Audiolab 9000N Wireless Streaming Audio Player at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The 9000N is a premium wireless network streaming audio player from Audiolab (Cambridge, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Built as the flagship streaming component of the acclaimed 9000 series, the 9000N pairs Audiolab's world-renowned DAC expertise with the high-end Lumin streaming platform for a result that earned the What Hi-Fi? Award 2024 for Best Music Streamer Over £2000. At its core sits the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC — the same flagship chip used in the 9000A integrated amplifier — driven by a Quad ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.8 GHz per core. The 9000N supports PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit and native DSD512, full MQA decoding (complete three-stage internal unfold), Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz, and UPnP, all presented on a vivid 4.3-inch full-colour IPS LCD display with real-time album artwork and VU meters.

Flagship DAC and Digital Circuitry

Audiolab has built its reputation on extracting the absolute best from ESS Sabre technology across multiple product generations, and the 9000N represents the culmination of that expertise. The ES9038PRO — an eight-channel flagship DAC chip — is paired with Audiolab's proprietary post-DAC active filter circuit, engineered specifically for this chipset. The HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator work together to deliver THD below 0.001% at 1kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 120dB via the balanced XLR outputs. The Quad ARM Cortex-A53 processor at 1.8 GHz per core handles album artwork caching for fast loading, ensuring the visual experience matches the sonic one. As a certified MQA Full Decoder, the 9000N performs the complete three-stage unfolding process internally rather than acting as a renderer, making it the ideal streaming source for Tidal HiFi Plus subscribers accessing Tidal Masters content.

Streaming Platform and Connectivity

The 9000N is built on the high-end Lumin streaming platform, delivering rock-steady Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4/5GHz) and wired Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The dedicated Audiolab app provides direct access to Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, and TuneIn internet radio, with MQA and hi-res track identification icons built into the interface itself. Alternatively, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect allow playback via the respective native service apps. Roon Ready certification means bit-perfect high-resolution audio over the network with no configuration required. For local content, a USB port accepts FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS-formatted storage drives playing DSF, DSD, DIFF, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and MP3 files. The analogue output stage offers both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs, and digital coaxial and optical outputs allow the 9000N to pass an untouched MQA signal to a secondary DAC — ideal for 9000A owners who wish to use that amplifier's own DAC section.

Key Features

• ESS Sabre ES9038PRO 32-Bit DAC: The eight-channel flagship chip from ESS Technology, paired with Audiolab's proprietary post-DAC active filter and HyperStream II architecture for THD below 0.001% and SNR above 120dB (XLR).
• Quad ARM Cortex-A53 Processor at 1.8 GHz per Core: Provides seamless, stable operation and supports album artwork caching for fast thumbnail loading across large music libraries.
• Full MQA Decoder: Performs the complete three-stage internal unfolding process — not a renderer — for full Tidal Masters fidelity from the USB or streaming inputs.
• Roon Ready: Fully certified for bit-perfect high-resolution network audio over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, with no additional configuration required.
• Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet: Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wireless plus a 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet port for stable wired network connections.
• 4.3-Inch Full-Colour IPS LCD Display: Shows full-resolution album artwork, playback information, format data, VU meters (analogue or digital style), and full menu navigation without requiring the app.
• Balanced XLR and Unbalanced RCA Analogue Outputs: Fully balanced signal path available for connection to the 9000A or any balanced preamplifier, with output impedance of 120 ohms.
• MQA Pass-Through via Digital Output: The coaxial and optical digital outputs can pass an untouched MQA bitstream to a secondary DAC, preserving signal integrity for purist system configurations.
• Multi-Format USB Playback: Supports FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS drives playing DSD64 through DSD512, PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and MP3.
• AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect: Full native integration with all three platforms, allowing playback directly from those services' own apps without launching the Audiolab app.
• 12V Trigger In and Link: Enables automatic activation of the 9000N and compatible downstream components for seamless system integration.
• Crisp 9000 Series Aesthetics: Rotary controls, minimal buttons, and the same premium finish and dimensions as the 9000A and 9000CDT for a matched stack presentation.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• Network: Wi-Fi (802.11ac dual-band) and Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
• USB Input: Type-B (PC USB for audio), Type-A (storage playback)
• Analogue Outputs: 1x RCA stereo pair, 1x XLR balanced stereo pair
• Digital Outputs: 1x Coaxial S/PDIF, 1x Optical TosLink
• Trigger: 1x 12V Trigger In, 1x 12V Trigger Link Out

What's in the Box

• Audiolab 9000N Wireless Streaming Audio Player
• Power Cord
• Remote Control
• User Manual

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Award 2024 — Best Music Streamer Over £2000
• What Hi-Fi? Five Stars — Review published June 2024, updated November 2024
• Gramophone Magazine — Outstanding Product Award, 2023
• Pursuit Perfect System — Best High End Product, Real World Category, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Audiolab 9000N?

The Audiolab 9000N is a flagship wireless network streaming audio player from Audiolab (Cambridge, UK), built around the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC, a Quad ARM Cortex-A53 processor at 1.8 GHz per core, and the Lumin streaming platform. It supports PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit, native DSD512, full MQA decoding, Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, and features a 4.3-inch full-colour IPS LCD display with album artwork and VU meters.

How does the Audiolab 9000N compare to the Naim ND5 XS2?

The Audiolab 9000N and the Naim ND5 XS2 compete at a similar price point, but the 9000N was awarded Best Music Streamer Over £2000 at the 2024 What Hi-Fi? Awards, defeating the Naim. Reviewers noted the 9000N delivers superior tonal neutrality and more transparent, precise detail retrieval, while the Naim ND5 XS2 offers a warmer, more rhythmically energetic character. The 9000N also features the ES9038PRO eight-channel flagship DAC and a larger, more informative display. The Naim retains its appeal for listeners who prefer a richer, more forgiving presentation.

Is the Audiolab 9000N Roon Ready?

Yes. The Audiolab 9000N holds official Roon Ready certification, meaning it streams directly from a Roon Core over Wi-Fi or Ethernet with bit-perfect audio at all supported resolutions up to 768kHz/32-bit PCM and DSD512, with no additional configuration required.

What is MQA Full Decoding, and does the 9000N support it?

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is a hi-res streaming technology used on Tidal HiFi Plus. A Full Decoder performs the complete three-stage internal unfolding process, delivering the highest quality MQA output. The 9000N is a certified MQA Full Decoder — not merely a renderer — and applies full decoding to MQA content from both streaming and USB sources, making it an ideal source component for Tidal Masters subscribers.

Can the Audiolab 9000N pass MQA to the 9000A amplifier?

Yes. The 9000N supports MQA Pass-Through via its coaxial and optical digital outputs, allowing an untouched MQA bitstream to be sent to a secondary DAC such as the 9000A's own ES9038PRO DAC section. This gives 9000A owners a fully unadulterated signal path and the flexibility to choose which device handles the final MQA decode.

Does the 9000N work without the Audiolab app?

Yes. The 9000N's 4.3-inch IPS LCD display provides full menu navigation, settings control, format information, and playback management directly from the front panel using the rotary controls, without needing the app open. Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay 2 are also accessible directly from those services' own native apps on any device.

Where can I buy the Audiolab 9000N in Toronto, Canada?

The Audiolab 9000N is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound is an authorized Audiolab dealer serving audiophiles across the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada. You can shop online at vinylsound.ca or visit the showroom to hear the 9000N in a full 9000 series demonstration system.