CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — Audiolab 6000CDT

The 6000CDT is a dedicated CD transport in Audiolab's 6000 Series, built without a digital-to-analogue converter. It reads Red Book discs and passes the data to an external DAC, whether a standalone unit or the converter inside an amplifier such as the 6000A. By leaving out the conversion stage, Audiolab could spend the budget on the transport itself, and the unit uses the same slot-loading mechanism as the 8300CD player. It is sold in black or silver finishes, and the US price is USD 799.

Key specs that matter

The unit has a single coaxial and a single optical digital output, both working at up to a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz as defined for CD. The coaxial output delivers 600 mV peak to peak within 50 mV at an output impedance of 75 ohm within 1 ohm, and frequency response deviates by less than 0.01 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Power draw is 15 W at most and under 0.5 W in standby, and regional versions run on 100 V, 115 V, 230 V or 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz. The chassis measures 445 x 80 x 307 mm including feet, terminals and controls, and weighs 5.4 kg net. The carton is 512 x 467 x 146 mm.

Engineering and use context

A read-ahead digital buffer stores data ahead of playback to reduce reading failures, which lets the 6000CDT play scratched and damaged CDs that conventional mechanisms reject. Timing comes from a master clock controlled by a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator, which keeps jitter low on the optical and the coaxial output alike. A differential line driver feeds the coaxial socket. A shielded housing screens the mechanism against electromagnetic interference, and a separate power supply feeds it, both aimed at accurate data extraction. Discs load and eject with consistent clamping pressure, and the drive runs quietly while reading. The rear panel carries only the two digital outputs, an IEC mains inlet and trigger connections.

Pairing

Audiolab designed the transport to match the 6000A integrated amplifier, whose 32-bit DAC section accepts its output and which shares the same brushed aluminium casework. Any converter offering an optical or coaxial input at the CD rate will work, and the trigger links let the transport switch on and off together with other Audiolab units in the system.

Alternatives

The Audiolab 7000CDT is the next CD transport up, adding a new mechanism, playback of files from USB storage and a 2.8-inch colour IPS display.