Audiolab D7 and D9 Signal a New Era in Standalone DACs

The Cambridgeshire-based audio brand has re-entered the dedicated DAC category with the launch of the compact D7 and premium D9 models, which it positions as spiritual successors to the highly regarded M-DAC series. Both units draw upon the company’s decades-long involvement in digital audio design. However, this is the first time since 2017’s M-DAC Mini that Audiolab has delivered standalone DACs for music lovers seeking a dedicated digital front end.

The D7, based on the ES9038Q2M chip from ESS Technology, shares its core architecture with Audiolab’s latest 6000A MkII and 7000A amplifiers. The company says its implementation includes a precision master clock and proprietary Class A post-DAC filtering to achieve low noise and high dynamic range. Designed to operate as a digital audio hub, the D7 offers multiple USB and S/PDIF inputs, supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, and includes full MQA decoding along with Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX HD. Audiolab also includes a selection of digital filters and upsampling options, enabling users to tweak playback performance based on content and preference.

At the top of the range, the D9 adopts a more expansive feature set and a heavier engineering focus. It’s built around the ES9038PRO—ESS Technology’s flagship DAC chip, which allows for four channels per side in a balanced stereo configuration. Audiolab says this differential balanced output architecture ensures high linearity and channel separation, while also minimising noise, which the company claims is crucial in resolving low-level detail and preserving musical nuance.

Power delivery has also been prioritised in the D9, with a linear power supply incorporating an ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer and multiple discrete regulators, each feeding separate sections of the digital and analogue circuits. Audiolab asserts this multi-rail approach improves channel isolation and overall fidelity, particularly in high-resolution playback.

Beyond its internals, the D9 adds AES3/EBU input for studio-grade digital interfacing and expands its Bluetooth capabilities to include LDAC alongside aptX HD, AAC, and SBC. Output options match those of the D7, with balanced XLR, single-ended RCA connectors (switchable between fixed and variable output), and a high-powered headphone amp capable of driving anything from low-impedance dynamics to planar magnetics.

A crisp 2.8-inch colour display rounds out the D9’s front fascia. It mirrors the aesthetic of Audiolab’s flagship 9000 Series while displaying playback info, input selection, real-time dB meters, and more. Users can toggle between display modes or switch it off entirely for a more discreet look. The D7 and D9 incorporate current-feedback headphone amps with wide bandwidth and high slew rate designs. Audiolab claims they deliver up to 600mW into a wide impedance range, providing clean, distortion-free power even with demanding headphones. 

The Audiolab D7 and D9 will be available in black or silver from mid-May, priced at £449/ AU$999 and £1,099/ AU$2,299 respectively. Pricing for other regions is yet to be confirmed.

For more information visit Audiolab