Audiolab 9000N Wireless Streaming Audio Player at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The Audiolab 9000N is a flagship network streaming audio player from Audiolab (Cambridge, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. Representing the third pillar of Audiolab's premium 9000 Series — alongside the 9000A integrated amplifier and 9000CDT CD transport — the 9000N combines a Lumin-platform streaming engine with the ESS ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC, full certified MQA decoding, and balanced XLR analog outputs to deliver a reference-quality digital source component. Built on a Quad ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.8GHz per core, it supports PCM to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512, with Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and Qobuz integration — all presented through a vivid 4.3-inch full-color IPS LCD display with album artwork.

Lumin-Platform Streaming Engine and ESS ES9038PRO DAC

Unlike Audiolab's entry- and mid-range streaming products, which utilize the DTS Play-Fi platform, the 9000N is built on a fully custom Linux-based streaming platform developed in collaboration with specialist network audio brand Lumin. This platform provides rock-steady Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connectivity, gapless playback, UPnP AV support with Open Home protocol, and USB storage playback from FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS-formatted drives. The dedicated 9000N app for iOS and Android provides native access to Tidal (with MQA track identification icons), Qobuz (with hi-res identification icons), Spotify Connect, TuneIn internet radio, and UPnP servers, alongside intelligent search, multiple playlist functions, composer tag support, and album artwork caching for faster loading. The ES9038PRO DAC chip — the same flagship Sabre DAC found in the 9000A — is implemented with a bespoke post-DAC active filter circuit developed by Audiolab to extract the full sonic potential of the chip's HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, delivering a DAC SNR of over 116dB (RCA) and over 120dB (XLR), with THD below 0.001%. Analog output voltage is variable (0 to 2.05V), making the 9000N suitable for both direct connection to a power amplifier and integration with an existing preamplifier.

Full MQA Decoding, Roon Ready, and MQA Pass-Through

The 9000N carries full certified MQA decoder status, performing the complete three-stage unfolding process internally for Tidal HiFi Plus subscribers accessing Tidal Masters content — no external renderer or software decoding is required. In addition to full decoding, the 9000N offers an MQA Pass-Through mode via its digital coaxial and optical outputs, enabling an untouched, bit-perfect MQA bitstream to be sent directly to a downstream MQA-capable DAC (such as the 9000A) for its own full decoding. This dual functionality makes the 9000N a uniquely versatile hub in both standalone and separates-based system configurations. Roon Ready certification means the 9000N is a fully verified network endpoint within the Roon ecosystem, receiving audio directly over the network from a Roon Core via the RAAT protocol — no USB connection required, with bit-perfect hi-res audio delivery over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The unit also supports AirPlay 2 for multi-room playback from Apple devices.

Key Features

• ESS ES9038PRO 32-Bit DAC: Flagship eight-channel Sabre DAC with HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, with DAC SNR exceeding 116dB (RCA) and 120dB (XLR) and THD below 0.001%.
• Lumin Streaming Platform: Custom Linux-based streaming engine co-developed with Lumin, providing stable Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with gapless playback and Open Home UPnP support.
• PCM to 32-Bit/768kHz and Native DSD512: Supports the full range of hi-res PCM sampling rates and native DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, and DSD512 playback.
• Full Certified MQA Decoding: Complete three-stage internal MQA decoding for Tidal Masters content, plus MQA Pass-Through via digital outputs for downstream MQA DACs.
• Roon Ready: Fully verified Roon network endpoint receiving audio via RAAT protocol over Wi-Fi or Ethernet without requiring a USB connection.
• Balanced XLR Analog Output: Transformer-coupled balanced XLR stereo output alongside an unbalanced RCA pair, with variable output (0 to 2.05V) for flexible system integration.
• AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect: Native support for proprietary streaming service protocols in addition to the dedicated 9000N app, enabling playback directly from service apps without routing through the 9000N interface.
• Quad ARM Cortex-A53 Processor: 1.8GHz per core quad-core MCU delivers fast album artwork caching and responsive operation throughout the 9000N app and display interface.
• 4.3-Inch Full-Color IPS LCD Display: 800 x 480 resolution display showing format data, playback information, VU metering, and full-color album artwork — expandable to an artwork-focused full-screen view.
• Digital Coaxial and Optical Outputs: Dedicated S/PDIF outputs allow connection to an external DAC or AV receiver, including MQA Pass-Through functionality.
• USB Storage Playback: Direct playback from USB hard drives and flash drives formatted as FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 1 x Ethernet (RJ-45, Gigabit 10/100/1000 Base-T)
• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
• 1 x USB Type-B (PC USB input)
• 1 x USB Type-A (storage playback: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS)
• 1 x Stereo RCA Analog Output pair
• 1 x Stereo XLR Balanced Analog Output pair
• 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Digital Output
• 1 x Optical TOSLINK Digital Output
• 1 x 12V Trigger Input; 1 x 12V Trigger Output (Link)

What's in the Box

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

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 — Best Music Streamer, Product of the Year (Best Music Streamer Over £2000 category)
• StereoNET Applause Award, 2024
• Hi-Fi News Outstanding Product Award

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Audiolab 9000N?

