I'm glad manufacturers are still making CD players. Shows CDs are here to stay for some time.
@ruger6049 Жыл бұрын
I cannot get Tidal Master to sound as good as my CD.
@ChrisStoneinator Жыл бұрын
@@ruger6049 MQA is snake oil and actively degrades quality. I'd highly suggest watching Golden Sounds' video on the subject. It's committing all the same sins as MP3, and more.
@eugeneniemierzycki64907 ай бұрын
Absolutely, and we are the winners! Many transports have emerged recently. Great quality, sound, and price! Look around, look around!
@stephenbailey9969 Жыл бұрын
Many thanks for your reviews. I tried the Audiolab 6000 CDT after that review. Your description was spot on. The purchase has given me many hours of listening pleasure.
@EnriqSandoval Жыл бұрын
Same here. Love my 6000cdt.
@johnd8776 Жыл бұрын
In
@j.neumann1722 Жыл бұрын
As a owner of the 9000cdt for about 3 weeks I can absolutely confirm that review! A brilliant Player! The only thing that keeps me wondering is… why the heck this player doesn’t support cd text while having that awesome display…? At I first didn’t realize it because my old Harman didn’t have it either… after realizing it left a little question mark. I hope Audiolab will come up with a firmware update that includes cd text wich I would consider a nice to have…
@iant7964 Жыл бұрын
Purchased my 9000 CDT 3 days ago and am very very happy with it, the sound is excellent and builds quality seems the same, excellent, let's see how it performs in the long run.
@eugeneniemierzycki64907 ай бұрын
Replied elsewhere!
@KITFLETCH1 Жыл бұрын
Great that CDs still get this sort of attention.
@EENUFFF Жыл бұрын
After over 20 years of faithful service from my Arcam CD72 I decided to place it into retirement along with its' slightly younger Hegel HD10 DAC,,,I have an Accuphase E-480 for which I had purchased the DAC50 module and the Audiolab CDT 9000 as very informatively reviewed by yourself seemed to totally fit my needs....very interesting and informative review and so far I am totally delighted with how it sounds in my system,thanks Paul....
@tones4073 Жыл бұрын
I have an audiolab 8200cd player which I have used as my main hifi source for over 10 years. It's been one of my best hifi purchases ever. It's great to think if I decide to replace it with another player, audiolab and other like companies are still manufacturing and improving CD players for what many think is an old dying format.
@sav756828 күн бұрын
Audiolab don't make CD players any more. Transports only so you might have to buy an external DAC.
@paulvidal3016 Жыл бұрын
From one Paul to another ! Wonderful video and oh, so accurate. I just bought this Audiolab 9000cdt transport. Linked via a Graham Slee Lautus digital coaxial interconnect to a Graham Slee Majestic DAC also used as a preamp, itself plugged into my Marantz PM11S3 amplifier through Graham Slee Lautus RCA interconnects, the sound coming from my Cabasse Iroise III speakers is.......the best I've ever had - stunningly clear, amazingly dynamic, utterly detailed, completely musical. I agree with everything Paul says here with eloquence. For my part, I think that I ultimately reached that much sought after situation in which I can proudly exclaim : I don't need anyhthing else on the digital front !! The Audiolab 9000CDT is a not-to-be-missed godsend. Thank you, Paul ! Paul Vidal, France.
@Asphodellife7 ай бұрын
May I ask if there was maybe a specific reason you chose to connect with a Coax cable (instead of Optical) ?
@TheAudiophileMan7 ай бұрын
Audiolab did a bit of anti-noise work on the coax socket itself so the sound is improved via this one.
@Asphodellife7 ай бұрын
okay, thanks. It's because on paper optical seems to be the logical choice because of it's nature, but I see a lot of people connecting their player with coax instead. Some newer transports don't even have optical anymore.@@TheAudiophileMan
@darthdurkelthewise320 Жыл бұрын
As an owner of the 6000CDT, among others, I am quite happy. It does a great job of getting out of the way in my 2-channel system and I prefer it’s look over this new one. However, I do feel that the drawer was a good way to go on the 9000CDT because frankly, the 6000CDT should have been that way from the start. I felt that the slot loader was fine but Audiolab really should have thought more about potential pitfalls of that choice. There’s a number of reasons designers rarely use it. But let’s be blunt here, the forum marketplace is full of costly players w/problematic designs. I never had any damage to any of my discs but it can be finicky about playing certain discs where my drawer players gladly play everything… Even the very budget ONKYO 7030 which was also a bit of a “giant killer” considering its price, plays everything and does it quite well as a transport. I still have an original one that operates flawlessly in the same time that I’ve seen boxes costing 20x as much needing repair. In the end, I won’t be moving on to this one as it’s just not much of an “upgrade” IMO. There are many variables that help to define a system tonally (DAC, speakers, etc.). And if you choose these pieces wisely, you really won’t need to even consider new transports unless there’s an itch to do it given the lack of actual advances with CD/transport boxes. Very good overview though and appreciated since we just don’t see CD anything getting it’s due. Cheers 👍🏻
@TommyTCGT Жыл бұрын
2 upgraders in Germany at 200EU, add to a mint CDT60000??
@davybloggs1564 Жыл бұрын
@@TommyTCGT What are you on about?? Explain please.
@lpspinners8736 Жыл бұрын
I agree that the 6000cdt is a great sounding transport connected to the Schiit Audio Bifrost 2/64 DAC.
@keithbrowes1974 Жыл бұрын
Great review Paul, love my 6000a and 600cdt, many hours of happy listening 👍, good to see audiolab pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with sensibly priced equipment 👍
@TheOrthodoxMachine Жыл бұрын
Think the slot loader needs a bit of kudos - as a Hifi-dad I love the Audiolab slot loader as it allows the toddler to play disks with little worry about breaking the tray/Cd player
@bobby666666 Жыл бұрын
Brilliant review Paul. A good price, but out of my range though. I shall stick with the 6000CDT which I purchased on your recommendation in the previous review.
@markgallagher5908 Жыл бұрын
It's hard to knock the 6000 as it's a great sounding device, it's also fantastic value for money but the 9000 is certainly a tempting upgrade.
