Stereophile best integrated amplifier. Equally impressive were the YBA electronics.

Stereophile best integrated amplifier Jan 26, 2011 · The circuit has been around for a while, but at the end of 2009 Pass Labs released its very first integrated amplifiers, the INT-30A and INT-150 ($7150), which feature this circuit. Dec 3, 2024 · Editors' Choice: Best Integrated Amps Under $1,000 - We bring you our top recommendations—complete with mini-reviews—of the very best speakers, amplifiers, DACs, turntables, cartridges, cables, phonostages, integrated amps, desktop audio components, equipment racks, AC power conditioners, personal audio, accessories, room treatments, books, and more! Aug 1, 2024 · A recent example of the hybrid approach is the EVO 300 Hybrid, which was realized by a unique braintrust. (Because of the war in Ukraine, Fezz Audio has recently switched to tubes produced in China. Both amplifiers output 100Wpc into 8 ohms or 200Wpc into 4 ohms. 5 power amplifiers, but with multiple inputs and a high-quality volume control. After it Aug 5, 2022 · However strong and important the link between the Model 40n and legacy Marantz products, the 40n is not your Grandpa Saul's integrated amplifier. Since then, few, if Shinobu Karaki, a 65-year-old electronics designer, is the founder and chief designer of Japan's Aurorasound. TG commented positively on the e1X's image specificity, low-frequency control, and extremely low background noise. It offers approximately 8Wpc into 8 ohms and 5Wpc into 32 ohms (when equipped with a solid state rectifier and KT88 output tubes). I was reading an issue of Hi Fi Heretic (now defunct), for which my friend Art Dudley Mar 19, 2008 · Finally, the 35Wpc A-50T behaves like an amplifier that puts out twice its rated power—or more. May 29, 2025 · Explore the Top 10 Best Amplifiers 2025 for your audio needs. It has a "class-A/AB" output stage—biased to deliver 10W in class-A—said to be capable of 180Wpc into 8 ohms (10Wpc of that in class-A) or 300Wpc into 4 ohms. 0 version’s 100Wpc output section still features Ayre’s feedback-free Diamond circuit, but it doubles the number of output devices, allowing it to Jan 10, 2024 · In our February 2019 issue, when I reviewed a new integrated amplifier from Colorado-based Ayre Acoustics, I concluded that "the EX-8 Integrated Hub is a high-end contender at a competitive price" (footnote 1). 60. Although I quite enjoyed the time I spent with the Cayin A-50T, which I reviewed in the March 2008 issue of Stereophile, over the years I've typically found I'd rather spend time with mid-priced, solid-state integrateds from Creek, Musical Fidelity, or Simaudio than deal with the loss of definition Apr 10, 2005 · As it happened, Lauerman Audio Imports had just sent Stereophile the Rega Planet CD player (reviewed in Vol. Learn what to look for as you shop, and see our top recommendations. It can access digital files on your NAS server and connect to the interwebs by Wi May 16, 2019 · Beyond the noted hardware changes, the Halo Hint 6 remains mostly unchanged from the Halo Integrated. 2's (see Oct 23, 2018 · The original PS Audio Sprout, which I reviewed in the May 2015 issue, showed newcomers an easier, smaller way to amplify music recordings in the home. (I mean, duh! What's the alternative?) Then, this month, as I installed the Pharaoh II tube–class-D hybrid amplifier, I wondered: How many class-D amplifier designers are trying to make their small, light, cool Integrated Amp Reviews CH Precision I1 Universal integrated amplifier John Atkinson August 2023 John Atkinson wrote about the CH Precision I1 Universal in August 2023 (Vol. Apr 12, 2011 · The Ongaku and Jinro of 2011 retain the original amp in their DNA, but credit for the new circuit goes to Audio Note's chief designer, Andy Grove. Conceptually, it's the love child of HiFi Rose's RA180 GaN FET class-D integrated amplifier ($6995; footnote 3) and the RS250A network streamer ($2695). Jul 4, 2025 · It's been said before, but the essential truth remains as shiny as a new 2A3 tube: A well-made, good-sounding integrated amplifier is a sonic marvel, a triumph of audio engineering. Since then, I've become a fully initiated audio tribesman, and today I am reviewing the new, futuristic-looking Marantz Model 30 integrated amplifier. May 6, 2025 · Introduced at High End Munich 2024, the S6 Black Edition is a single-ended design, its three KT77 tubes per channel are connected in parallel, operating in a class-A, Ultralinear configuration. " Herb's colorful conclusions so persuaded me of the Ragnarok's worth that, when Schiit Audio's Jason Stoddard and Dec 16, 2011 · The very first amplifier I bought was a Harman Kardon PC-200, aka The Prelude. Oct 10, 2024 · It includes a line amp (source selection, a volume control) and a powerful class-AB