The Audiolab 9000N is a flagship network streaming audio player from Audiolab (Cambridge, UK), serving as the dedicated streaming source component of the premium 9000 Series. It combines an ESS ES9038PRO 32-bit DAC with a Lumin-based streaming platform, full MQA decoding, Roon Ready certification, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and Qobuz support, delivering PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512, with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analog outputs — and was named Best Music Streamer Product of the Year by What Hi-Fi? in 2024.

How does the Audiolab 9000N compare to the Naim ND5 XS2, Cambridge Audio EXN100, and Lumin T3?

The Audiolab 9000N displaces the Naim ND5 XS2 as the What Hi-Fi? 2024 Award winner in its price bracket, offering a more tonally neutral and analytically precise presentation alongside a superior hi-res capability (PCM to 768kHz vs. the Naim's 192kHz ceiling, plus native DSD512). Against the Cambridge Audio EXN100, the 9000N steps up with a higher-tier DAC implementation (ES9038PRO vs. the EXN100's ES9028PRO), native DSD512, full MQA decoding, and balanced XLR outputs, at a higher price point. Compared to the Lumin T3, the 9000N shares the same underlying streaming platform architecture and benefits from similarly stable network behavior, but the 9000N is priced more accessibly and includes the familiarity of the Audiolab app alongside full Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect support.

Is the Audiolab 9000N Roon Ready and how does Roon integration work?

Yes, the Audiolab 9000N is fully Roon Ready certified, meaning it implements Roon's own RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) streaming protocol natively over the network. When a Roon Core (running on a dedicated Nucleus, NUC, or computer) is present on the same network, the 9000N appears automatically as a network audio endpoint without any configuration. Audio is delivered bit-perfectly at up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 directly to the 9000N's DAC stage, with no additional USB connection required.

What is MQA Pass-Through and when would I use it?

MQA Pass-Through is a mode in which the 9000N outputs an unprocessed MQA bitstream from its digital coaxial or optical output, rather than performing its own internal decoding. This is designed for users who have a separate, MQA-capable DAC downstream — such as the Audiolab 9000A integrated amplifier — and want that DAC to perform the full MQA decoding instead of the 9000N. The result is a completely untouched signal path between the streaming source and the decoding DAC, which can be preferable in a high-resolution separates system where the downstream DAC is optimized to get the most out of the MQA reconstruction.

Can the Audiolab 9000N work without a network connection using USB storage?

Yes. The 9000N supports direct playback from USB flash drives and USB hard drives without any network connection required. Drives formatted as FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS (single partition) are compatible, and the supported formats include FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, DSF (DSD), DIFF (DSD), DoP DSD, MP3, and MQA. The dedicated app provides full navigation, search, and playlist management for USB-stored libraries alongside streaming services.

Does the Audiolab 9000N support multi-room audio?

Yes. The 9000N supports multi-room audio through AirPlay 2, which allows synchronized playback across multiple AirPlay 2-compatible devices in a home network. Within the Roon ecosystem, multi-zone playback is managed by the Roon Core and allows grouped or independent zone management with bit-perfect audio. The Open Home UPnP protocol also enables integration with compatible control applications for multi-room UPnP setups.

Does the Audiolab 9000N have Bluetooth?

No. The Audiolab 9000N does not include Bluetooth connectivity. Audiolab made a deliberate engineering decision to omit Bluetooth from the 9000N in order to prioritize performance in the wired and Wi-Fi network streaming domain, where the ES9038PRO DAC and Lumin platform deliver their full potential. For wireless streaming from mobile devices, AirPlay 2 provides a high-quality alternative over the home Wi-Fi network. Bluetooth is available on the companion 9000A integrated amplifier, which supports Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD and LDAC.

Where can I buy the Audiolab 9000N in Buffalo, NY or the United States?

The Audiolab 9000N is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Audiolab dealer in Buffalo, New York. Purchasing through an authorized dealer ensures full manufacturer warranty coverage, genuine product, and access to the Vinyl Sound team's expertise for system matching and setup guidance.