or the included remote control, which provides access to all features: programmed playback, repeat, shuffle, direct track selection, and more. The interface also offers several customization options, such as language selection, auto-standby adjustment, and enabling/disabling on-screen animations.

An Essential Component in the Audiolab 9000 Chain

The 9000CDT integrates seamlessly into the Audiolab 9000 series ecosystem, particularly with the 9000A integrated amplifier. Together, these two devices form a formidable audiophile combination, with the 9000CDT extracting digital data with surgical precision and the 9000A converting it into analog signals via its high-quality integrated DAC.

The dimensions of the 9000CDT (444 × 89 × 322 mm) and its weight of 5.74 kg reflect its robust and meticulous construction. Available in black or silver finishes, it perfectly matches other elements of the 9000 series and will elegantly integrate into your hi-fi setup.

A Design Focused on Performance

Audiolab’s philosophy for the 9000CDT is clear: prioritize sound quality above all. Every aspect of its design has been optimized to extract the maximum information from your CDs without alteration. The power supply circuit has been carefully isolated to avoid any interference with the audio signal, while standby power consumption has been reduced to less than 0.5W to meet current environmental standards.

Reliability is also a key feature, as Audiolab has built its reputation on robust and durable CD players. The 9000CDT continues this tradition with high-quality components selected for their longevity and consistent performance over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a CD transport like the 9000CDT and a standard CD player?
A CD transport like the 9000CDT focuses solely on extracting digital data from the disc and transmitting it to an external digital-to-analog converter. Unlike a complete CD player, it does not have an integrated DAC section or analog outputs. This specialization allows for optimized digital signal extraction and transmission quality.

Can the 9000CDT play home-burned CD-R and CD-RW discs?
Yes, the 9000CDT is fully capable of playing burned CD-R and CD-RW discs. Its Read-Ahead Digital Buffer even allows it to play discs with imperfections that would cause issues on conventional players.

What file formats can I play via the USB port?
The 9000CDT supports WAV, AAC, WMA, and MP3 audio formats via its USB port. WAV files are played at 16-bit/44.1 kHz, while MP3, WMA, and AAC files are supported with bit rates ranging from 32 to 320 kbps. Files sampled at 48 kHz are automatically resampled to 44.1 kHz.

Can the 9000CDT play SACDs or DVD-Audio discs?
No, the 9000CDT is specifically designed for standard audio CDs (Red Book format). It does not support high-resolution formats like SACD or DVD-Audio.

Is it possible to update the firmware of the 9000CDT?
Yes, the 9000CDT can receive firmware updates via the USB port. Simply turn off the device, insert a USB drive containing the official update files, and hold down the “STANDBY” button while turning the device on. The 9000CDT will update automatically.

Technical Specifications

CD Playback and Audio Processing

• High-precision optical system with electronic buffer memory for smooth playback
• Anticipatory buffer memory reducing read errors and enabling playback of scratched or damaged CDs
• Designed for faithful and distortion-free CD playback
• Sampling rate of 44.1 kHz
  • 48 kHz files can be played but will be resampled to 44.1 kHz
• Frequency response: -0.01 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz, ref. 1 kHz)
• Total harmonic distortion: < 0.002%

Vibration Reduction and Design

• Robust aluminum chassis and low-friction loading tray to minimize vibrations
• CD transport mounted in an electromagnetically shielded housing with dedicated power supply
• Resonance reduction to enhance signal quality and audio performance
• High-precision master clock with crystal oscillator for ultra-low jitter

Compatibility and Connectivity

• Rear USB Type-A port for digital audio file playback
• Supported formats: wav, aac, wma, mp3, and other high-resolution and lossless formats
• Compatibility with FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 file systems
• Digital output interfaces: 1 × coaxial, 1 × optical
• Coaxial output powered by a differential line driver for a clean signal
• Digital output amplitude: 500 mV +/- 50 mVpp
• Output impedance: 75 Ω

Display and User Interface

• 4.3-inch color IPS LCD screen
• Clear and intuitive graphical interface displaying:
  • System settings
  • Track format and details
  • Folder and file organization
  • Detailed playback information

Audiophile Performance

• Exemplary digital extraction for high-fidelity sound reproduction
• Enhanced performance through design minimizing interference and disruptions
• Ideal for audiophiles seeking pure and precise CD playback without compromise

Power Supply

• Standby power consumption: < 0.5 W
• Power supply by region: 220-240 V - 50/60 Hz or 100-120 V - 50/60 Hz

Dimensions and Weight

• Product dimensions (w × h × d): 444 × 89 × 342 mm
• Carton dimensions (w × h × d): 514 × 470 × 161 mm
• Net weight: 5.74 kg
• Gross weight: 7.6 kg