amplifier. Apr 23, 2015 · This pint-sized, budget-priced integrated amplifier measures only 6" wide by 1. II boasts an aluminum chassis, fully discrete output stage, and a relay-based fixed-resistor stepped volume control that allows for 1dB volume changes between –80dB and +8dB. As far as I can tell, the only thing it shares with its legendary ancestor is its name. Jun 5, 2025 · In the 7 episode of our 12th (can you believe it) season, we look at the top 10 best integrated amplifiers for 2025 so far. Make sure this line stage has appropriate gain, and high input and low output impedances. I strongly recommend that anyone considering spending up to $2000 on an integrated amplifier listen to the magic that the Cayin A-50T can produce. The ia21's Adaptive Auto-Biasing makes keeping the output tubes perfectly biased a snap. Nov 22, 2021 · The B135 3 is the only integrated amplifier Bryston makes. Dec 16, 2014 · Ever since I reviewed PrimaLuna's ProLogue Premium, for the June 2012 issue, it has been the model I would turn to when I wanted a moderately priced integrated amplifier to try with a new speaker. The mostly moderately priced integrated machines I've reviewed have included the Heed Audio Elixir ($1195), Luxman SQ-N150 ($2795) and L-509X ($9495), NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital ($549), Octave Audio V 80 SE ($10,500), Rega Brio ($995), and Schiit Ragnarok 2 ($1799 as equipped). Dec 18, 2020 · That was 50 years ago. "The M-5000 is our no-holds-barred amplifier that, together with the C-5000 preamp ($9995. Because the 865 is May 3, 2024 · It's the company's third class-A design, after the 8Wpc V16 headphone/integrated amplifier (2017) and the Jubilee 300 B monoblock (2019). Jul 9, 2000 · When I learned that Madrigal Audio Labs was marketing their first integrated amplifier, the Mark Levinson No. Those two components and a pair of B&W DM 302 speakers made up the party system—and they made it a swinging affair. Apr 13, 2009 · Founded on rock Boulder's 865 integrated amplifier is essentially an 810 preamp ($6900) and an 860 power amp ($8500) crammed into a single, large chassis for $12,000. Apr 2, 2021 · The T+A's PA 3100 HV Let us contemplate T+A's PA 3100 HV class-AB integrated amplifier ($23,500). 875" high by 16. Dec 6, 2024 · If you would like to hear even more on our choices for the best integrated amplifiers for 2025, check out our tips, picks and highlights in our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. Enriched by financial success, Luxman changed hands in a series of transactions that culminated, in 1987, in the ultimate Sep 27, 2018 · In 2015, the venerable Canadian audio company NAD introduced its soon-to-be-popular D 3020 integrated amplifier ($499), which combined 30Wpc output, streaming capability, and an onboard DAC in a slick, contoured case. It weighs as much as an offensive lineman (footnote 1). Assuming an 8 ohm load, the SLI-80HS is specified as generating 40Wpc in triode mode or 80Wpc in Ultralinear mode; that selection is made by toggling a pair of small switches on the amplifier's top plate. Our top equipment recommendations from loudspeakers, DAC's, amplifiers, and more. Jun 27, 2024 · The 2A3 EVO Hailing from Triode Lab's Canadian factory, the SET 2A3 EVO integrated amplifier ($8999) is built from such high-quality components as Mundorf silver oil film coupling capacitors, Japanese QQQ tube sockets, and Hashimoto Electric output transformers (originally found in the coveted '60s-era Sansui AU-111 integrated). It can comfortably replace a previous-era integrated amp or receiver, lacking only a phono preamp and tuner to be complete—but who needs a tuner in the age of the internet radio? Feb 3, 2023 · The Rotel amplifier I remember best is the hip, radical-looking RB-991, which Robert J. After playing the speakers for me, he began removing his zip-cord speaker cables and paused to show me how, at the amplifier end, his red-plastic Pomona Electronics banana plugs had partially melted from the A1's heat. The 2. 2 ME integrated looks like it would fit in anywhere. Jun 7, 2024 · The Amp No. 19. Regardless of price, all these Jul 31, 2014 · Switching Moods But before I begin telling you how the Sphinx played this music, I feel compelled (though not fully qualified) to discuss the "class-D amplifier" aspect of its design. Sep 27, 2024 · In 1989, I bought my second pair of Rogers LS3/5a's from a guy on Staten Island who had them hooked up to a Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier. I honestly think this is the best int-amp under $1500. ) A company representative told me that the self-biasing circuit relies Oct 21, 2025 · Closing his review of the AirTight ATM-1S amplifier in the November 2014 Stereophile, Art Dudley wrote, "The AirTight ATM-1S is right up there