The original 6000A was one of those amps that quietly won people over. Solid, musical, and priced sensibly, it became a bit of a staple in budget‑conscious hi‑fi systems. The Mk2 version doesn’t rip that formula up, but it does refine it.
The result is an amp that feels more confident and more flexible without losing what made it appealing in the first place. Not enough revolution, too much evolution? It shouldn’t be for the amp that became What Hifi’s benchmark – either striving to be it, or being at least as good as it!
Design-wise, it’s recognisably Audiolab: minimalist, purposeful, and understated. The clean front panel, crisp display, and single control dial give it a modern edge without sliding into bland territory. It’s an amp that doesn’t shout for attention – it just looks quietly classy, the kind of kit you could happily leave on show without it dragging the aesthetic of your room back to the 90s. Build quality is equally solid, with enough heft to reassure you it means business. It also pairs just fine with older Audiolab kit, no palette issues with colour.
The big changes come under the hood. The Mk2 swaps in an updated DAC stage, borrowing trickle‑down tech from higher‑end models, and it makes a difference. Detail retrieval feels sharper, presentation is cleaner, and there’s a touch more refinement at both ends of the spectrum. It’s not night and day the 6000A was already strong, but the Mk2 feels like it’s squeezing more out of every source. Perhaps not worth trading in your old 6000A for, but definitely an upgrade for most entry level amps.
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Sonically, it’s a very easy amp to live with. The presentation is balanced and open, with a good sense of space around instruments and vocals even on fuzzier artists like Alt-J and the XX. There’s warmth here, but not so much that it smothers detail. Bass is punchy and controlled, mids are expressive, and treble is crisp without tipping into harshness. It works across genres too, delicate enough for acoustic and classical, energetic enough to do justice to rock and electronic.
There’s a real sense of musical flow, which is probably its strongest suit. Some amps at this level can sound either too clinical or too woolly, but the 6000A Mk2 finds that sweet spot where you’re not thinking about the equipment anymore, just enjoying the music. Pair it with a good set of speakers and it feels like it’s punching above its weight. It can feel a little transparent and will really let your speakers do some talking – so it’s worth a listen before you buy.
Connectivity is generous for the price bracket. You get analogue inputs including a decent moving‑magnet phono stage, digital inputs to make use of that upgraded DAC, and Bluetooth for when convenience trumps purism. It doesn’t try to be an all‑in‑one streaming hub, that’s left to Audiolab’s 6000N streamer, but as a pure integrated amp, it has you well covered.
If there’s a criticism, it’s that the Mk2 doesn’t exactly surprise. It’s an evolution rather than a revolution as I mentioned, you may not feel compelled to upgrade the old model unless you really crave that refinement in the DAC stage. And while it’s versatile, it doesn’t have quite the same sense of authority or scale that you’ll find in more expensive integrated models like the CXA81 (also Mk2). But then, that’s not really the point – this is about delivering honest, musical performance at a price that doesn’t scare people off.
The 6000A Mk2 is, in many ways, the amp you recommend when someone wants to dip into proper hi‑fi without getting lost in endless options. It’s straightforward, it sounds great, and it’s built with enough care that you’ll feel like you’ve made a serious purchase without emptying your wallet.
Audiolab didn’t need to reinvent the wheel here, and they didn’t. They just made small, smart improvements to an already well‑loved design. The result is an amp that feels like a safe bet, but also one that continues to deliver genuine musical joy. Why not head down to your local Richer Sounds store today and give it a demo?
Author: Tom, Cardiff Store
