Audiolab 6000A MKII silver

Seven years after its launch, the integrated amplifier that helped revive the market for affordable hi-fi components is getting a makeover. The 6000A MKII builds on its predecessor’s proven formula but now incorporates technologies borrowed from Audiolab’s higher-end 7000 and 9000 ranges. The digital section has been completely redesigned, the power supply has more reserves, and the addition of an HDMI ARC input significantly broadens day-to-day use cases.

A discreet chassis with meticulous build quality

The design remains faithful to the previous model: a low-profile aluminum case (65 mm), a clean front panel with three rotary knobs, and a central OLED display that shows the selected source and volume level. The left-hand knob controls volume via an analog potentiometer, the center one lets you navigate between inputs, while the third gives access to settings and operating modes.

The build quality deserves to be highlighted at this price point. The brushed aluminum front panel gives the unit a more premium look than its positioning would suggest. The overall dimensions are 444 mm wide by 299 mm deep, with a weight of 7.8 kg, allowing for seamless integration with other components from the British manufacturer’s 6000, 7000, and 9000 ranges.

A digital section inherited from higher-end models

The most significant change concerns the digital-to-analog converter. The ES9018K2M chip has been replaced by ESS Technology’s ES9038Q2M, the same component used in the 7000A amplifier. This 32-bit Sabre chip accepts PCM streams up to 192 kHz and relies on HyperStream II architecture and a Time Domain Jitter Eliminator system to minimize background noise.

The engineering team led by Jan Ertner has developed a post-DAC active filter operating in Class A, optimized to exploit the characteristics of this new chip. This approach, originally devised for the 9000 and 7000 series amplifiers, helps refine the sonic presentation. The 6000A MKII also offers several selectable digital filter profiles: Linear Phase (Fast Roll-Off and Slow Roll-Off), Minimum Phase (Fast Roll-Off and Slow Roll-Off), as well as a Hybrid mode.

A reinforced power supply for greater authority

Under the hood, the 200 VA toroidal transformer feeds a bank of four 15,000 µF filter capacitors, i.e. 30,000 µF per power rail. This current reserve allows the amplifier to maintain firmer control during dynamic passages and fast transients. The maximum peak current has also increased from 9 A on the original model to 11 A on this MKII version, improving its ability to drive speakers with complex loads.

The power stage retains a Class AB topology, combined with a CFB (Complementary Feedback) circuit that ensures thermal stability and preserved linearity regardless of the output transistors’ temperature. Rated power remains identical to the previous model: 2 × 50 W into 8 ohms and 2 × 75 W into 4 ohms.

Generous analog and digital connectivity

The rear panel offers a total of ten audio inputs. On the analog side, there are three RCA line inputs plus a phono input dedicated to moving magnet (MM) cartridges. The latter uses low-noise JFET transistors and precise RIAA equalization to deliver a refined reproduction of vinyl records.

The digital section includes two coaxial and two optical S/PDIF inputs, now joined by an HDMI ARC input compatible with eARC. This allows you to recover the TV’s audio via a single HDMI cable, with the option to control the amplifier’s volume and power directly from the TV remote. The built-in Bluetooth receiver has been upgraded to version 5.1 and supports the aptX HD codec for high-resolution wireless transmission.

A preamplifier output (Pre-Out) lets you add an external power amplifier or an active subwoofer. A Power Amp In input allows the 6000A MKII to be used as a pure power amplifier, bypassing the preamp section.

Three operating modes

The unit offers welcome flexibility thanks to three operating modes accessible via the menu. Integrated mode corresponds to classic use as a full amplifier. Preamplifier mode disables the power stage so you can use only the preamp section with an external amplifier. Power amplifier mode, finally, bypasses the preamp to receive a signal from an external source such as a home cinema processor.

This modularity makes it easy to upgrade your system step by step or integrate the 6000A MKII into a multichannel setup, where it would handle the front left and right channels.

A dedicated headphone output

The 6.3 mm front-panel headphone jack is driven by a dedicated amplifier using a Current Feedback topology. This architecture offers extended bandwidth and a high slew rate, resulting in dynamic reproduction with headphones of various impedances, from 20 to 600 ohms. Headphone listening does not rely on the main power amplifier and uses its own circuit.

Technical specifications

Preamplifier

• Gain: +8 dB (line), +54 dB (phono MM)
• Input sensitivity: 720 mV (line), 3.1 mV (phono MM)
• Input impedance: 10 kΩ (line), 47 kΩ (phono MM)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Output voltage: 2.3 V max.
• Output impedance: 120 ohms
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >110 dB (line), >79 dB (phono MM)

Digital-to-analog converter

• Conversion chip: ES9038Q2M
• Output level: 2.05 V
• Maximum sampling rate: 192 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >116 dB

Power amplifier

• Gain: +29 dB
• Rated power: 2 x 50 W (8 ohms), 2 x 75 W (4 ohms)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Input sensitivity: 720 mV
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >109 dB
• Maximum output current: 11 A

Headphone amplifier

• Output impedance: 2.35 ohms
• Load impedance: 20 - 600 ohms

Connectivity

• Inputs: 3 x analog, 1 x phono, 1 x power input, 2 x coaxial, 2 x optical, 1 x Bluetooth, 1 x HDMI ARC
• Outputs: 1 x RCA PRE out

General information

• Dimensions (depth x width x height): 299 mm x 444 mm x 65 mm
• Weight: 7.8 kg