with the best I've heard: the artisanal, the small, the artistically sensitive, the colorful and characterful, the smart. I asked Nov 19, 2019 · In 2007, Luxman Corporation released the SQ-N100 tubed integrated amplifier as part of the company's NeoClassico Series, which focused on smaller, space-saving designs. Jun 6, 2024 · A fully balanced class-AB integrated capable of putting out an impressive 300Wpc into 8 ohms and 600Wpc into 4 ohms, the RI-101 Mk. In 1983, after 10 years of building only separate components, Naim introduced its first integrated amplifier, the NAIT (footnote Nov 1, 2025 · Short on time? The best audiophile amplifiers in 2025 are the Sonos High End Amp and Denon PMA-600NE Audiophile Amplifier. PR rep Micah Sheveloff of WIRC Media, which represents Bryston, told me in an email that "the power amplifier section is fully complimentary and operates in 'class-AB2'"; that's Bryston's particular implementation of class-AB. Nov 29, 2019 · I was less than thrilled by Editor-in-Chief Jim Austin's suggestion to review the solid-state Krell K-300i integrated amplifier ($7000, plus an additional $1000 for the optional DAC). He is perhaps best known for his serious but elegant-looking turntables made from Richlite (footnote 3) and brass, and as the affable, talented industrial and mechanical designer behind Linear Tube Audio's line of preamplifiers Jan 21, 2007 · Got around to reading the February issue of Sterophile and headed first to Art Dudley's review of the Cayin A-300B integrated amplifier. Sep 15, 2023 · JA reviewed the original version of this integrated amplifier, which had an onboard D/A processor and a Roon-Ready Ethernet port, in the February and April 2019 issues of Stereophile. The RA180 is an obvious departure: a mechanical-looking, all-analog (class-D) amplifier. 95). Compared with the earlier 317, NAD has therefore upped the 8-ohm power from 80Wpc to the C370's 120Wpc, increased the number of line inputs to seven (plus two tape in/outs with dubbing Jan 31, 2020 · In Herb Reichert's review of the original Schiit Audio Ragnarok integrated amplifier, he wrote, "Schiit Audio's Ragnarok [is] the first amplifier of my experience that plays earth and sky, mind and body, brown eyes and blue, speakers and headphones, with equal narcotic intensity. " Intrigued and with pen and paper in hand, I settled into one of the listening chairs and soaked in the smooth, luscious, musical sound coming from a system with the Grandinote Shinai integrated amplifier at its core—and wondered: tubes or transistors? Nov 25, 2015 · Later, in April 2007, I reviewed a similarly powered integrated amplifier, Bryston's B100-DA ($3195), which included a built-in DAC. Krell reviews very well in Stereophile and elsewhere. II is the latest version of an integrated amp that has been a Jadis mainstay since the late 1990s. It does have two big knobs and a blue-lit display, but it is not glitzy, bulky, or shiny. Equally impressive were the YBA electronics. Tremaine's Audio Cyclopedia (Howard W. After it spent almost three months in my system, I can safely say that in contrast to the story about Mr. It's 34" deep—almost three vinyl albums laid end to end. May 14, 2020 · But now's the time to rethink that perspective: With their new e1X product line—a stereo power amp, a preamp/DAC, and an integrated amp—Bel Canto suggests that they're making a generous portion of their top-line technology available at a significant cost savings. Running KT88 tubes, it's claimed to put out 50Wpc of pentode power. Dec 2, 2022 · For a description of the outputs, read on. There's nothing minimalist about the integrated Pathos InPoL Legacy. Both versions are 17. We’re not saying that these are the “best” integrated amps in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. The NAD 3020 integrated amplifier was ranked No. Integrated Amplifiers & Receivers A ampsandsound Bigger Ben: $5600 This single-input, single-ended, triode-wired, no-negative-feedback tube amplifier drives both loudspeakers and headphones. Dec 4, 1996 · The Mordaunt-Short Performance 880 speakers sounded great. 46 No. " Ha. These are components that we ourselves would buy—or recommend to friends and family. , New York) says that the term class-D was first proposed by the revered Norman Crowhurst, to classify a pulsed-type transistor audio Jul 2, 2015 · I say all this because, when I began writing about Creek's Evolution 100A integrated amplifier, I was distracted by some of your firmly held notions, as revealed in the question, "So, Herb, which of all the integrated amps you've reviewed is the best?" Before I even opened the Creek's box, I could feel your need to know. Almost all amps back in the1960s had a plain cake-pan chassis with tubes, capacitors, and transformers studding the top. The Sigma 2200i's amplifier is class-D, employing a switch-mode Dec 5, 2006 · I recently purchased a used Portal Audio Panache for my N804's for under $1000 and it has been nothing short of a masterpiece. " That declaration is surrounded by RCA pairs for Aug 27, 2020 · My eagerness to review the A-S3200 increased when 35-year Yamaha employee Phil Shea, currently Yamaha USA's marketing content development manager, told me that the A-S3200's amplifier section is very similar to that of the flagship M-5000 stereo amplifier ($9995. 