 Product retail price: ¥15,880 yuan / unit If you're a music lover who has a certain collection of CDs and vinyl at home, but also listens to the latest music on your phone, tablet or computer, and occasionally watches a movie at home, what kind of audio equipment do you need to meet your needs? Is it a CD player web player vinyl turntable front and rear stage and speaker and a bunch of cables? No! All you need is an audiolab Omnia! Omnia is arguably a groundbreaking, full-featured audio solution that combines a power amplifier, CD player, DAC decoder, digital/streaming, phono amplifier, Bluetooth receiver, headphone amplifier, and preamp. Just add a pair of speakers and enjoy the joy of music. If you are a vinyl lover, you only need to add another vinyl turntable. A machine in hand, free from a variety of collocation and wiring troubles. > The look of technology In the center of the front of the audiolab Omnia is a 4.3-inch TFT IPS color display that provides an interactive graphical user interface that can be easily operated via remote control. The screen can also display the current playback information, and when playing music, it can also display the level meter and VU meter, which makes the display interface more technological. On the left side of the panel is the CD compartment, on the right side is the power switch and function buttons, and below is the 6.35 headphone output and remote control reception window. The overall design has a similar design concept to the audiolab 8300 series, but the curved corners are used instead, and the visual effects are more advanced.  ▲Technical parameters ■ Input: 3×RCA, 1×MM phono, 1× Power amplifier, 2× coaxial, 2× optical fiber, 1×DTS Play Fi network, 1× PC USB, 1 × USB hard disk, 1 × Bluetooth (aptX/aptX LL) ■ Output: 1×PRE front, 1× speaker, 1 × headphones ■ Sampling frequency: fiber optic / coaxial: 44.1kHz-192kHz, PC USB: 44.1kHz-768kHz (PCM)/ DSD64-512 ■ Digital-to-analog conversion chip: ES9038Q2M ■ Preamp gain: +8dB (Line), +47dB (MM) ■ Pre-input sensitivity: 720mV (Line), 3.1mV (MM) ■ Pre-input impedance: 10KΩ (Line), 47KΩ/100pF(MM) ■ Preamp output level: 2.3V max ■ Power amplifier majority gain: +29dB ■ Power: 2 x 50W (8Ω), 2 x 75W (4Ω) ■ Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (±0.3dB) ■ Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.003% (1kHz @ 40W / 8Ω) ■ Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 110dB (A Weighted) ■ Maximum Output Sustained Current: 9A ■ Headphone Output Impedance: 2.35Ω ■ Load Impedance: 20-600Ω > rich functional interfaces Looking at the back of the audiolab Omnia, the analog output provides 3 sets of RCA, 1 set of MM phono amplification and 1 set of post-secondary inputs, and the output provides 1 set of pre-output. In terms of digital, it provides 2 sets of coaxial and optical fiber inputs, an asynchronous USB-B input interface for connecting to the computer, a network interface, a USB-A interface for U disk playback, and a USB port dedicated to upgrading, and 1 group of coaxial and optical fiber inputs is provided for the output. There is also a set of horn outputs, a 12V control switch, 2 Wi-Fi antennas and 1 Bluetooth antenna. ▲The back of audiolab Omnia provides a fairly rich set of interfaces, whether digital or analog, commonly used interfaces are all provided > dtS Play-Fi + Roon's solution In recent years, more and more manufacturers have launched network/digital players and other products, and audiolab is relatively conservative, only insisting on launching CD players, which is not the factory conservative, but to find a stable solution is not easy. The digital playback part of audiolab Omnia adopts the dts Play-Fi + Roon scheme. Through DTS Play-Fi and Roon, it is easy to connect to the current major streaming service platforms, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, QQ Music, etc., in addition to iHeartRadio, Internet Radio and other Internet radio stations can be listened to, which greatly facilitates the use of players who subscribe to different network streaming services. For users who have built a NAS server at home, it can also be played through DTS Play-Fi and Roon. It is worth noting that audiolab Omnia is a product licensed by Roon Tested, and you can get the best experience when using Roon and enjoy your music. ▲The screen can also display the current playback information, and when playing music, it can also display the level meter and VU meter, which makes the display interface add a sense of technology As for DTS Play-Fi and Roon, which one to choose? For friends who use mobile phones to listen to music more, the author recommends choosing DTS Play-Fi, and only need to install DTS Play-Fi on the mobile phone/tablet, you can bind the major streaming service platforms (DTS Play-Fi software is free to use, but different streaming service platforms charge differently), which is very simple to use. For friends with certain network building capabilities, the use of Roon can get a better operating experience and sound performance, Roon can be used on mobile phones, computers and tablets, which can meet the needs of users with different usage habits. It should be noted that Roon is paid software and needs to build or purchase Roon Core, so it needs to have a certain computer/network setup foundation. > Combines years of experience in the research and development of digital audio sources Omnia's digital processing part is a collection of audiolab's years of research and development experience in digital audio sources, USB-B uses XMOS's most mature XU216 receiver chip, decoding chip using ES9038Q2M high-performance stereo conversion chip, using ESS's patented 32-bit HyperStream DAC architecture and time base jitter eliminator to provide ultra-low noise and high dynamics, providing up to 129dB dynamic range. Coupled with audiolab's unique digital filters, it easily meets the demanding needs of music lovers. Omnia supports up to 32bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, and supports MQA fully unfolded (network playback, coaxial/fiber optic and USB-B support MQA decoding), and can also enjoy the mastering soundtrack in the studio at home. ▲When playing an MQA file, the Omnia screen will light up the MQA logo and display the sample rate after the expansion Don't think that Omnia is just focusing on network/digital playback, its CD playback is also the application