audiolab D9 DAC and Headphone Amplifier

A Modern Heir to the M-DAC Name

The Audiolab D9 is a DAC and a headphone amplifier in one box, built for anyone whose music arrives from several places at once. A computer, a hard drive, a disc transport and a phone can all stay plugged in, and you pick between them from the front.

A 2.8-inch color touchscreen shows the source and the format at a glance, and a full remote comes in the box, so the D9 can sit across the room. It is finished in black or in silver.

The Chip From the Flagship

At the center sits an ESS ES9038PRO, the same converter Audiolab puts in its flagship 9000 series. It decodes PCM up to 32-bit and 768kHz, and DSD up to DSD512. Full MQA decoding works over USB, coaxial and optical.

Plug a USB drive full of MP3, WAV, FLAC or APE files into the front and the D9 plays them on its own. No computer needs to be switched on first, and there is no software to install.

A Headphone Amp Strong Enough to Stand Alone

The headphone stage uses current-feedback circuitry and puts out up to 600 milliwatts. That covers loads from 20 to 600 ohms, so a pair of hard-to-drive planars gets the same grip as a set of easy in-ears.

Distortion there stays below 0.01% at 1kHz, and output impedance is 2.35 ohms, low enough that sensitive in-ear monitors keep their intended tone rather than picking up a bass hump.

The Line Outputs Are Just as Serious

Balanced XLR puts out 4.1 volts and RCA puts out 2.05 volts, both at full scale. Distortion holds under 0.001%. Signal-to-noise measures better than 123dB on XLR and 118dB on RCA, and response runs flat from 20Hz to 20kHz within a tenth of a decibel.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Becky Roberts reviewed the D9 for Sound Advice in September 2025. "Bass has just the right amount of muscle, the midrange is direct and lucid, and the treble is as sharp as you could possibly want it," she wrote.

Her conclusion was unequivocal. "There’s no question about it: the D9 does its forebears proud," she wrote, calling it "a dedicated headphone amplifier that’s very satisfying indeed."

Who Is This DAC Best For?

• You listen on headphones and want power in reserve — 600 milliwatts across 20 to 600 ohms means one box handles both your in-ears and the hard pair you keep for the evening.
• Your music lives in several places — two coaxial, two optical, USB, AES/EBU and Bluetooth all feed the same converter, so nothing has to be unplugged to play something else.
• You want to skip the preamp — the balanced and single-ended outputs are strong enough to drive a power amp directly, which takes a box and a pair of cables out of the system.
• You still hold MQA files or a Tidal Masters library — full decoding works over USB, coaxial and optical, so those files play at the resolution you paid for.
• The D9 takes wired sources and Bluetooth — there is no Wi-Fi and no app-based music service on board, so Tidal or Qobuz arrive through something else. Add one from our music streamers.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Digital inputs cover two coaxial and two optical connections, a USB-B port for a computer, a USB-A port for a drive, AES/EBU, and Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX, aptX HD and LDAC. Switch between them from the panel or the remote.

On the way out, balanced XLR and single-ended RCA can feed an integrated amp, a preamp or a power amp. A 12V trigger brings other components up and down with the D9, and the headphone jack sits on the front.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions:

• Headphones: Put that 600 milliwatts to work — see our Headphones.
• Integrated Amplifier: To finish a speaker-based system — browse our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Cables: Balanced or single-ended, the run matters — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give it a permanent home — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the D9 power my headphones without a separate amp?

Yes. The current-feedback headphone stage puts out up to 600 milliwatts and handles loads from 20 to 600 ohms.

Does it still support MQA?

Yes, full MQA decoding works over the USB, coaxial and optical inputs.

Can I play music from a USB drive without a computer?

Yes. The USB-A port plays MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC and APE files straight off a connected drive.

Does it work as a preamp?

The XLR and RCA outputs are strong enough to feed a power amp directly, so it can replace a separate preamp in many systems.

Which Bluetooth codecs does it support?

aptX, aptX HD and LDAC over Bluetooth 5.1, alongside the standard AAC and SBC.

What warranty does it carry?

One year as standard, extended to three years if you register it within 90 days of purchase.

See It in Action

Infinite Baffle introduces the D9 as the M-DAC's successor:

And Sound Advice goes through the sound and the features:

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
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Learn More

Want to learn more about DACs, headphone amplifiers, or building a digital system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.