@TheOrthodoxMachine Жыл бұрын
7000 CDT review required! 😉
@charlesnr Жыл бұрын
A Groovy Award to this detailed Transport Review. 10/10 And happily a nice drawer for the disc.
@leeandrewclarke Жыл бұрын
I own the 6000 and now the 9000. What Paul says about the sonic benefits are true. I found that the sound became more stable, authoritative and magisterial. In many ways, it felt like the improvements gained from a better power amp.The 6000 sounds fun but lumpy and chaotic when you go back to it. ( still the best bargain in hi-fi at that price, tho ) However, there are some gripes; I am disappointed in the build of the 9000 and the display. In terms of build, the top plate is highly resonant, the finish is sprayed on metal and the draw is flimsy plastic. I am so worried about breaking it I might even prefer the slot loader on my 6000. Also, the display is really only any good for showing you what track you are on, especially if you are more than six feet away. You can't stop a track without the remote. A final gripe is the lack of a I2s output. It's a shame because this could have been an endgame transport for all but the millionaire class of customer. The SQ is remarkable for the price. As it is, I am more happy listening to it than using it and might end up buying a Jay's Audio Top Loader in future. I just wish Audiolab offered the model with a brushed finish, a more substantial top plate, a steel drawer and better display and output options. They could have charged an extra £200-300 for it and I would have happily paid and let them profit a little extra from me. Still, you can't get a better sound, at this price, IMHO.
@ChrisStoneinator Жыл бұрын
This is where I become skeptical. A CD transport shouldn't take on a sound "character". It can't sound "fun", it can't sound "authoritative". It either has more jitter and noise, or less jitter and noise. I believe in the benefits of reducing jitter and noise, but I think with comments like this, you're kidding yourself.
@leeandrewclarke Жыл бұрын
Well, thanks for your uninformed opinion, having never heard, yet alone owned an Audiolab 9000, nor had four other CD transports to compare to, like I have. But please, feel free to pontificate about that which you actually know nothing about. You see, I try hard not to be like so many people today, who love to throw about online opinions from behind a keyboard and tell complete strangers their business. Me? I actually base my opinion on direct knowledge. I actually brought an Audiolab 9000 on a home demo and directly compared it to my 6000, which I still have, and then against a Trichord Research-modified Pioneer transport and a Teac T1 transport that friends brought around. That's where my opinion came from. And that's why I kept the 9000. Now, you could just assume that maybe I have a point, based on direct experience, and perhaps learn from what I'm saying. Or you could do even better. You might even try out an Audiolab 9000 and compare it to whatever you have, to learn first-hand. Then your opinion would actually mean more than just an expression of your ego. Perhaps you might be as surprised as I have been at how those pesky zeros and ones, going down a coax cable, through a SPDIF interface, can really influence sound. You may evolve your knowledge, based on direct experience and experimentation, they way that all of the best knowledge is learned. Perhaps you might realise how wrong you were and learn the wisdom of being a bit less opinionated, until you actually have a similar level of experience to the person you are casually dismissing. You know, I've met so many like you. I used to sell high-end hi-fi back in London, in the nineties. I remember opinionated customers ( who hadn't heard one-tenth of all the gear I had come through the shop ) try to sneer and tell me that 'cables can't make a difference' or 'accurate mains regulation can't make a difference' or 'vibration control can't improve sound.' Well, those know-nothings were soon proven wrong when I challenged them to blind listening tests and showed those factors all made a difference. Some were humble enough afterwards to listen to my experience and, by God, did I make their systems better. I've got an idea for you to try, if you want to actually 'walk the walk' rather than just 'talk the talk.' This is a way to KNOW what a superior transport achieves. Find a store stocking the Audiolab 9000, which costs £1000 and pair it with a £500 DAC. That's a £1500 front end. Then compare, in that store, directly against a £500 CD player being used as a transport, feeding a £1000 DAC. You would have two options costing the same and can ask yourself which one sounds right; the dedicated transport with inferior DAC or the superior DAC being fed badly by a poor, noisy CD player being used as a transport? How about you actually try it? Write back to me when you know something. I'm sincerely interested in whether you are blown away. i suspect you might be. And then you might have learned a few things about both hi-fi and about the worthlessness of being opinionated without knowing what the hell you are talking about. But you won't, will you? Instead, you'll probably just let your ego do the talking and write back something competitive. Of course, it's much easier to pretend to know something rather than go out of your way to actually find it out. Our community has always been filled with people who know only WHAT THEY THINK and it's one of the reasons why audiophile progress is as slow as it is. The market is often slow to respond to true innovation because so many think it's clever to be skeptical. It's certainly an excuse to be arrogant, which is why so many love to tell people what's what. Hope you listened and heard me. Valuable lessons for both hi-fi and life.
@davidbingdingdong7 күн бұрын
I bought this after this review. Glad I did. Its class
@Rufovic4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the very interesting review! I confirm everything that has been said. In my case, the AUDIOLAB 9000CDT was opposed to my old ROTEL-RCD-06. After listening and comparing, I had to put the ROTEL-RCD-06 up for sale without hesitation. I would like to see a test and comparison of Audiolab 9000N and Audiolab 7000N
@luton_gmanrock Жыл бұрын
A good cd player built properly eliminates the need for separation, cd transports are almost a gimmick. My ARCAM CD-92 is like a tank, built to last with low noise floor. Excellent video again though Paul.
@ramblinginmeath4950 Жыл бұрын
Interesting observation and I am looking for a CD/CDT and Ive had some demo's of the CDT6000 and I think the 7000 is a moderate improvement - not sure - I have to add on the costs of a reasonable DAC and thats going to cost circa €750/1000 - or my other option is something the caught my interest in recently - Marantz CD60 -- yes I love my silver discs and my vinyl - and the Sugden A21 is well capable for my needs - but do I go CD (Marantz maybe) or CDT 7000... is the difference really that noticeable - so many varying factors / room / acoustics / speakers etc etc - and down the rabbit hole we go
@jonasjansson79706 ай бұрын
I would buy the 6000 and put the difference in price on the dac instead.
