Audiolab D9
Audiophile Audiolab D9 DAC with ES9038Pro converter, full MQA decoding and balanced XLR outputs, with built-in headphone amplifier.
Description
The Audiolab D9 is a high-end digital-to-analogue converter that also acts as a digital control centre for a hi-fi system. It receives a variety of digital sources, converts them into an analogue signal and feeds an amplifier or headphones directly, with the option of also driving other digital equipment via its dedicated outputs.
At the heart of the D9 is the ESS ES9038Pro converter, paired with a total harmonic distortion measured at less than 0.001% (1kHz, 0dBFS) and a signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 118dB at the RCA output, and exceeding 123dB at the XLR output. These figures reflect a very low noise floor and a faithful reproduction of the original signal. The frequency response spans 20Hz to 20kHz with a tolerance of 0.1dB, ensuring a linear response across the entire audible spectrum.
The D9 accepts very high-resolution files: up to 768kHz in PCM and DSD512 via the USB PC input, up to 192kHz via coaxial and optical, and up to 96kHz via its dedicated USB input for external hard drives. It also features full MQA decoding and Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD and LDAC codecs for high-resolution wireless streaming.
In terms of connectivity, the unit offers two coaxial inputs, two optical S/PDIF inputs, one USB input for a hard drive, one AES/EBU input for professional systems, as well as coaxial and optical digital outputs allowing connection to other equipment. The RCA analogue outputs (2.05 Vrms) and balanced XLR outputs (4.1 Vrms) allow connection to most hi-fi amplifiers, while a headphone output with a load impedance of between 20 and 600 ohms enables direct headphone listening.
This DAC is aimed at fans of high-definition digital music who want a central unit capable of bringing together several digital sources, making use of MQA files or Bluetooth streaming, and serving as both a digital preamplifier and a headphone amplifier within a demanding hi-fi system.
Technical specifications
| D/A Converter | ES9038Pro |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | < 0.001% (1kHz @ 0dBFS) |
| Load impedance | 20–600 ohms |
| Output level (0dBFS, 1kHz) | 2.05 Vrms (RCA), 4.1 Vrms (XLR) |
| Frequency response | 20Hz–20kHz (+/-0.1dB) |
| Signal to noise ratio (S/N) | > 118dB (A-weighted, RCA), > 123dB (A-weighted, XLR) |
| Max. sample rate USB HDD | 96kHz |
| Max. sample rate Optical, Coaxial | 192kHz |
| Max. sample rate USB PC | PCM768kHz, DSD512 |
| Input connections | 2 x SPDIF (Coaxial), 2 x SPDIF (Optical), 1 x USB PC (USB B), 1 x USB HDD (USB A), 1 x Bluetooth (aptX / aptX HD), 1 x AES3/EBU |
| Output connections | 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR, 1 x headphone, 2 x Trigger 12V, 1 x Optical output, 1 x Coaxial output |
| Net weight | 4.2 kg |
| Gross weight | 5.8 kg |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 315 x 88.3 x 277 mm |
| Box size (W x H x D) | 409 x 220 x 451 mm |
What to check before buying used
On start-up, check that the ES9038Pro decodes all sources correctly without crackling or unexpected dropouts, which could indicate a worn conversion module. Test each input in turn: USB PC, coaxial, optical and Bluetooth aptX HD may have aged differently depending on how the previous owner used them. Check the firmness of the RCA, XLR and USB connectors as well as the correct operation of the Trigger 12V outputs, which are sometimes overlooked. Finally, make sure that Bluetooth pairs with a device without difficulty, as this module is more prone to faults than the rest of the circuit.
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