8" deep, and 5. Dec 1, 2023 · Welcome to 2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. If anything, Peachtree has refined that formula: instead of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), the wrap is now made of high-density fiberboard (HDF), which is claimed to produce an Dec 27, 2024 · The Gryphon Diablo 333, a solid state, stereo integrated amplifier ($24,900 without optional DAC and phono stage modules), replaces the Gryphon Diablo 300, which was in production since 2016. We both laughed. In 2017, Michaelson decided to retire. I preconditioned the amplifier by operating it at 1/8 power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes. Jun 5, 2015 · For decades, I read all the British and American audio magazines, and I pretty much believed everything written therein—with one exception. Jul 4, 2025 · Ciao, bella In my review of the solid state Audia Flight FLS10 (see the February 2025 Stereophile), I nattered that an integrated amplifier "helps declutter a room, appealing to minimalists. Apr 28, 2016 · This is a story about vulgar words and what is likely one of the most innovative and exciting, yet self-consciously idiosyncratic, audio components of the 21st century: Schiit Audio's Ragnarok integrated amplifier ($1699). My 1974 edition of Howard M. . I am still choosing speakers, but leaning towards Joseph Audio RM22si Mk. This slim, sleek performer could be called the NAD 3020 of Italy, so popular has it become. I never use vulgar words—at least not in public. Nov 16, 2017 · For audiophiles of a certain age, the mere mention of NAD Electronics' original 3020 integrated amplifier (1980, designed by Erik Edvardsen), or Adcom's GFA-555 stereo power amplifier (1985, designed by Nelson Pass), conjures up happy memories of audio's last Golden Age—an idyllic time when working stiffs could luxuriate in the same audio arcadia as bankers and brokers. Reina reviewed and Thomas J. Feb 8, 2024 · When I reviewed Luxman's L-509X flagship integrated amplifier, in May 2018, that sleek machine shook me to my vitals. 8" high by 13. Oct 10, 2024 · A little more tech talk The last time a Hegel integrated amp was reviewed in Stereophile was 2015, when Herb Reichert reviewed the H160. 1): When I reviewed the Ayre AX-7 integrated amplifier for the October 2003 Stereophile, I wasn't completely taken with it. Jan 26, 2023 · My first high-end component was an Audio Note M2 preamplifier, which I bought from former Audio Note distributor/current Stereophile contributor Michael Trei. 25" deep) amplifier in a sleek wooden wrap with rounded edges and a smooth, glossy finish. Dec 9, 2022 · My Euro friend's letter reminded me that in last month's Audio-GD DAC review, I speculated that most digital designers are probably trying to make their DACs sound like analog. Always have. Jan de Groot of Floyd Design (footnote 1) applied his skill to the solid state output stage. It's a multifunction device that does phono, digital, and streaming and utilizes a tablet/smartphone app. Marcel Croese, who designed the highly regarded PrimaLuna EVO 400 tubed preamplifier, contributed his touch to the integrated amp's tubed input stage. It's small but feels hefty, and has "modern home" written all over its walnut-topped case of machined aluminum. Dec 20, 2018 · Thus did Cambridge Audio develop their Edge series: the Edge NQ preamplifier and network player ($4000), the Edge W power amplifier ($3000), and the subject of this review, the Edge A integrated amplifier ($5000). And it doesn't. All of them have shared a common sound: a coherent presentation with musically natural transients and dynamics and a rich, realistic midrange. Dec 1, 2015 · Description The Orchestra Reference Mk. Jul 1, 2021 · The Vincent Audio SV-737 integrated amplifier ($3499. 1" high and weighs a modest 42lb. 75" high by 8" deep and costs just $799 (footnote 1). Through its RJ45 Ethernet port, the optional DAC/streamer board supports streaming up to Nov 19, 2005 · Yet another of the best systems I've ever heard at a hi-fi show was an exhibit by some former distributors for the English manufacturer Exposure Electronics, at a Chicago Consumer Electronics Show in the late 1980s. It measures a modest 17" wide, 13. Yet Moonriver's chief engineer and founder, George Polychronidis, was so confident of its quality/price ratio that he encouraged me to compare its optional USB DAC to my reference D/A processors, the dCS Rossini/Clock combo Sep 22, 2022 · And LSA's VT-70, the lowish-power, tubed integrated amplifier through which I played all the music mentioned above, proved to be a sonic heavyweight, not the bantam-class contender I'd expected. 