@TheNaka9 Жыл бұрын
Just bought the 9000 CDT and it is great! Your review is absolutely spot on. My only criticism lays on the display (don’t care about the animation and the time display is too small) and the lack of a STOP button on the player’s front panel (this is just stupid). Maybe perhaps a firmware update can change this issues, as it is software related… can you ask Audiolab please :)
@stevepetch20853 ай бұрын
Fantastic to see and hear the late Peter Bardens and his music given air time. A great musician sadly missed.
@davybloggs1564 Жыл бұрын
Another great vid Paul, but I was shocked when I saw the inside of the 9000 - it's almost empty! Why ohh why is it £1000??? For that amoount, they should have included AES/EBU output as well. 2.5 times the price of the 6000, yet, apart from a tray loader, internal part count seem similar. Parts may be a little more expensive in the 9000, but 2.5x the price is, IMO, unreasonable. You say the build quality is good, yet they could not even centre the transformer correctly! Also, it would be interesting to know what is the make and model of the actual transport used? Does that colour display add all that extra cost? As for the sound 'comparison; who would buy a cheapo DAC with this? I realise you had to match prices, so why not choose a DAC that would be used with this, then choose a CD player of THAT cost, for a fairer comparison?
@stonefree1911 Жыл бұрын
I love the calm, factual nature of these videos. Informational and relaxing.
@connorduke4619 Жыл бұрын
Its the British way.... :)
@gerlachsieders4578 Жыл бұрын
Nice one, thank your for your honest review. Would be interesting to hear your ideas on the upcoming 7000 cdt that sits somewhere in between... all the best, Gerlach Sven
@stuartkennedy42025 ай бұрын
I bought one today. I’m looking forward to your words coming true via the music I will hear from my cd transport. Thank you 👍
@earl007 Жыл бұрын
Five thousand albums on Seagate 4 TB external HD in flac format. Backed up on another external 4 TB HD attached to laptop. Played back thru Cambridge Audio BD 752 blue ray play thru usb which is a dac. The CA brings up my complete library on TV screen and I scroll thru with remote control press play and music. Have thought about NAS drive but this set up has worked for over 12 years so happy. As you had I have had one WD external go on me but a PC technician managed to save the disc. Cheers
@earl007 Жыл бұрын
Sorry I was writing this for another podcast that you did and it changed on me. Cheers
@ulgn19644 ай бұрын
Did the same but its anoying to always have to have my computer on, nowdays i use a nas with 2 x 4tb disk and the streaming i do directly to a blusound node or to my amp, controlling everything with my phone, way better setup and no computer and the sound is better to.
@sound-flies Жыл бұрын
great video and totally agree. I do prefer a European made product but still looks great. would love to see more reviews like this one. Cd transport / players
@johngarbutt Жыл бұрын
Very enjoyable review. Value for money wise I suspect the 6000cdt can't be beaten. But it does come down to how much you are willing to spend . Would love it if you could do a review of the Cyrus CDT XR. The Cyrus is a big step up in price and there is no proper review to be found on youtube so would be fascinating to see how it compares to the Audiolab 9000cdt.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I'll certainly make a note re. the Cyrus, John.
@rauldon4596 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan by the way; for this review, what coaxial cable did you use? 😊 U mention right at the end that one should buy the best coaxial cable they can afford... With that being said; I'll buy the coaxial cable that u personally used in this review. Please tell me what it was. Thank you!
@philipnunn1816 Жыл бұрын
Oooooh very nice. Will you be reviewing the 7000 CDT as well?
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I’ve put in a review request. Fingers crossed!
@barneyrubble9309 Жыл бұрын
Been toying with getting a transport but I really want a top loader as I hate those crappy plastic cd trays...its one less thing to fail with a top loader.
@bobby666666 Жыл бұрын
If you haven't seen it, you should look at Paul's previous video for the Audiolab 6000CDT. It's very good. Obviously not as good as this model, but is under £400.00 and doesn't have the tray.
@robh9079 Жыл бұрын
@@bobby666666 My understanding from a pro hifi uprader is for general reliability slots are by far the worsed, tray much less problimatic, top loader is king. conjecture a rega with upgraded psu and clock might be a cost effective, high quality, reliable solution.
@barneyrubble9309 Жыл бұрын
@@bobby666666 I hate slot loaders even more.
@barneyrubble9309 Жыл бұрын
@@robh9079 yeah I considered that but prefer the Exposure xm over the Rega. But at Exposure prices you start to get into used high end transports territory. Problem is justifying the expenditure to myself.
@fletchermunson622511 ай бұрын
Just got a 9000. Happily, tray opens and closes like a bank vault inspiring confidence.
@kevinr8404 Жыл бұрын
I bought this a few weeks ago. It sounds beautiful, opens it up, and tightens it up. .
@Joel-m777 Жыл бұрын
Fantastic review. Thank you. Appreciate your passion for good old CD player. I have a Primare DD35 cd transport in which I am very happy with but can not not find any reviews on it.
@irigormo Жыл бұрын
Wow, $1500 in US and that seems a bit more than just pound vs dollar difference. Also, there is a 7000 out with slot loader but same style as 9000 for $899. I guess I'll keep using my old cd player as a transport for now. Playing much more vinyl these days anyway. great review though.
@romerlaszlo8 ай бұрын
Thank you .Enjoyed your review, and am now enjoying the 9000cdt very much .So far the only criticism is why no CD title and track title displayed on that wonderful display. An oversight ? Certainly a missed opportunity. Surely not a costly inclusion for the manufacturer. How about a firmware update Audiolab, to do justice to your outstanding transport!
@gavinhall4112 Жыл бұрын
Would love to see how you think this compares to the Lyngdorf CD-2 used as a transport.
