Audiolab 7000CDT

The Audiolab 7000CDT is a CD transport, that is to say a player without an internal digital-to-analogue converter. Its function is limited to reading and extracting the digital data contained on a CD, CD-R or CD-RW disc. To reproduce sound, it must be connected to an external DAC or to an amplifier that itself incorporates a converter.

The playback mechanism relies on an electronic buffer that absorbs reading irregularities, including on slightly scratched or marked discs. A master clock with a crystal oscillator limits jitter, this temporal distortion which can alter the precision of the digital signal transmitted to the DAC. The chassis and mechanism are designed to isolate the unit from external vibrations, with the aim of preserving the fidelity of data extraction. In terms of measurements, the unit displays a frequency response of -0.01 dB between 20 Hz and 20 kHz and a total harmonic distortion of less than 0.002%, with a digital output amplitude of 500 ±50 mVpp under an impedance of 75 Ω.

Beyond the optical disc, the 7000CDT features a USB Type-A port on the rear allowing playback of digital audio files stored on a USB stick or hard drive, in WAV, AAC, WMA, MP3 and other high-resolution and lossless formats, on FAT12, FAT16 or FAT32 file systems. Digital output is available via either a coaxial or optical connection.

This CD transport is aimed at listeners who already own a quality DAC, either separate or built into their amplifier, and who wish to pair it with a dedicated CD source rather than an all-in-one player. It naturally fits into a system built around Audiolab's 7000 Series, alongside the 7000A amplifier for example, but is also suited to any system with coaxial or optical digital inputs.