audiolab 7000CDT CD Transport - Silver

A Screen, a USB Port, and Still No DAC

The 7000CDT sits between the 6000CDT and the 9000CDT. It keeps the transport-only idea and adds the two things the 6000CDT lacks. One is a color screen. The other is a USB port you can play from.

That USB Type A socket takes a stick or a drive. It plays MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV files. So a disc collection and a file collection can both run through the same box, and both leave it as digital data.

Reading the disc is a high-precision optical system with an electronic data buffer. The buffer reads ahead. A scratched disc gets a second attempt before the music breaks up, which is the same trick the 6000CDT uses.

The 2.8-Inch Screen Earns Its Place

The front panel carries a 2.8-inch IPS LCD in full color. Brightness is adjustable. It shows the format, the folder, the track and the settings, which matters far more when you are browsing a USB stick than a disc.

Outputs are one coaxial and one optical. Output impedance is 75 ohms. Distortion is quoted below 0.002% and frequency response at -0.01dB across 20Hz to 20kHz. Standby draw is under half a watt.

The case is 444mm wide, 322 deep and 78 tall, and weighs 5.5kg. It is more compact than the 9000 series and is styled to match the 7000A amplifier. Silver and black are offered.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Reviewing the 7000 series for Hifi Pig, Michael Fairbairn singled out the display: "One of the most appealing features of both the amplifier and CD transport is the 2.8 inch LCD screen, with the GUI in colour".

On what that screen actually shows, the same review is precise: "The transport display is slightly more limited and simply shows information about tracks from CDs and USB-connected storage devices."

Who Is This Transport Best For?

• You have discs and files — the USB Type A port plays MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV from a stick or drive, so both libraries feed the same DAC without you swapping boxes.
• You browse rather than just press play — the 2.8-inch color screen shows format, folder and track, which turns navigating a loaded USB drive from guesswork into reading.
• Your discs have seen some use — the read-ahead buffer gives a marked CD a second attempt at being read, so a scratch does not end the track.
• You own a 7000A or similar — it is sized and styled to match, and it hands the data straight to the DAC already in that amplifier.
• You want the conversion done your way — coaxial and optical outputs feed the DAC of your choice, or a digital input on an amplifier such as the 7000A, so you decide where the converting happens. See our digital-to-analog converters.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Take the coaxial output to a digital input on your DAC. Use optical instead if the coaxial socket is busy. The DAC then feeds your amplifier exactly as before.

For files, plug a stick or drive into the USB Type A port on the unit. Browse it on the front screen. The output is the same digital feed your discs use, so nothing else in the chain changes.

Pairs Well With

Building around the 7000CDT? Here are some great companions:

• DAC: The half this box deliberately leaves out — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Integrated Amplifier: Many already have a digital input — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Digital Cables: A proper 75-ohm coaxial run — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Equipment Rack: Somewhere steady for the transport — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it have a DAC or analog outputs?

It is a transport, so conversion happens downstream. You get one coaxial and one optical output to feed your DAC or amplifier.

What can the USB port play?

MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV files from a USB stick or drive, browsed on the front screen.

How does it differ from the 6000CDT?

It adds the color screen and USB playback, and uses a newer mechanism. Both are transports with no converter inside.

What size is the display?

2.8 inches, IPS, in full color, with adjustable brightness. It shows format, folder, track and system settings.

What are the measurements?

Distortion below 0.002%, frequency response of -0.01dB from 20Hz to 20kHz, and 75 ohms output impedance.

How big is it, and what is the warranty?

444 by 322 by 78mm and 5.5kg. Audiolab covers it for three years when you buy from an authorized dealer and register the unit online within 90 days of purchase.

See It in Action

Ray Miller of Audio Advisor introduces the 7000CDT:

And Forever Analog sets it against a rival transport:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about CD transports, digital converters, or playing files from USB? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.