AudioLab 7000N Play

The new 7000N Play offers a significant step up from its still-current forebear. It similarly combines the versatility of the DTS Play-Fi wireless audio platform with Audiolab’s sonic know-how to deliver a great-sounding network streaming solution that is simple to set up and use, incorporating the latest Play-Fi module, extra features and a DAC upgrade in return for the modest additional outlay. Users can stream from any source connected to their home network – smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs, as well as NAS drives and music servers – utilising the 7000N 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.

There are three ways to stream once the 7000N Play is connected to a broadband router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. The first is via the Play-Fi app, which gives access to a variety of online streaming services including Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Deezer, plus thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts, as well as streaming content stored on local DLNA-compliant devices. The second is Spotify Connect, which enables streaming direct to the 7000N Play using the Spotify app rather than the Play-Fi app. And the third is AirPlay 2, which gives access to Apple Music and other streaming platforms when using an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV as the source/control device.

AirPlay 2 is a new feature added to the 7000N Play, and an important one for Apple users.

Upgraded internals

The 7000N Play incorporates a high-quality DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter), upgrading the ES9018K2M Sabre32 chip found in the 6000N Play to the new-generation ES9038Q2M – as used in Audiolab’s new 7000A integrated amp. This is accompanied by proprietary circuitry to make the most of ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator for ultra-low noise and high dynamic range. Hi-res audio streaming is supported to 24-bit/192kHz over Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable.

The inclusion of a DAC stage ensures the 7000N Play can be used with any audio system – simply connect the stereo RCA analogue output to a regular integrated amp or preamp, or a pair of active speakers. Alternatively, take a digital feed (optical or coaxial) to an external DAC, or an amp with digital inputs such as Audiolab’s new 7000A. Naturally, the 7000A is an ideal partner for the 7000N Play; when these two components are paired digitally, an optical or coaxial cable is used to convey the audio signal while the supplied USB control cable enables the 7000A’s volume to be adjusted via the Play-Fi app.

The circuit design also draws inspiration from Audiolab’s new 7000CDT CD transport, incorporating the same isolated power supply with a high-efficiency, low-noise toroidal transformer to maintain optimum signal purity – all of which contributes to the 7000N Play’s excellent sonic performance.

Few network streamers around the 7000N Play’s price include a colour display – or any display at all – but Audiolab’s new streamer sports the same 2.8in IPS LCD display and attractive GUI as the other 7000 Series components. This shows a variety of information, including the currently connected streaming service, track details and format/sample rate, and provides access to functions such as balance control, auto-standby settings, fixed or variable output, and 12V trigger activation for system control. The menu also facilitates digital filter selection – the same five settings provided by the 7000A integrated amp –offering a degree of sonic tailoring to suit the source material and the user’s personal taste.

The display can even be set to show a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, presenting real-time signal levels for the left and right channels – a satisfying graphical representation of the music as it plays. As with the other 7000 Series components, animations can be turned off and brightness adjusted, and the display can be set to activate only when a function is accessed and switch off after a defined period, as the user prefers.

More about Play-Fi

DTS Play-Fi is an app-controlled platform enabling high-quality, whole-home wireless audio, capable of streaming hi-res music up to 24-bit/192kHz and supported by a greater range of established audio brands than any other wireless platform. The free Play-Fi app (available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, Windows PCs and Apple and Android smartwatches) is an intuitive gateway to a wealth of music services including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, HDtracks, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM. It is also your trusty music butler, able to serve up a streaming library stored on any DLNA-compatible NAS drive or media server on the same home network.

Play-Fi supports a wide variety of file formats, including MP3, MP4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF, and provides two main listening modes. The default Critical Listening mode delivers optimal sound quality when streaming to a single device like the 7000N Play, supporting hi-res PCM up to 24-bit /192kHz over Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable without transcoding or down-sampling. The second mode prioritises bandwidth for multiroom operation by capping audio at 16-bit/48kHz – essentially CD quality – for seamless, simultaneous streaming to as many as 32 Play-Fi-compatible audio devices in different zones.

The versatility of the Play-Fi ecosystem is enhanced by the sheer variety of audio devices that support it, from portable speakers and TV soundbars to all-in-one music systems and high-end audio components, from a wide range of respected brands. All Play-Fi-compatible audio devices work perfectly together, providing an extensive range of options to customise your home entertainment experience.