29 No. At $599, the Sprout100 costs $100 more. Dudley's been around for decades and has always had an ear and a pen that follows his own muse. Classé's Sigma 2200i integrated amplifier, which I reviewed in April Sep 26, 1995 · To find out more about the single-ended experience, I asked Cary Audio Designs for a sample of their least expensive single-ended amplifier, the $3395 CAD-300SEI integrated model. Dec 18, 2020 · Integrated Amp Reviews Marantz Model 30 integrated amplifier Page 2 The Model 30's phono stage sounded awake and luxuriously detailed with the $755 Shibata-tipped 2M Black. Oct 16, 2020 · Magneto-solid technology amplifies emotions. Dec 3, 2021 · Technics is happy to have the amplification technology in the SU-R1000 called digital—in fact they insist on it—just don't call it class-D! "Technics' digital amplifier is often mistaken as class-D, but strictly speaking, Technics' digital amplifier is not class-D," company CTO Tetsuya Itani writes in a Technics white paper. 2" board of its own, approximately 30% of which is taken up by a Feb 20, 2005 · Integrated Amp Reviews Prima Luna Prologue One integrated amplifier Art Dudley Feb 20, 2005 Jun 23, 2016 · More recently, UR's focus has been squarely on hybrid integrated amplifiers with tube input stages and solid-state output stages, such as the best-selling, entry-level Unico Primo. Jul 4, 2025 · A music lover first, an audiophile second, and an aspiring jazz and classical guitarist, Karaki crafts phono stages, step-up transformers, preamplifiers, power amplifiers, and integrated amplifiers for his Yokohama-based audio company. It looks expensive, and, at $8295, it is expensive, but it is also serious and intelligent-looking. A class-D power amplifier, built around a Texas Instruments (née Toccata) Equibit chipset, occupies a 5. 8 monoblock amplifier, JCA echoed JA's earlier published response to the amp's predecessor, the XA. 2) and the subject of this review: Rega's integrated amplifier, the Brio. They are all-in-one, premium, amplifiers that incorporate pre-amp and power-amp components to provide an unmatched listening environment. Mar 24, 2025 · The affordably priced Radia 25 is a slim, class-G integrated amplifier with line-level and moving magnet phono analog inputs, USB-C, optical, and coaxial digital inputs, and speaker, preamplifier, and headphone outputs. May 30, 2012 · Stereophile 's 2010 Amplification Component of the Year award went to an integrated amp, the Audio Research VSi60, beating out a host of heavy-hitter preamps and power amps. Previous Krell amplifiers have been known for their prodigious drive capability. So I didn't need much convincing when Stereophile Editor Jim Austin tasked me with reviewing the company's top-of-the-line integrated tube amplifier, the EVO 400. 383, I felt this was a big change for the Connecticut company. One of the most recent was the Master Series M10 class-D streaming integrated amplifier, which I purchased to use as my daily driver after I reviewed it in January 2020. Jan 28, 2021 · Like Capuçon, Jarrett, Gould, Krall, Callas, and every other artist or component you can mention, the Moonriver 404 Reference integrated amplifier has its limitations. 5mm headphone jack, a 32-bit ESS Sabre32 DAC chip, five line-level RCA inputs, defeatable tone controls (!), a Sep 27, 2013 · The resulting integrated amplifier, while possessed of specifications that slightly differ from those of its two forebears, is one in which line- and moving-magnet–compatible phono-stage gain is provided by vacuum tubes, and output power is provided by transistors. I learned a lot from the magazine's reviews of recordings and loudspeakers, but every time senior editor Julian Hirsch wrote that any amp with sufficiently high Jan 23, 2025 · The why and how The Audia Flight FLS10, an Italian integrated, came into my life because I'd been scratching my head over a pair of top-of-the-line Diptyque panel speakers that I'm planning to review for this magazine. Sep 13, 2010 · I'm a basically a tube guy, but I've never warmed up to most lower-powered integrated tube amps. One Ref600M monoblock, Theta's Prometheus monoblock, and NAD's Masters Series M22 stereo amp, all based on Bruno Putzeys's Hypex NCore technology modules. So, when my editor offered a review of the new M8xi ($6490), a hefty 101lb dual-mono integrated amplifier that includes a DAC, I seized the opportunity to fill a black hole in my Dec 