Audiolab has become a go-to brand for us when it comes to affordable music streamers. Based on the Play-Fi streaming platform, the company’s offerings have typically delivered a balanced and insightful performance while being easy to use. The introduction of the range-topping 9000N marks a shift in ambition, being pitched at a properly premium price, and with a change in streaming platform to one from high-end specialist Lumin.
Some may wonder why Audiolab couldn’t just make its own streaming platform, but developing and then maintaining one (as new feature requirements arise) is such a complex and expensive task that most hi-fi companies prefer to buy-in ready-made solutions from specialist suppliers in the area. Lumin is a good choice as it is firmly established as a manufacturer of well-regarded premium streaming products but also deals with a client list that includes prestigious brands such as TEAC and its high-end offshoot, Esoteric.
