Audiolab DACs
D9
Reference DAC and headphone amplifier.
The D9 is Audiolab's flagship standalone DAC — a compact half-width chassis housing the ES9038PRO in full 8-channel configuration with four channels per stereo side for summed error correction and vanishingly low distortion (< 0.001% THD+N). A 40 VA toroidal transformer powers a linear supply with multiple discrete ultra-low-noise regulators providing isolated power to each circuit stage. Seven digital inputs — including USB-B (PCM 768 kHz / DSD512), AES/EBU, two coaxial, two optical, and USB-A — plus Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD and LDAC make the D9 a universal digital hub. The high-power current-feedback headphone amplifier drives headphones from 20 Ω to 600 Ω, and five selectable DAC filters with optional upsampling to 352.8/384 kHz let you fine-tune the sound to your preference.
At a Glance
●ES9038PRO (8-ch, 4 per side)
●< 0.001% THD+N
●PCM 768 kHz / DSD512 / MQA
●AES/EBU + 6 digital inputs
●Bluetooth 5.1 aptX HD / LDAC
●Balanced XLR & RCA outputs
●CFB headphone amp (20–600 Ω)
●Designed in Cambridge, UK
Key Features
ES9038PRO 8-Channel DAC
Full 8-channel configuration with four channels per side — HyperStream II architecture with < 0.001% THD+N and five selectable reconstruction filters.
7 Digital Inputs + Bluetooth
USB-B, AES/EBU, 2× coaxial, 2× optical, USB-A, plus Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD and LDAC — every digital source covered.
40 VA Toroidal Linear PSU
Toroidal transformer with multiple discrete ultra-low-noise regulators — clean, isolated power to every stage of the signal path.
CFB Headphone Amplifier
High-power current-feedback headphone amp drives 20–600 Ω headphones via 6.3 mm output — wide bandwidth and high slew rate for effortless dynamics.
Technologies Inside
ESS Sabre DAC
Reference conversion at every level.
Audiolab applies ESS Sabre DAC technology across their range, from the ES9038PRO in the 9000 series to the ES9038Q2M in the 7000. Their implementation goes beyond the reference circuit — with precision power supplies, custom analogue output stages, and careful PCB layout — to extract the full potential of these industry-leading DAC chips.
Time Domain Jitter Elimination
Timing perfection.
Jitter — tiny timing errors in the digital signal — is one of the most audible forms of digital distortion. Audiolab's multi-stage jitter elimination circuitry reconditions incoming digital signals with extreme precision, removing timing errors and their associated harmonic distortion products before they reach the DAC.
Gallery
A closer look at the D9.
Experience the D9
Visit our showroom for a personal demonstration. Hear the difference for yourself.
For complete specifications and technical details, visit the official Audiolab website.