AUDIOLAB OMNIA ALL-IN-ONE HIFI SYSTEM LAUNCHED

British brand Audiolab has launched an all-in-one, just-add-speakers music system, Audiolab Omnia.

Housed in an aluminium enclosure with a minimalist aesthetic, the Audiolab Omnia caters for music from digital streaming to physical CD and vinyl collections.

The Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System in black

It sports an integrated CD player, extensive inputs for external sources, including a phono stage for a turntable, hi-res network streaming, the ability to form part of a synchronised multi-room system and amplification to make the most of whichever speakers or headphones the user chooses to partner it with.

STREAMING

Streaming has become the predominant way in which many people listen to music, which is why contemporary all-one-music systems often focus on this aspect. This is a critical part of the Omnia’s design too, with hi-res network streaming supported over dual-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable, alongside Bluetooth for wireless reception from smartphones, tablets and other devices.

Back view of the Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System

DTS PLAY-FI

Network streaming is powered by DTS Play-Fi: an app-controlled platform enabling high-quality, whole-home wireless audio, capable of streaming hi-res music up to 24-bit/192kHz and supported by a range of established audio brands.

Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System

The Play-Fi app (available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, Apple and Android smartwatches, and Windows PCs) is a gateway to a wealth of music services, including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Audacy, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM. It is also your trusty music butler, able to serve up a streaming library stored on a DLNA-compatible NAS drive or media server.nFavourite playlists and internet radio stations can be assigned as shortcut ‘presets’ within the app, while Works With Alexa support enables voice-controlled playback when the Omnia is paired with any Amazon Alexa-equipped device. In standard mode, which is optimised for multi-room bandwidth, Play-Fi streams at up to 16-bit/48kHz, akin to CD-quality. By engaging Play-Fi’s Critical Listening Mode, hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz may be streamed to the Omnia over Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable, without transcoding or down-sampling.

There are ways to stream music wirelessly to the Omnia other than using the Play-Fi app. Users can play directly from the Spotify app thanks to Spotify Connect, and stream from smartphones and tablets without connecting to the local Wi-Fi network via Bluetooth – the Omnia is Bluetooth 5 compliant for optimum quality, reliability and range, and includes decoding for aptX, aptX LL, AAC and SBC.

The Omnia is also officially ‘Roon Tested’, meaning it has been put through its paces rigorously by Roon and certified for use in a Roon audio environment.

AUDIOLAB OMNIA CD TRANSPORT

The Audiolab Omnia’s transport mechanism is engineered to make the most of any CD collection, incorporating a high precision optical system and low-friction loading tray, with an electronic data buffer and sturdy aluminium base and chassis to tackle vibration.

Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System with remote

AUDIOLAB OMNIA INTEGRAL PHONOSTAGE

For vinyl lovers, the integral MM phono stage features a low-noise, JFET-based circuit with RIAA equalisation. Other external sources can be connected via a range of digital (asynchronous USB and S/PDIF) and line-level analogue inputs, utilising the Omnia’s high-performance DAC, analogue preamp and power amp stages. Further versatility is provided by the ability to bypass the separate amp stages, giving the option to connect an external preamplifier or power amplifier.

Inside the Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System

VU METER

Inlaid in the centre of the Audiolab Omnia’s aluminium front panel is a 4.3in full-colour screen, ready to display all sorts of information including system settings, format data and track details. It can even be set to display a VU meter in ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ form, showing real-time decibel levels for the left and right channels.

Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System display

AUDIOLAB OMNIA DIGITAL CIRCUITRY

At the heart of the Omnia’s digital circuitry nestles the ES9038Q2M, a top-spec, new-generation chipset from the 32-bit Sabre family. This is accompanied by proprietary circuitry to make the most of ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator for ultra-low noise and high dynamic range.

A critical element is the post-DAC active filter; Audiolab’s design team has paid great attention to this circuit, using op-amps specially selected for their synergy with the Sabre DAC. All digital sources benefit from the DAC’s quality, from CDs and audio streamed over Wi-Fi or Ethernet to devices connected via the USB and S/PDIF inputs.

Case detail of the Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System

PCM audio is supported to 32-bit/768kHz, alongside DSD to 22.5MHz (DSD512). Every significant hi-res and lossless audio format is catered for, including FLAC, ALAC, AIFF and WAV, as well as compressed legacy formats. The Audiolab Omnia also delivers full decoding of MQA, the hi-res streaming technology. This means that the complete ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’.

ANALOGUE CIRCUITS

The Audiolab Omnia’s preamp and power amp stages incorporate short, direct signal paths. Volume is adjusted in the analogue domain under microprocessor control, outputting directly to the Class AB output stage. This delivers 50W per channel into 8 ohms, with maximum current of 9 Amps into difficult loads. Instead of Class D the Audiolab Omnia features Class AB amp circuitry.

The output stage uses a CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology and there is a substantial 200VA toroidal transformer, followed by 4x15000uF reservoir capacity (60000uF in total). Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the Omnia’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference.

CONNECTIONS

As well as the built-in CD player and wireless streaming over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Omnia offers a comprehensive selection of cable inputs for analogue and digital sources. Two USB inputs, Type A and Type B, cater for connection to PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets and digital storage devices, complemented by four S/PDIF digital inputs (two coaxial and two optical) and an Ethernet port for network connectivity. Four stereo RCA analogue inputs are supplied – three line-level, plus one MM phono input for a turntable.

In addition to a set of high-quality, gold-plated binding posts to connect the user’s chosen speakers, headphone fans are served by a front-mounted 6.3mm headphone output fed by a dedicated amp. . Other outputs include a stereo-RCA pre-out option, as well as coaxial and optical digital outputs.

Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System detail

AUDIOLAB OMNIA SPECIFICATIONS

CD player Tray-loading mech with precision optical and anti-vibration systems

DAC chipset ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M

Max. sample rate – USB 768kHz

Max. sample rate – Wi-Fi/Ethernet 192kHz

Max. sample rate – coaxial/optical 192kHz

DSD DSD64/128/256/512

MQA Full decoding via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, coaxial and optical inputs

Network streaming Platform DTS Play-Fi

App compatibility iOS; Android; Kindle Fire; Apple Watch; Wear OS; Windows PC (Mac via web browser)

Sportify Connect Yes

UPnP Yes

Play from USB storage Yes

Multi-room funtionaiity Yes

Roon Tested Yes

Amplifier class Class AB

Power 50W per channel into 8 ohms

Network audio Dual-band Wi-Fi; Ethernet

Bluetooth audio Bluetooth 5; aptX, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC

Digital inputs Asynchronous USB-B (PC/Mac); USB-A (external storage); 2x coaxial; 2x optical

Analogue inputs Stereo RCA: 3x line-level; 1x MM Phono, 1x power-in

Speaker/headphone outputs Gold-plated speaker binding posts; 6.3mm headphone socket

Digital outputs 1x coaxial; 1x optical

Analogue outputs 1x stereo RCA pre-out

12V trigger In/out

Display 4.3in IPS LCD; 11 languages supported

Dimensions 440x156x327cm (WxHxD)

Weight 9.1kg

Finish Black or silver anodised aluminium

Audiolab Omnia All-In-One Hifi System with speakers

AUDIOLAB OMNIA PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Audiolab Omnia is available in December, in a choice of black or silver, at an RRP of £1,599.

HiFi Pig Says: The ‘all in one’ HiFi is becoming an increasingly attractive choice for modern audiophiles.

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