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
Same. The review I think we both saw on here, sparked the same question. He was a.bit Meh with it on a lower priced Dac, which didn't really say much about itnas a Transport? Loved it from its balanced outs tho using internal Dac. My problem is my dac, Wouldn't want a transport not running into it, even a 3K player. Comes down to implementation of the two digital outs I guess,.both Spdif. Woukdnexpect the 3K Lyngdorf to inject less noise into bitstream from noisy power supplies,.but Audiolab here looks top notch too. Primare DD35 is on the radar too, But proofs in the listening I guess? Or take a Punt on the lower priced Audiolab 9000... Love.my 6000CDT, and if the 9000's even better, well.
@beatsdontstop2 Жыл бұрын
If that usb port could play flac I'd consider upgrading from 6000 cdt and really can't understand why it doesn't being the the most common format for lossless and open source. As it is I'm more than happy with the 6000 which sounds superb into my chord DAC. Before buying the 6000 I was playing ripped CDs from a PC, the 6000 sounds so much better than that.
@user-zs6cb7ij6c Жыл бұрын
I am trialling a 9000CDT at present and am struck by the bass and detail. This through an Audiolab QDac so lower down the scale. This would replace my longstanding and much loved Naim CD5x. There is so much more detail with a well spaced soundstage and much stronger bass. I thought there might be too much bass but the mid is spacious and treble well defined. I played some James Taylor (One Man Band live) and he literally feels in the room. Still exploring but it does appear a revelation if not quite a revolution.
@andikleve2972 Жыл бұрын
Thank you! An interesting product, and I really like audiolab (I've been using the 8200CDQ with active speakers for a couple of years and like it very much). However, for a CD Transport I would prefer an AES output (and ideally a clock interface). And the 9000A might be great with the 9000CDT, but it's not Roon ready - and in my experience, I need RAAT to get great streaming quality. But anyway, thank your for the review!
@sebastianpatania80482 ай бұрын
I've owned the cdt9000 and It was a very good sounding machine. Then I moved tò the Pro-ject cd box RS2 T and It was another story, another league. But the price Is also differenti...
@dougieroberts70454 ай бұрын
I have a 6000cdt, its great, except for the loading mechanism and the lack of a USB input. I also use a 6000a as a preamp with Emotiva power amps. I arent much for looking at audio equipment, all mine is mostly out of view, however, I dont look the modern look of audiolab equipment, its all getting a bit B&O for me, I look back to the 8000A, 8000M, 8000C and 8000P and to this day I think the original audiolab equipment was visually the best looking audio equipment I have ever seen. The USB socket on the back is always one that confuses me. Its the least accessable place on the rear, so plugging in a USB stick wouldn't be the ideal. Even if it was a hard drive plugged in place for a permanent solution, one would still need to remove the hard drive occasionally to update with newer music. Perhaps a solution would be to include a USB extension plug for easy access. I wouldn't pay this sort of money for a cd transport, theres way too much evidence to suggest that a transport is just a transport and that ultimately ones money would be more beneficial going into the DAC
@grahamstrahle4010 Жыл бұрын
Any thoughts on how the 7000CDT compares?
@iand85487 ай бұрын
Good overview. For this price point, I would expect AES/EBU output as well. Question: Why didn't you use the LEEMA CD digital inputs from the 9000 and then you could compare both transports with the same DAC, regardless of the price?
@petervdveenmuis Жыл бұрын
I don't feel the urgent need to purchase a 9000CDT. I owe the 6000CDT / M-DAC + combi. Coax is the Apogee WydeYye. It suits me.
@petervdveenmuis Жыл бұрын
Hi Paul. What about the new CDT7000? Is it a good update for the CDT6000?
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
Indeed, what about it, eh? In short, I've no idea because, as far as I'm aware, review samples are not available just yet. I'll keep my ear to the ground (although obviously not anywhere that might be at all busy).
@petervdveenmuis Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan I do thank you Sir!
@bradjones9625 Жыл бұрын
I thought I was happy with my 8300CDQ and 6000CDT (sounds great!) but after 18 months, I realised that even with the best efforts, those slot loading mechanisms were leaving slight pinch marks on some of my new CDs (on the outer edge). Even with the most delicate/correct force of loading in and taking out/level steady hands - they are just too violent. They particularly have no mercy when it comes to Japanese discs, EU and local discs seem to take it better and 9 times out of 10 there is no mark. For older discs......who cares?! When you consider the amount of slot loaders used over the years with various game consoles etc which are a lot softer and designed to work with (harder) coated discs such as Blu Ray, it's been a total let down. Reminds me of the CD drive in my 2011 Macbook Pro which always was a vicious #### ######!
@geo.0377 ай бұрын
You didn't make a comment about whether these marks actually effect the sound or playability.
@bradjones96257 ай бұрын
@@geo.037 They won't straight away as we know CDs take quite some hammering/time before they start to skip or struggle to play across various players. But when buying the CDs for 3rd time in 3 decades and wanting to keep them 'mint'..... it would be nice if the slots in these Audiolab players didn't cause scratches anywhere. I was tempted for 7000CDT knowing this will be a better loading option, but it's left a bad taste! It's been a while since I made these comments - I'm currently looking at the Yamaha CD603 CD Changer! (With USB in for WAV etc). Whilst I'm here - the Audiolab 7000N....DTS Play-Fi is one awful bit of software! Can anything else be used to control it? To make a playlist would be nice! The Onkyo NS 6130 works way better with it's in-house software!
@hoonhog284 ай бұрын
I am very tempted with the 7000 CDT, which I have not eyeballed or auditioned, which has a drawer, bigger and improved display, better construction some improvements internally. It is a few hundred AUD more currently then the 6000 which is a very tempting offer. Wondering if you will be reviewing this unit?
@Villaboy78 Жыл бұрын
Yassss Paul 💪🏻 nailed this objectively as ever
@connorduke4619 Жыл бұрын
Excellent review! As it has a TXCO clock, I reckon it would beat the Primare DD15 CD transport for around the same price. If had had AES-EBU digital output, it would be perfect! :)
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
Agree. AES output would be great.
@Spierdalajyoutube11 ай бұрын
I am just looking for transport and primare dd35 is on my sight. I have qutest dac and unison research s6 and i wonder which transport will be more natural sounding? Do you have any experience with primare?