22, 2023 · Integrated Amp Reviews Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier Robert Schryer Dec 22, 2023 Jun 27, 2025 · There was an explosion of new class-D amps in 2016 when Stereophile featured glowing reviews of Bel Canto's e. 5: "the best amplifier I've heard. Description On its back panel, the $2499 Marantz Model 30 says it's "Made in Japan. No wonder they got such a rave review from Martin Colloms in the August Stereophile. It never disappointed me, and never seemed outclassed, even when the speaker was the MartinLogan Montis ($10,000/pair). A music lover first, an audiophile second, and an aspiring jazz and classical guitarist, Karaki crafts phono stages, step-up transformers, preamplifiers, power amplifiers, and integrated amplifiers for his Yokohama-based audio company. Combining a well-thought-out streaming device, DAC, preamp, and amplifier, the unit is as versatile and full-featured as you could wish. It uses a total of six tubes: two contemporary, Russian-made Tung-Sol 12AX7 small-signal dual triodes, and four similarly Russian Electro-Harmonix EL34 pentodes. May 16, 2019 · Beyond the noted hardware changes, the Halo Hint 6 remains mostly unchanged from the Halo Integrated. Aug 18, 2023 · I was planning to review the latest product from Audio Research, the I/50 integrated amplifier, which costs $5500, earlier this year. Global feedback is used, and the output transformers are designed in-house, and Jan 21, 2007 · Footnote 1: Creek Audio's 24-bit/192kHz Destiny CD player ($2500) visually resembles the Destiny integrated amplifier and seems cut from the same sonic cloth. The purist designs had one overriding rule: employ the simplest Jan 4, 2002 · This full-featured, remote-controlled integrated amplifier offers a multiplicity of performance features, and the flexibility to evolve as your system grows. Coster and the printing press, there's nothing hyped or Sep 26, 2014 · In similar spirit, Naim Audio became one of the first manufacturers to abandon the late Peter Walker's classic definition of the perfect amplifier being a "straight wire with gain," as well as the mad race for power and vanishing amounts of total harmonic distortion. 0 Integrated Hub: $8000–$12,000 JA reviewed the original version of this integrated amplifier, which had an onboard D/A processor and a Roon-Ready Ethernet port, in the February and April 2019 issues of Stereophile. When Krell first debuted its KAV-300i, in 1996, it risked having people question its high-end credibility simply for having considered producing an integrated amplifier, much less an affordable one. According to Nelson Pass, the INT-30A and INT-150 are, respectively, the XA30. Integrated amps had the standard four knobs on the front for input Nov 8, 2011 · This line-only integrated amplifier contains a total of six tubes: one pair of 5751 dual-triodes, and two pairs of EL84 power pentodes—the latter a tube noted for its ability to work well with very low-voltage input signals. The equipment reviews published in Stereo Review had an off-puttingly disingenuous quality. Aug 20, 2021 · That's a tall order. Integrated Amp Reviews Hegel H400 streaming integrated amplifier Roon and the Hegel H400 After my review of the Hegel H400 streaming integrated amplifier was published in Stereophile 's October 2024 issue, it finally received Roon Ready certification. Apr 7, 2023 · Stereophile has favorably reviewed many NAD amplifiers over the decades. The 12Wpc (into 6 ohms) SQ-N100 proved very popular, both in Japan and internationally, possibly owing to its use of EL84 pentode power tubes, cherished among audiophiles and electric guitar players alike for their midrange-to Sep 28, 2020 · The new M33 seems like the culmination of this progression, with a fully integrated BluOS streaming platform, sophisticated control and input/output options, and new power amplifiers based on a patent-pending class-D technology developed by Bruno Putzeys, the mind behind today's almost ubiquitous nCore power amplifiers. Musical Fidelity A5 appears to be an interesting candidate as well. Since July 2000, Class A and B of Stereophile 's "Recommended Components" have swollen from 17 to a total of 29 integrated amplifiers. Apr 9, 2024 · ARCAM's flagship Radia A25 is a slender, nicely sculpted, matte-black, 19. Feb 28, 2013 · Inside, much of the decco65's size and weight are accounted for by a large toroidal power transformer, with the remaining power-supply components located on the rear half of the main preamplifier printed circuit board. My equipment Jul 22, 2020 · The Sphinx V3 is an old-school, 25lb, made-in-America integrated amplifier with three line-level inputs, an RIAA phono stage (with adjustable loading and selectable 44/60dB of gain), a balance control (!!), and a 12AU7-based mu-follower preamplifier