Audiolab 6000N Play Network-Player black

Audiolab 6000N Play Network-Player


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Verdict: "While music streaming has earned its hold on the music industry and subsequent ubiquity in manufacturer’s hi-fi catalogues, understandably not everybody is ready to consign their other source components to the bin. And the Audiolab 6000N Play, with its price, unassuming design and streaming features, doesn’t ask you to. The Play is a great, affordable way to implement streaming into your system without compromising sonic quality – and with the added bonus of being able to slip into your hi-fi rack inconspicuously. Quite frankly, it’s the best budget solution we’ve had the pleasure of meeting."

Overview

The audiolab 6000N Play is a wireless audio streaming player and is the latest member of the acclaimed audiolab 6000 Series of components. Featuring DTS Play-Fi® Technology, music can be streamed over your wireless network in high-resolution format and can be easily expanded to a multi-room system if required. You can stream from any source on your wireless network, including smart-phones, tablets or PCs as well as a NAS Drive.

The 6000N Play is the ideal way to add high-performance wireless streaming to any home audio system

The 6000N Play combines the versatility of the DTS Play-Fi wireless audio platform with audiolab’s sonic know-how to deliver a great-sounding Wi-Fi streaming solution that is simple to set up and use. Users can stream from any source on their wireless network – smartphones, tablets and PCs, as well as NAS drives and music servers – utilising the 6000N Play’s dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi. It also connects wirelessly with other Play-Fi-equipped devices, enabling a fully synchronised multi-room set-up.
 
Technology

Providing access to a wealth of internet music services: Spotify, Tidal, HDtracks, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Napster, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM, to name a few. Users might choose to browse a radio guide listing thousands of stations and podcasts, or stream from a home media server with DLNA compatibility. The 6000N Play is hi-res audio enabled, capable of receiving data up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution over Wi-Fi – well in excess of CD quality – without transcoding or down-sampling.

The 6000N Play incorporates a high-quality DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter), utilising the same ES9018 Sabre32 Reference chip found in the highly acclaimed audiolab 6000A integrated amplifier. ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, coupled to audiolab’s own circuitry, delivers ultra-low noise and high dynamic range. The circuit design also draws inspiration from audiolab’s 6000CDT CD transport, incorporating the same isolated power supply with a high – efficiency toroidal transformer for optimum signal purity.

The inclusion of a DAC stage ensures the 6000N Play can be used with any audio system – simply connect the RCA analogue outputs to a regular amplifier, or a pair of active speakers. Alternatively, take a digital feed (optical or coaxial) direct to an external DAC, or an amp with digital inputs such as audiolab’s 6000A. Naturally, the 6000A is an ideal partner for the 6000N Play; when these two components are paired digitally, an optical or coaxial cable is used to convey the audio signal while a supplied USB control cable enables control of the 6000A volume via the Play-Fi app.

Direct Streaming

The 6000N Play is configured and operated via the Play-Fi app, available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire phones and tablets, as well as Apple and Android smartwatches and Windows PCs. It can also stream directly from Spotify via Spotify Connect, and is DLNA and UPnP compliant. There are minimal controls on the component itself – just the standby button and a set of six’ preset’ buttons. These presets operate exactly like those on a DAB or FM tuner; simply select an internet radio station, or a playlist from a compatible streaming service, and store it as a preset for speedy access – no app required.

This operational simplicity, coupled to Play-Fi’s versatility, is key to the 6000N Play’s appeal. For some, it is the perfect way to stream music from the likes of Spotify, Tidal and Deezer, with all the additional functionality of Play-Fi including multi-room audio. For others, it is simply the best way of adding radio to their hi-fi system, with the huge choice of stations available via the internet.

WIRELESS STREAMING TECHNOLOGY

DTS Play-Fi is premium whole-home wireless audio, now available from the largest ecosystem of brands in the world. Stream your favourite content with astounding audio quality, from every device that you’ve got. All DTS Play-Fi products are seamlessly interoperable, so you can find the perfect speaker for every room, and know that they will all make beautiful music together.

Whole home audio, made easy:

DTS Play-Fi sends audio from mobile devices to speakers throughout the home using proprietary streaming, synchronization, and authentication technology.

Freedom of choice, at last

Every single DTS Play-Fi product works perfectly with all the rest, regardless of brand, so you get a huge range of options to customize your home, and one simple, elegant listening experience.

DTS Play-Fi offers an unparalleled selection of audio products for your home, from compact battery-powered speakers to powerful soundbars, built by the most respected audio brands in the business. No more compromising your style or taste to get a high-quality wireless audio solution.

Works with every device you’ve got

Of course, your music is always close by. And we know you have all kinds of devices in your life. That’s why DTS Play-Fi is built especially for smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
We have easy-to-use software for Android, iOS, Kindle Fires, and Windows. We support streaming via Spotify Connect, too. Any way you want to play, it just works.
DTS Play-Fi offers an unparalleled selection of audio products for your home, from compact battery-powered speakers to powerful soundbars, built by the most respected audio brands in the business. No more compromising your style or taste to get a high-quality wireless audio solution.

Specifications

• Digital Output Level: 500 +/- 50mVpp
• Output Impedance: 75Ω
• Maximum Resolution: 192kHz/24bit
• Digital Output: 1 x coaxial , 1 x optical
• Variable Output Voltage: 0 – 2.1V
• DAC: ES9018K2M
• Frequency Response: +/-0.5dB(20Hz-20kHz,ref.1kHz)
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.003% (1kHz @0dBFS , BW=20-20kHz)
• Signal-to-noise Ratio (S/N): >115dB(A-weighted)
• Analogue Output Impedance: 100Ω
• Standby Power Consumption: <0.5W
• Requirements (depending on region): 220V—240V~50/60Hz; 100V—120V~50/60Hz
• Dimensions (LxHxW): 445 x 80 x 330mm. including feet, terminals and controls
• Net Weight: 4.9kg