@connorduke461911 ай бұрын
@@Spierdalajyoutube I don't have direct experience but from reviews and youtube demos, Primare is solid brand in the CD transport area. However main feautres of the DD35 are low resonance drive and ultra low noise digital output which the Audiolab 9000CDT also has. BUT the Audiiolab also has a TXCO clock which the Primare does not. And if you use a synchronous connection such as coaxial, "All AES types - inc. SPDIF - are synchronous by nature, meaning the level of jitter is dependent upon the clock in the sending device." So in other words a good clock in the Transport is likely to be a key advantage.
@JustAnotherNorthman10 ай бұрын
Excellent review. Thank you!
@patbarr1351 Жыл бұрын
Now that was a thorough review! I have the Pro-Ject RS (not the RS2), which is enjoyable & attractive even though its text data display frequently mangles the track names ("Beatles SgtMrKite"). I have some of Peter Barden's solo CDs & LPs, but nothing back to the beginning so I'll search that out. I saw him in Hollywood at the Roxy 1989 with Mick Fleetwood drumming (spectacular!).
@christinejames569711 ай бұрын
Can you please identify your £3,000 or so DAC, which you use as a reference? I don’t think you did in the video. Thanks 🙏🏻
@tonyjedioftheforest1364 Жыл бұрын
This was a fantastic review but has now spoiled my upgrading plans. I had thought about the Rega Apollo or the CDT6000 with a budget DAC maybe one from iFi. Now I have watched this I am torn between my original plan or waiting another year to save up more. I have a couple of thousand cd’s so want something decent.
@stonefree1911 Жыл бұрын
The 6000CDT is an excellent transport.
@bobby666666 Жыл бұрын
@@stonefree1911 I have the 6000CDT and agree how Great it is.
@EnriqSandoval Жыл бұрын
After the 6000cdt review by Paul, I bought it within a week. Iv never looked back. Awesome for the price. Sounds great. But while I never looked back, this review has me looking forward.
@danieldelgado8153 Жыл бұрын
I own the 6000CDT and love it. I don’t think you will regret it if you buy it. Sounds great. Never had a problem with it. My best. Dan
@korling99 Жыл бұрын
I’m thinking of pairing this with a Mojo2 at first and upgrading to a better dac in the future.
@F1fletch7 ай бұрын
I hope the next gen offers balanced, and I squared s outputs. This would help elevate it as a premium offering imo. I have a 7000cdt and it sounds incredible. “At their price” the Audiolab’s simply have no equal imo. I too wanted SACD capabilities, however redbook CD’s can amaze…I am not missing records at all right now, just saying.
@lucabattanta92468 ай бұрын
Thanks for your review. It would also be interesting to compare the 6000 cdt, 9000 cdt and e.g. the luxman d3x as cd transports in order to understand, for example, how far a more or less inexpensive transport can go in comparison with integrated CD players, even high-end ones.
@TheAudiophileMan8 ай бұрын
I kind of did this with the 6000CDT review, comparing that (as was) £300 machine with integrated priced at something like £1500. And the 6000 was superior. I expect that to scale upwards for the 9000.
@Echo-jg8is Жыл бұрын
Have the Avant Guard Tag McLaren transport ( Audiolab ) , going strong after over 20 years of use...
@johnmerriman274 Жыл бұрын
Great review as always Paul. I'm in the market for a CDT and having watched your 9000 CDT review was wondering if you have heard the NuPrime cdt9 which is in a similar price bracket?
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I haven't so I must that on my list. Thanks.
@astolatpere11 Жыл бұрын
I'm a big fan of vinyl. I wouldn't buy a turntable with a built in phono stage. Surprised there aren't more cd transports. Enjoy your vids, thanks.
@paulmartin8377 Жыл бұрын
Hi Paul nice review keep up the great work. I currently have the 6000CDT into a Naim Nova and have a little more budget to spend. My dealer is recommending the 9000CDT or speaker replacement, I currently have LS50 Meta and Rel7x/T. Can you tell me if the remotes are the same quality for both machines? I also have trouble with the buttons on the 6000 and often need a torch to see what they do !!
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
Between the 6000 and 9000, Paul? They use the same remote control.
@paulmartin8377 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan OK thanks in the review the 9000 one looks like brushed aluminium.
@davidurquhart974 Жыл бұрын
would prefer a slot loader myself, trays are designed to self destruct
@Krell666 Жыл бұрын
Pity there's no AES output. Good looking piece of kit. Not overly sold on the interior, the basic Teac transport seems a bit cheap at this price. I wonder how it compares to the Schiit URD?
@adsph Жыл бұрын
Very well done review
@roberthart9886 Жыл бұрын
As a mostly happy owner of a CDT 6000 (or so I thought) I was reading about the new CDT 9000, which apparently has 'better' bass. Well, that revelation stopped me in my tracks from trying more SPDIF cables, thinking THEY were the reason for dry and somewhat light bass (or possibly my EP 3.4s with a concentric 12" woofers).. Other revelations learned from my "Dumb Question 75 or 110 ohm" thread on audioasylum also added insight as neither my CDT 6000 nor my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 have AES/EBU,: FYI, neither does the 9000!, but I do have the optional PS 5 outboard power supply, which adds significant weight. So then, is $900 over the CDT 6000 justified??? Hmmmmmmmm
@chrisshelley3027 Жыл бұрын
I'm looking for a CD Transport, on preliminary glances one from Cyrus (unsure which yet) are interesting but maybe not so new now, the Roxan Attessa is pleasing to the eye but at £499+- is it anywhere near comparable to the 9000CDT? I'm thinking that it isn't, I'm looking at using the Graham Slee Majestic DAC which you recently did an excellent review of, I am in no immediate hurry as I have a queue of HIFI to buy this year, but any input from you would be very much appreciated :)
@robh9079 Жыл бұрын
In the same boat! - been speaking to a upgrade service for research, advice is to avoid slot load at all costs. Researched Roksan - apparently very unreliable and suspect it doesnt have anything on cambridge cxc. an option i have been thinking of is a rega top loader cd player and having transport and clock upgrade. top loading is best by far. schiit is bringing out the 'urd' transport soon which i think will be a little more expnesive tyhan A/lab
@martinclift3843 Жыл бұрын
Nice review Sir! Do you think you could tell them 6000 & 9000 apart in a blind test? I'm wondering how much is down to knowing the source & specifically listening with a critical ear. I'd love a 9000 but the 6000 is so much cheaper, I'm wondering how much of an upgrade it really is. Thanks for the content you put out, it's great stuff.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
This one pops up now and again so allow me to repeat. I've been doing this sort of thing a long time. It's my job. Like anyone who practices, I'm good at it because I'm at it all the time (so to speak ;) ) Blind tests are a stunt, used to supposedly make you look good in front of the public. To give you that impartial, 'Wisdom of Solomon', 'let's be totally fair about this, guys' image. Blind tests are for those who don't trust their ears. Blind tests are for those who have no listening strategies. Blind tests are for those whose personal bias swamps their objectivity. If critics out there need blind tests for others to trust them then good for them. Although I worry about their self confidence. If you trust me as a critic then great and I talk about that very thing here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y7SHqKhelt-qemw.html Anyone who has an issue with my comments here should view that video first before shouting at me :) If you don't trust me as a critic then find another. And I don't say that out of malice or bitterness. Again, I advise this in the video above. You need to filter trusted critics. As for me? I don't do blind tests, I don't use machines, I don't set up listening panels - I use my ears. Ultimately, so should you.