stage driving a 100Wpc (into 8 ohm), class-D, solid-state power amplifier with what sounds to me like a substantial linear power supply. Dec 5, 2005 · Any owners/users of either of the two listed integrated amps have any thoughts on their sound/musicality? Each generates what appears to be relatively high current power at 200+ watts/ch. Art Dudley wrote about the AX-7e in January 2006 (Vol. Nov 23, 2016 · If I told you that Pass Laboratories' INT-60 integrated amplifier ($9000) was engineered by meth-lab trolls, its faceplate was wonky, its transformers buzzed, and it made every instrument sound like a tambourine, you'd think I was a crackpot with some kind of axe to grind, right? Because I suspect that, like me, you've never experienced or even read about a Pass Labs amp that didn't sound good Nov 29, 2019 · In the Devialet amps, the current source is instead a class-D amplifier: The digital amp provides the oomph and the analog amp "corrects and completes" the signal, Devialet says. The original S6 uses EL34 power tubes, each channel of the S6 Black Dec 24, 2020 · During my tenure as a Stereophile writer, I've reviewed a lot of integrated amplifiers. "I didn't expect to be so completely gobsmacked by Mar 18, 2011 · Though Mystère boasts a mysterious-looking Stonehenge logo on its front plate, the ia21 is actually a simple and straightforward amp. Each recommendation is accompanied by a capsule review, the original reviewer’s name or initials, and the issue number Jun 21, 2024 · Which brings me to the subject of this review, the WiiM Amp (footnote 2). Norton measured in the August 1999 Stereophile. 5mm headphone jack, a 32-bit ESS Sabre32 DAC chip, five line-level RCA inputs, defeatable tone controls (!), a Dec 30, 2020 · The Autoformer matches the amplifier's "best load" impedance, while the 2, 4, or 8 ohm output taps match the loudspeaker, allowing the amplifier to deliver the same 200Wpc to different loudspeaker impedances. 8lb integrated amplifier that operates in class-G and is specified to output 100Wpc into 8 ohms and 165Wpc into 4 ohms. Jul 6, 1996 · Is Krell risking its reputation? With the KAV-300i, an integrated amplifier that was originally envisaged as an export model, but for which home demand is clearly increasing, the Connecticut-based amplifier manufacturer is dabbling in low-cost territory. After all, Krell was the company best known for massively overbuilt—and, many claimed, overpriced—power amplifiers that were uniquely capable of driving speakers of Dec 7, 2023 · By contrast, the massive, dual-mono Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800 integrated amplifier, which Michael Fremer reviewed for Stereophile in November 2015, featured nuvistor tubes for its small-signal circuitry, coupled with a solid state, class-AB output stage that could deliver 330Wpc into 8 ohms. Looking at it makes me feel good but also reminds me how much of a baby boomer I really am. The number "333" actually refers to the stated output power of the new amp into an 8 ohm load, of 333Wpc. May 28, 2021 · The AVM Ovation A 6. Although I quite enjoyed the time I spent with the Cayin A-50T, which I reviewed in the March 2008 issue of Stereophile, over the years I've typically found I'd rather spend time with mid-priced, solid-state integrateds from Creek, Musical Fidelity, or Simaudio than deal with the loss of definition Oct 9, 2020 · Once upon a time, reviews of Musical Fidelity components frequently filled pages in Stereophile. Heard at its best—which is to say, when I used it as a balanced integrated amplifier with a balanced playback source—it was wonderful. Before I started writing for Stereophile, my only audio system consisted of a pair of 15 ohm Rogers LS3/5a loudspeakers (with factory wall mounts) and an ancient Creek integrated amplifier, connected to my computer via a Halide DAC HD, and to an Oppo CD player. Can Boulder Amplifiers' new 866 integrated amplifier ($13,450, or $14,950 with optional upsampling Roon-ready streaming DAC)—which co-designer Jameson Ludlam told me was "a more accessible product that provides the features we think many people are looking for with the performance they have come to expect from Boulder"—reach the summit? The terrain The Boulder 866 May 25, 2017 · Description Wisely, the new nova300 retains Peachtree's trademark look: a physically substantial (14" wide by 4. Solid imaging, great brass bite, and deep, tight bass—the Brass Ear really liked that. May 3, 2018 · Luxman's classic models include the SQ-38 integrated amplifier (1963 "an old standby found in almost all the jazz music tearooms in Japan," per the company history on Luxman's website), the MQ-36 OTL power amplifier (1966), and the M-6000, a 300Wpc power amplifier (1975). I wondered how it would fare with the $199 Shibata-tipped Audio Technica AT-VM95SH. 21 No. But in all my years covering audio shows, I can't recall blogging about any of the company's products, not even once. Too bad Martin beat me to them. Dec 23, 2019 · The other is where a smart amplifier takes the data from wherever it needs and sends it to a pair of dumb loudspeakers. 