of Audiolab's many years of CD design experience. Using THE DRAWER DESIGN OF SANYO'S SPECIAL CD MOVEMENT, THE APPLICATION OF READ HEAD BUFFERING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THE TURNTABLE PICK-UP ERROR, THE TURNTABLE REPEATEDLY READS THE CD SIGNAL AT SEVERAL TIMES, THEREBY PICKING UP THE MOST COMPLETE AUDIO DATA, STORING IT IN THE BUFFER MEMORY, AND THEN SENT TO THE DECODER TO CONVERT FROM THE HIGHEST ACCURACY DIGITAL SIGNAL TO THE PERFECT SOUND. ▲On the right side is the power switch and function button, and below is the 6.35 headphone output In addition, Omnia also supports playing U disk playback, supporting WMA, MP3, WAV and AAC format music, which is very sufficient for the average user. For users who want to play DSD or FLAC, they still need to use USB-B to connect computers, Roon, etc. Omnia has built-in high-spec Bluetooth version 5.0, supports aptX/aptX-LL Bluetooth encoding format, can transfer music to Omnia from any Bluetooth device, and enjoy wireless CD-like sound quality. ▲Omnia is equipped with a remote control, because Omnia does not have its own control app, most of the settings and controls can be carried out through the remote control > Power amplifiers are mostly unambiguous Omnia offers three operating modes, namely the merger, the pre-output and the post-input, which can be selected through the settings menu. Omnia has a built-in 50W (8Ω)/75W (4Ω) Class AB power amplifier, using a fully discrete component power output stage, using CFB (Complementary Feedback) current negative feedback design, providing superior frequency response and good thermal stability, resulting in a wider sound range, and the static operating current is independent of the temperature of the output transistor. Each channel uses a pair of ON MJL 3281A/MJL1302A high-power transistors with a maximum continuous output current of up to 9A, making it easy to drive a variety of low-sensitivity, low-impedance bookshelf boxes. The headphone amplifier is also unambiguous, using an independent current feedback headphone amplifier, with high bandwidth, high slew rate characteristics, for common headphones (20-600Ω impedance headphones), can be easily pushed. ▲ The interior of omnia is unconventional, and the arrangement and routing are quite reasonable > Solid power supply Power supply is the foundation of an audio product, audiolab factory is also well aware of this, so the use of the famous Noratel Arrow Pig custom toroidal transformer, with 5 independent windings are the rear stage, the front stage, decoding, digital playback and control line power supply, to avoid audio line interference. The whole machine uses 4 Japanese ELNA high-speed low-impedance electrolytic capacitors with a total capacity of up to 60,000μF, providing sufficient and fast power supply for the whole machine, which is conducive to the amplifier to maintain control of the music and has excellent dynamic performance. ▲ The famous Noratel Arrow Pig custom toroidal transformer is adopted, with 5 independent windings for power supply after stage, front stage, decoding, digital playback and control line > The sound exceeded my expectations Just happened to change the audition room to the Audio Bastion Edinburgh rack, and I haven't seen the audition room rack so empty in a long time! In the past, there were at least 2 machines (CD and merge machine), but now you can get one! There is no complicated wiring, just need to connect the speaker cable, you can hear the beautiful music immediately. In terms of speakers, the author chose PIEGA's Classic 5.0 floor box and GURU Junior bookshelf box. First pilot CD, lively and dynamic, there is also a fairly regular soundstage and positioning, in some details of the control did not disappoint the author. In the past, when listening to some all-in-one products, there would often be the idea of "this price has so many functions, the sound can be a little", but the performance of audiolab Omnia is not half over! It can realistically restore the information of the record, and it is also possible to serve the GURU Junior, a bookshelf box with only 87dB sensitivity and is difficult to push! Add the SENNHEISER HD700 headphones for auditioning, and there is also a very good sound performance. Then let audiolab Omnia connect to the network, through the network cable or Wi-Fi link, Wi-Fi only need to click the Back Setup button, while clicking the WPS frequency button on the router, you can link the network, very convenient. Then installed DTS Play-Fi software on the phone, open the software to search for audiolab Omnia, click to select a variety of streaming services to choose music to listen to, enjoy endless music. In the process of actual testing, the details, dynamics, soundstage, positioning, energy in the music should be there... All can be expressed very completely through Omnia. It is worth noting that playing MQA files on the NAS through DTS Play-Fi, or MQA music from TIDAL Masters, Omnia can recognize and decode them completely. Connecting to a MAC computer via USB-B can also enjoy Apple Music's high-resolution lossless music. It's so easy to enjoy masterful music, and I have to marvel at the advances in technology that the way you listen to music is quietly changing. Finally, the vinyl record player in the audition room is connected to the audiolab Omnia, put on the selected LP of "The Gang of Four", when the needle is lowered, only to hear the "pop" of the pitcher when it enters the groove, the whole system is very quiet, and then the loose low frequency is transmitted out of the speaker. Loose and elastic plucking is the charm of this album, replaying this album in Omnia, the low frequencies are very cheerful and full, the dive is deep, the beef tendon is very textured, Q full of energy, so that the author is directly addicted. > Summary If you are considering a sound system, want a rich function, and do not want to be cumbersome with wiring, audiolab's Omnia will be able to meet your needs. CD playback, MM singing and playing, digital playback, network streaming, Bluetooth reception, power amplifier and ear amplifier... Such a machine, the author can not find a reason not to recommend; second, the sound is absolutely unambiguous, the sound performance exceeds the author's expectations, and even better than many split-type equipment at the same price. This is the price of an all-in-one machine! |