@martinclift3843 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I'll watch the video you've linked. Again, thanks for the content & the time you put into it. 👍
@claudec2588 Жыл бұрын
Great video as usual. I think Audio Lab has a customer in me. One question, why co-axil cable? Isn't optical better? Another question: Can you recommend a DAC under 500 pounds?
@k-doggy1762 Жыл бұрын
Depends on the implementation. Coaxial sounds better than optical from my streamer. As for sub £500 DAC, Mojo 2. No contest.
@Plastpackad Жыл бұрын
@@pauln6803 you better read up on the issue with gitter. A known problem already from the dawn of digital audio.
@TommyTCGT Жыл бұрын
Think of Mad Scientist.. graphene.. diff. Tech.
@itsmorphed6416 Жыл бұрын
@@pauln6803 coax always sounds better than optical . Why? I don't know it just does .
@Dom2Wan Жыл бұрын
What's the unnamed benchmark DAC that was used for comparing the 6000 to the 9000? Thanks.
@texeast8680 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great video. Could you recommend a good DAC that has XLR outputs and a good coax cable to use with this transport? Thanks.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
Look at this DAC and peruse Tellurium Q for the coax: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rs1olrl63tixkps.html
@simonmedhurst4130 Жыл бұрын
Great review. Many thanks. I have an Audiolab 8000CDM (ii) CD transport. It is 20+ years old but it is superb. I wonder how the new 9000CDT compares to it?
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to that particular transport, Clarence. I would recommend, if you’re considering a 9000CDT, talking to a friendly dealer (High St or online) who would agree to a home demo. Then you could compare the two.
@leeandrewclarke Жыл бұрын
Hi, I heard the 8000CDM a few times, back in the day, and own a 6000CDT. I would say that the 6000 is superior to the 8000CDM, in terms of performance if not build quality. If memory serves, the 8000 doesn't deliver quite the same detail or weight as the 6000. If the 9000 really is an improvement over the 6000, as Paul claims, then it should be a step up from the 8000CDT. I liked the 8000 back in 1996, even though I brought a Trichord-modified Pioneer transport, instead, at the time. I felt the Trichord got very close to the 8000 and was cheaper. My 6000 is distinctly better than my old Trichord transport. HTH.
@simonmedhurst4130 Жыл бұрын
@@leeandrewclarke That's very interesting feedback - many thanks.
@stewstube70 Жыл бұрын
I owned an aging 8000CDM transport as well for many years and upgraded to a 6000CDT a couple of years ago. Although build quality is lightweight by comparison and the time to read the ToC is slow compared to an old CD mech, the sound quality was noticeably better with the 6000CDT. Plus it plays every CD I've thrown at it including some scratched ones, the old 8000CDM was much fussier with less than perfect discs.
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
@@stewstube70 The 6000CDT benefits greatly from CD player mods (did on mine) of damping the case, better isolation feet and 'doing a Darko' putting a weight on top to add mass. It all adds up, Be playing with more mods on mine going fwd, RFI treatment and the likes.
@zogzog1063 Жыл бұрын
A balanced output option would be better - AES or I2S
@jaytejera1164 Жыл бұрын
Dittto that recommendation
@jmlathion2909 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely!
@1Hiprascal Жыл бұрын
The matching 9000A also lacks AES and I2S, inputs.
@oneofthelastmen5873 Жыл бұрын
Read Rob Watts on the subject at Head-fi. He is the designer of the Chord DACs (Mojo, Qutest, Hugo, Dave). He says a proper implementation of SPDIF in a DAC should mean there is no, technical, measurable or audible advantage to AES or ITS inputs. In fact he says that the addition of an HDMI socket on a DAC introduces all sorts of electrical interference. He recommends using optical where possible (i.e. CD rate data 16/44.1 not HD) as this removes all possibility of introducing electrical noise at the digital input. For HD audio he has implemented galvanic isolation on the USB.
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
@@oneofthelastmen5873 As ever, "it depends" :) Implementation is everything, so given how good the 6000CDTs coax out is (I have one into a very good dac) no doubt the 9000 is too.
@mrpositronia Жыл бұрын
Thanks Paul. I was surprised that it is below a grand, considering the 9000A is definitely not. Would you argue that using 'not as premium' cables and DACs would narrow that gap between it and the 6000CDT, or just move them both fractionally further down the performance scales? Cheers.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I tested the 9000CDT with a very basic DAC and a relatively low-cost coax to see how it faired with the 6000CDT and tested the latter with the same ancillaries and I heard a big improvement from the 9000 so no, I don't think they're factors.
@mrpositronia Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks Paul. Good to know.
@nissanlemon4054 Жыл бұрын
Wonder how it would compare to a Jays CDT2 MK3 transport.
