AUDIOLAB6000a Play Network Stereo Amplifier (Silver)

a++ for styling and looks And a+++for value for money

First Thoughts:I think its a well built quality item on the whole, but the DTS Play Fi App is not good - the primary issue being music streams including HD services like Qobuz and Tidal are primarily designed to run first through your phone (go figure) - you can transfer the URL of the stream to the 6000A, but you lose some navigational functionality. It is a Spotify endpoint so you should be able to connect directly that way (albeit with lower quality streams), but I've found that hit and miss as well - unless you go via the Play Fi App first; half the time Play Fi doesn't see my NAS library either.3 Month update - Audiolab support have been great but the patchy software Play-fi App continues to frustrate - I've even gone as far as replacing the router and setting the 6000a on a static IP - but no, the streaming issues persist. So I have gone over to using a Raspberry Pi (Volumio) as the streaming source, much much better running Qobuz gi-res.As I said before, with hindsight I'd go 6000a amp, and a Raspberry Pi streamer which would have saved about £150.6 month update - I've downrated my previous review from good to reasonable/ average; yes, its nicely put together, quality components and on the whole it appears to sit well amongst other peers at this price point, but the bass extension and soundstage are really a bit thin - I've now run it next to a 30-year-old Rotel 830 I bought off eBay for comparison purposes at 1/10th the price, and I'm embarrassed to say the used Rotel gave the Audiolab a pretty good run for its money sonically :( Given the press reviews, and the cost, I wanted to believe it was good, but I think I was too wowed by the specs - really it's just average sound-wise - it's got clarity, but is not very musical, and the top end is a bit screechy TBH - and I've tried it with 3 sets of different speakers.The overall package is still reasonable if you only use Spotify, in which case I think you might find it quite good as an endpoint - but overall I think its a lifestyle convenience choice, as a streamer and amp in one - its not in itself a great amplifier for the price. Alexa integration is horrible - tried it a couple of times - horrific - oh, and Amazon music HD was a non starter - would run for 5 mins or so then flip over to the Opt 1 input - tried a software patch Audiolab provided but that didn't fix it.It's just so heavily flawed by reliance on Play Fi - that app is a dog with fleas.Audiolab, as part of IAG, should really have the resources to develop their own app - unfortunate compromise IMHO; by comparison my Yamaha AV receiver app beats Play Fi hands down for reliability and functionality - and even that isn't the most user friendly . Volumio via Raspberry Pi walks all over it.Such a shame, but overall my decision to return is not really the Audiolab hardware, it's the Play Fi App that's brought me to my knees. Such a shame, but even if Play Fi had not been so rubbish, its probably really only worth a 3.5 out 5 rating for the unit overall given the cost - too much in one box maybe, I don't really know, but I won't be replacing it directly.