Reference-Class Digital Conversion for High-End Stereo and Headphone Systems
The Audiolab D9 DAC Digital to Analog Converter and Headphone Amp is a high-performance digital hub designed for serious two-channel and personal-audio systems. At its core is the ESS Sabre32 ES9038PRO reference DAC, combining HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology with Audiolab-developed digital and analog circuitry to deliver low distortion, wide dynamic range and highly resolved playback from a broad variety of digital sources.
Extensive connectivity includes dual coaxial and dual optical S/PDIF inputs, USB-B for computer audio, USB-A for compatible storage devices, AES3/EBU and Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX, aptX HD and LDAC. Both RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs allow easy integration with integrated amplifiers, preamplifiers and active loudspeakers, while a dedicated current-feedback headphone amplifier makes the D9 a complete standalone solution for high-quality headphone listening.
Highlights & Benefits
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ESS ES9038PRO Reference DAC — Flagship-grade Sabre32 conversion provides exceptional dynamic range, low distortion and precise digital-to-analog conversion.
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PCM 768kHz & DSD512 via USB — The asynchronous USB-B input supports extremely high-resolution PCM and native DSD playback from compatible computers.
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Balanced XLR & RCA Outputs — Connect directly to premium preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers and active speaker systems using balanced or single-ended analog connections.
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Bluetooth 5.1 with LDAC & aptX HD — Provides convenient high-quality wireless playback from compatible smartphones, tablets and computers.
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Dedicated Current-Feedback Headphone Amplifier — Supports headphones from 20 to 600 ohms with low output impedance and wide-bandwidth amplification.
Technology & Design
ESS Sabre32 ES9038PRO Architecture — Audiolab combines ESS HyperStream II conversion and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology with precision clocking and proprietary surrounding circuitry to preserve timing accuracy and low-level musical information.
Five Selectable DAC Filters — Multiple reconstruction-filter settings allow listeners to fine-tune digital conversion behavior according to source material, associated equipment and personal preference.
Selectable Digital Upsampling — The D9 can upsample compatible digital audio to 352.8kHz or 384kHz before conversion, offering additional flexibility in how digital signals are processed.
2.8-Inch Full-Color IPS Display — The 480 × 640 display provides detailed access to source, format, track, filter and system information, including media metadata from compatible Bluetooth and USB storage sources.
FAQ — Audiolab D9
What DAC chip does the Audiolab D9 use?
The D9 uses the ESS Sabre32 ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC, supported by Audiolab-developed circuitry and ESS HyperStream II and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technologies.
What high-resolution formats does the D9 support?
The USB-B computer input supports PCM from 44.1kHz through 768kHz and DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 and DSD512. Optical and coaxial S/PDIF inputs support PCM up to 192kHz.
Can the Audiolab D9 drive headphones directly?
Yes. The D9 includes a dedicated current-feedback headphone amplifier designed for headphones with impedances from 20 to 600 ohms.
Does the Audiolab D9 have balanced outputs?
Yes. The D9 provides both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analog outputs. Audiolab specifies 4.1Vrms from the XLR outputs and 2.05Vrms from the RCA outputs at 0dBFS / 1kHz.
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