@Simplyveej Жыл бұрын
I had the same question
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
Or the Primare DD35?
@howardmims8376 Жыл бұрын
I have 6000 CDT and love it to move up to a more expensive transport New York System would need to be $10,000 and up
@scottdavis08012 ай бұрын
I'm thinking about this cd transport, but the Shanling et3 keeps showing up with great reviews, and 1/2 the price. 🤷?
@robh9079 Жыл бұрын
Is the laser lens glass or plastic?
@justinparkman3585 Жыл бұрын
Would the 9000 be an upgrade over the 6000 with the rega dac or would keeping the 6000 and buying a better dac
@leokuiper2593 Жыл бұрын
Wonder how the 9000CDT performs with the 9000A integrated amplifier without an external DAC? Pity you didn’t take this into the comparisons, as these components are matching as a set.
@mrsinghsstereos6662 Жыл бұрын
How does this transport with the best dac in your system compare to the Luxman d3x CD player that you reviewed a years ago ? Thanks
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
A tough question, Mr Singh because I returned that unit to Luxman a loooong the ago. Saying that, from my dodgy memory - and that's all I can give you - I'd go with the separate transport and DAC.
@mrsinghsstereos6662 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan yes I think you are right - keeping the transport separate will give better results if it’s well made . For my most recent upgrade I was toying with the idea of buying the pro Ject rs2T transport into an ex demo dCS vivaldi dac ( to replace my meridian 808v6 CD player and my dCS bartok streaming dac ) but i ended up ordering the dCS Rossini player apex as a one box compromise .
@RobertRyan76 Жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, thank you for the review. Are you saying that you prefer the Audiolab to the Heed overall, even when ignoring value/price? I have demoed the Heed and was very impressed. But its price is double that of this new Audiolab.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
There's pros and cons for both products. Saying that, at £999, to state that pros and cons are even a consideration for the 9000CDT is quite remarkable. If bass is important to you and is a priority then go for the Heed. I do feel that bass is better integrated into the rest of the frequencies by the 9000CT though and I do prefer the latter's focus and rich presentation. If you plump for the Heed, you won't be disappointed, it's a superb player and well worth the award-winning rating I gave it. Even so, I am swayed by the 9000CDT.
@RobertRyan76 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks, I will now have to demo this unit as well before making my decision:)
@jraney69Күн бұрын
So which DAC was used? And isnt that the most influential part of the equation?
@TheAudiophileManКүн бұрын
I used the Benchmark DAC and I'd say the transport is 50% of the equation. Although I would only upgrade the DAC to improve the sound once the 9000 is purchased. The 9000 has the capacity.
@futch0367 Жыл бұрын
Paul Great review. What would you recommend as a suitable partnering DAC/cable?
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
Depends on your budget, Chris. I'd look at QED if you're counting pennies but if you can splash the cash, take a close look at Tellurium Q's coax cables.
@Simplyveej Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan is Coax the same as a Digital RCA/BNC cable?
@joeaubuchon6635 Жыл бұрын
I am always looking/listening for new music. Each of your videos shows several LPs with you in the picture, but I cannot always see the complete title or artist. Would you, please, list them in your credits (and, also, list the music used for evaluation testing in the review)? I've found a good number of "new" artists from your videos that I'd never encountered here in SoCal.
@colintamburri8157 Жыл бұрын
I have a musical fidelity mx dac running through a marantz pm 8006 amp what cdt would you recommend audiolab 6000 7000 or 9000
@andrecaron61959 ай бұрын
I bought a 6000 CDT. Maybe I'll buy the 9000 CDT in 2024 or 2025.
@danielbrown271511 ай бұрын
OK nice review here, however i must challenge you on one point......yes its cables!, so I have a Cambridge CXC cd transport and a Topping E50 day as well as an Audiolab Mdac plus both very competent at their price points £200/£800 . I have two coaxial cables one is a Chord Shawline at £200 the other? An Amozon basics cable which cost £8, despite extensive listening using both days through my Cambridge audio 851w power amplifier and Dali Rubicon 5 loudspeakers, there is absolutely no difference whatsoever in sound quality, my advice? Save £192 and put towards better dac/speakers or even isolation platform for cd transport, the Amozon cables ( and I'm not joking when I say this) are better built as well. Look forward to more videos.
@TheAudiophileMan11 ай бұрын
And that's fine, Daniel. And nor should you buy expensive cabling if you can't hear the difference. Trust your ears, which you are doing. Similarly, you shouldn't buy the 9000CDT if you can't hear the difference between it and a £50 portable. And some people can't. And that's also fine. Thing is though, I can. So I will continue to report the differences I hear in the future.
@danielbrown271511 ай бұрын
@TheAudiophileMan Hi, yes I agree, I can hear the difference between speaker cables and interconnect cables of which mine are quite expensive- in line with the shawline i mentioned however, with the digital transfer cables i cannot, the reason i mention this is because logically we shouldn't be able to, as long as the impedance is 75ohms at each end then 1's and 0's should care not for the copper and shielding it is carried in, we must be careful of conformation bias when listening here, i just think that before we automatically price up a cable in our heads to purchase, I'd encourage people to buy the amazon cable i mentioned as well as an expensive one and return the expensive cable if you cannot hear the difference, as I said, the quality of this cable may surprise you, it's a far cry from the freebies that are sometimes provided for less than £10. Looking forward to next review. 😀
@TheAudiophileMan11 ай бұрын
@@danielbrown2715 Well, I've gone on and on about this on numerous occasions in the past but the issues with digital cables are not the core tech but the parasitic noise that tags along for the ride which cocks up timing and just gets in the way of the sound. That's the issue with all cables, analogue or digital. Doesn't matter what the tech is, third-party rubbish can mask info or interfere with signal transfer. Again, if you don't hear the diffs then great. You've saved yourself some dosh :)
@philzvids3577 Жыл бұрын
I'm seriously considering buying a 9000CDT to replace an ancient, broken Teac VRDS7 integrated player. I know you said buy the best DAC you can, but could you make some suggestions please to work well with the 9000CDT, ideally up to £500 but I might go up to £1K if it will really make a big difference. I noted the use of the Topping E30 DAC in the video. Many thanks.
