Audiolab Reworks the 6000CDT With a New MKII Transport Platform
A CD transport makes sense when a system already has digital-to-analog conversion covered. Audiolab’s new 6000CDT MKII keeps that division of labor, reading discs and sending a digital signal to an external DAC or a compatible digital-input amplifier.
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The manufacturer describes a new disc mechanism, revised servo control and changes to the power supply and transformer implementation. Updated master clocking completes the main areas of work. Audiolab says the combined changes improve disc handling and consistency while limiting the influence of motor activity on the digital circuitry.
The outputs are coaxial and optical S/PDIF. There is no onboard DAC supplying an analog line output. The optical connection also provides an electrically isolated path between the transport and the receiving component, which can be useful when planning a system.
CD, CD-R, CD-RW and supported data CDs are covered. The manual lists file formats and their individual limits, so the headline support for sample rates up to 96 kHz should not be read as applying to every file type. The rear USB-A connection is for firmware updates.
For everyday use, the MKII includes direct track selection and playback programming, alongside a 12-volt trigger input and link output. Those features can matter more to the routine of playing a collection than a long description of its clock circuit.
U.S. launch pricing is reported at $799, with late-November availability. The sensible system check is whether the existing DAC and inputs make a dedicated transport useful. It is an addition for a particular setup, rather than a complete CD playback system on its own.
