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A British Audio Maker’s New Hi-Fi Components Pay Homage to Its Past

The compact and versatile DACs continue the legacy of one of the brand’s most iconic products.

Audiolab D7 DACAudiolab

By Tucker Bowe

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Audiolab is well known for making high-quality hi-fi components at relatively affordable prices. One of its most iconic products is the 2011-released M-DAC, a fantastic DAC and headphone amplifier for a desktop or hi-fi system. In 2016, it released a larger and higher-end version, the M-DAC Plus.

Fast forward to the present day, and the British hi-fi manufacturer has announced not one, but two successors to its revered DAC: the D7 and larger D9.

Meet Audiolab’s new DACs

Audiolab D7 DAC
The Audiolab D7 shares a similar compact form factor to the 2011-released M-DAC.
Audiolab

Audiolab D7

The Audiolab D7 is a tabletop DAC, headphone amplifier and preamplifier that shares a similar compact design to the M-DAC. According to the brand, it sets a “new standard for entry-level DACs, proving that affordability doesn’t mean compromise.”

The D7 features the same 2-channel 32-bit Sabre DAC (ES9038Q2M) chip that’s in the company’s recently released stereo amplifier, the 6000Mk II ($970). It also packs a range of wired connections and built-in Bluetooth.

Audiolab D7 DAC
The D7’s versatility allows it to be integrated into a desktop or hi-fi system
Audiolab

When connected via USB, it supports PCM files (up to 32-bit/768kHz) and up to DSD512. When using optical or coaxial, it supports PCM files up to 24-bit/192kHz. Thanks to Bluetooth aptX HD support, it can stream audio up to 24-bit/48 kHz.

There’s a high-power headphone amplifier with a 6.4mm jack, and, according to Audiolab, it is designed to drive a wide range of headphones.

Audiolab D9 DAC
The Audiolab D9 is a larger and more capable DAC.
Audiolab

Audiolab D9

The Audiolab D9 is essentially a bigger, upgraded version of the D7. It can function as a DAC, headphone amplifier, or standalone preamplifier, and features all the same wired and wireless connections.

The main differences are that the D9 features a higher-end, 8-channel 32-bit Sabre DAC (ES9038PRO) chip, more advanced circuitry and an ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer. It also supports higher-resolution streaming thanks to support for Sony’s LDAC.

Audiolab D9 DAC
The D9 is best suited to be paired with Audiolab’s 7000 series components.
Audiolab

Both the D7 and D9 have an aluminium chassis and tactile control knobs that are designed to match (and pair well with) Audiolab’s 7000 and 6000 series components.

The D9 also has a 2.8-inch full-color display — unlike the D7’s smaller monochrome display — that’s similar to what’s featured in its 7000 series.

Price and availability

The Audioengine D7 and D9 come in silver or black finishes, and are expected to start shipping this month.

They’ll cost roughly $600 and $1,450, respectively.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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