Display Audiolab 9000P power amplifier
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It takes some getting used to. Playing with more expensive amplifiers ourselves, we need to recalibrate our brains a bit and become aware of the price range. After a few days, we chase our playlist through the Cantons and discover some positives. This amp, whether you use one or two, sounds fast, rhythmic and transparent. When you pair two pieces together, more control and fluidity is added. The speakers are then completely held in a grip and the volume goes up effortlessly without any distortion.
Listening to the Audiolab 9000P power amplifier in stereo
We let the amp warm up for fifteen minutes and start our critical listening session with a compact disc by Robert Ellis. We have a few albums by this American singer-songwriter and like his quiet folk-like songs. Voices have great intelligibility and everything comes off the speakers nicely. We hear a lot of detail and get a lot of insight into the songs. Ellis’ voice comes through flawlessly.
Second disc comes from the amazing Calexico. Again Americans who make wonderful pop music. On the song “Tapping on the Line,” the bass guitar comes through magisterially beautiful. The cymbals and drums are a bit to the back of the mix and the vocals clearly up front. The wide soundstage is immediately noticeable as well as the depth of reproduction.
Listening to the Audiolab 9000P power amplifier in mono
Once bridged, it’s time for “The Prophecy” by DJ Shadow. This track is on the special “Action Adventure” album. For this kind of music, the 9000P is perfectly suited. The bizarre control makes you feel the threat in the song and the beats are, very, very tight! This album is a litmus test for any amp because the tracks are full of seismic bass and rapid tempo changes. An inferior amp will soon lose control.
We are totally in the mood of the song and the track thunders through the speakers full of gusto. The Cantons also deliver their share of work here by bringing the bass tight and controlled. The soundstage is now even wider and the music effortlessly fills the entire room. You really get a “wall of sound” feeling through those 2×300 watts.
Listening to the combination of Audiolab 9000Q and 9000P
We’ve said it before. Often devices from the same manufacturer have a certain synergy and it’s no different here. Especially the 9000P excels in combination with the 9000Q. The extra ‘exposure’ so to speak of the 9000Q brings balance to this rather tight, dry and controlled power amplifier. The combination works excellently and allows for prolonged listening.