@59seank Жыл бұрын
Does the CD transport make noise when playing? I have my CD player close to me, and I can hear it whirring and clicking when playing.
@paylnyles Жыл бұрын
I want, top of my to buy list with the matching Amp in this price bracket x.
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
What's the TQ Digital cable you use Paul? Replacing a homebru effort here, into a PS Audio dac, so looking for a good one. Thanks Fella.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
I used the super expensive Silver diamond because I wanted to remove the cable from the equation and didn't want it to be a factor in sound testing. The company's Blue and Black digital cables are top notch, though.
@bobannon7799 Жыл бұрын
@@TheAudiophileMan That makes sense, and thanks very much for the reply. Mr Sircom loved it too, the TQ Black may make more sense in the context of the 6000, possibly even the 9000 I wonder?
@ChiDave7 Жыл бұрын
I was wondering how this transport sounds just using the internal DAC of the 9000a integrated amp? Is there any real need to buy a DAC if you have a 9000a amp?
@melarch.5424 Жыл бұрын
Now, if it only had a balanced XLR output!!
@mikejeffries8630 Жыл бұрын
Why? It’s a digital transport. What would balanced (or RCA, for that matter) outputs bring to the party?
@user-wr3dd4wd7x Жыл бұрын
Hello. Please tell me how many days the transport warmed up before it reached the sound level that you describe? I've had this transport for 10 days now and I don't like the sound while I'm upset about the purchase.
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
The current disappointing sound from your 9000CDT may be a symptom, a sign post of other issues elsewhere. Sometimes quality kit can highlight long-standing issues in other parts of the system. There may be a million and one reasons why it's not performing as it should and it might be impossible for me to properly treat the issues at this distance (there's nothing like actually 'being there' to see possible problems first hand - I had a problem only this morning which I fixed because I could 'see' that something was plugged in incorrectly causing my mids to sound bright, for example) but I'll give it a try. Maybe I can at least give you a few pointers. So list your entire HiFi chain. Everything, including cables and ancillaries and shelving, etc. Also how you're plugging everything into the mains (power blocks, etc) plus the room you're in. The lot. Then I'll have a think and get back to you. This may take a while :)
@mostirreverent Жыл бұрын
It’s funny that preamps and amp seem to be migrating toward integrated systems, while what would seem like a natural integrated system with CD players, but they are actually becoming separates. I chose to get the get the DAC card when I bought my moon Neo player. I sometimes wonder if I should have just use the extra money for a separate DAC, though for no particular reason
@TheAudiophileMan Жыл бұрын
Of all the HiFi brands in the world, I would say that Moon is almost unique in being able to design boxes where the included feature tech actually sounds good, as opposed to poor or (at best) adequate. The only built-in phono amp in any HiFi product I have ever really respected was in a Moon, for example. In *broad* terms though, I'd plump for an external...anything to improve sound quality.
@arnoldtolker3505 Жыл бұрын
Dern Audiolab 9000CDT habe ich im Fokus! Den kaufen? Oder den Luxman D-N 150?
@ChrisStoneinator7 ай бұрын
I noticed you playing Sailing to Philadelphia - Is it HDCD aware?
@jackkrom10 ай бұрын
Whoa. Wait a second, for US consumers the current price is $1499! They must have just boosted that price. 999 pounds converts to $1200 US dollars so maybe that was a year ago. Too much now for me, so I'll audition the 6000 which is $500 in the US. Maybe your vid made the 9000 so popular that they.... raised the price??
@nunoferraz5426 Жыл бұрын
I think the 6000cdt still looks way better... the 9000 looks very 80s ....but the sound quality is the real question.
@1Hiprascal Жыл бұрын
I have seen a picture of the new, soon to be released 7000cdt. I think this is the best looking of the three. Very similar to the 6000cdt with a better version of the display, easy access button controls. I prefer black for the 9000cdt; the screen looks better, more integrated and sticks out less. Silver looks sleek, elegant for newest model. Yes sound quality is most important
@TheManunderwater Жыл бұрын
I'm hoping I can set up the most stripped down system to play my 1300 CDs. I have a pair of the legendary AVI active ADM 9.1 active speakers with direct digital input as the default (optical) so I can use a CD transport with optical output feeding the speakers directly without an external DAC, pre or power amp (speakers have 350w, total-250 bass/mid and 100w HF. Hope that will work, the ADM9.1 have own volume controls. I love these speakers. One final request. Can you (and other reviewers) include some classical test CDs etc. Something clean and insightful such. As solo piano (Debussy Preludes?) And a "big" symphony - Mahler 2, 5 or 8. 😢TT
@dtracy03ss11 ай бұрын
Does it have display options that are on the 9000 Amp? Such as VU meters!!!
@alexbigbag Жыл бұрын
Hi !!! I watched you interesting video!!! Great job !!! I'm still searching a new CD player for my HI-Fi setup. At the moment: Hegel H90 + KEF LS50 + Yamaha CD-N301. I think that the 9000 CDT could represent the right choice ( the black one fits very well with Hegel look) but more important the upgrade in sound quality !!! Do you think the same and moreover the Hegel DAC is enough or should I go for a better one ??? Thanks in advance for you response !!!
@christinejames56979 ай бұрын
I have the LS50 Meta and am looking for a good amplifier. Naim Nait 5i not up to it. I was thinking of buying the 9000A (I have the 9000CDT). Do you highly rate the Hegel with the KEFs?
@alexbigbag8 ай бұрын
@@christinejames5697 my experience is based only on Hegel H90 that surely works very well with LS50. But consider now the new model is Hegel H95 which has a better D/A converter too
@christinejames56978 ай бұрын
Thanks for that. I‘m trying to buy from Amazon, so I can return it all if necessary. I‘ve got a Bluesound Powernode arriving tomorrow. I‘ll see if the 80 WPC has a better grip on the KEFs. If not, maybe back to the drawing board. Hegel certainly highly recommended. 👍😊