2 along the same class. The ia21 is Mystère's most powerful integrated amplifier. Like other Bryston "cubed" products Apr 10, 2015 · In November 2002, to celebrate its 40th year of continuous publication, Stereophile published " The Hot 100 Products," a list of the 100 most important hi-fi components of all time, chosen by the magazine's editors and writers. Mar 15, 2024 · JA reviewed the original version of this integrated amplifier, which had an onboard D/A processor and a Roon-Ready Ethernet port, in the February and April 2019 issues of Stereophile. 95) is on the hybrid side. 5B 3 amplifier in one box. Herman van den Dungen, CEO of Durob Audio Mar 15, 2024 · In reviewing Pass Laboratories' solid state XA60. Like the 810, the 865 has four balanced line-level inputs; a sophisticated, microprocessor-controlled, optically activated volume control; and separate power supplies for the analog and microprocessor circuits. I rarely use the word shit as an adjective, a verb, or a noun. Find budget-friendly options to premium choices in our guide. This is modernity: A company (LinkPlay, which is based in California) put a lot of thought and care into designing a neat-looking amplifier-gadget and the accompanying app, both branded WiiM, offering music fans the wide world of streaming. When I first took note of its scant number of small-signal tubes, I simply assumed that the Jun 18, 2021 · The Line Magnetic LM-845IA Rubens came to mind while I was searching for a way to explain the abundance brought into my life by the Line Magnetic LM-845IA, an integrated amplifier that has altered my understanding of how hi-fi components work together. Footnote 1: Otto's Shrunken Head is a tiki bar known more for surf-music festivals than free jazz. The Korean company has quickly become known for its sleek network streamers with large touchscreens, and soon, the company will release an integrated amplifier with typical RS-series styling. It's superb. There's a similar (and similarly pricey) integrated amplifier, the Sep 21, 2017 · Those at Rega have consistently put their passion, the reproduction of music, front and center—from their pioneering turntable and CD players through multiple iterations of their entry-level integrated amplifier, the Brio, the latest version of which costs $995. A solid, hefty, dual meter–adorned integrated amplifier whose high voltage configuration requires a 20A power cable, it includes a headphone amplifier designed for stereo headphones with a minimum impedance of 50 ohms. When switched on, it gives off a brilliant, slightly warm light from its dual glass-fronted VU/Watt meters. Give me at least four balanced Nov 3, 2021 · I'm lucky to have three integrated amplifiers in-house: the Heed Audio Elixir, the Parasound Hint 6 Halo, the Schiit Audio Ragnarok 2, and the component under review, the Ayre Acoustics EX-8 2. 5" by 3. It also doubles the Sprout's class-D power output into 4 Apr 6, 2017 · Design At a specified 200Wpc into 8 ohms (400Wpc into 4 ohms) and a net weight of 26. It comes in a relatively understated black or Feb 5, 2015 · The more integrated amps I review, the more I want to tell manufacturers: Please, skip the DAC, omit the phono stage, lose the Bluetooth—just give me the best sound quality, and the most vivid, most transparent line stage and control center (with pre-out) you can design. The Expert 140 Pro is a 140W (specified into 6 ohms) stereo integrated amplifier with a streaming DAC built in. 8): When my wife and I got engaged, we each bought each other a "bubble-back" Rolex watch from an antique shop in San Francisco. Sep 24, 2019 · The SLI-80HS integrated amp uses two KT88 tetrode tubes per channel in a fixed-bias, push-pull, class-AB architecture. It shared with the Destiny integrated the same pristine, extended, and delicate high frequencies, along with portrayals of ambience, air, and subtle low-level dynamic articulation that more resembled a good vinyl front-end or analog May 18, 2022 · I own the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP power amplifier. Sep 16, 2021 · This latest incarnation of the Rega Brio integrated amp—the company's "best-selling electronic product ever," according to company head Roy Gandy—retains the original version's design brief: class-AB architecture that emulates class-A performance without class-A heat. Jan 27, 2025 · The level of complexity of integrated amplifiers has grown considerably as the audiophile world embraces new technologies for streaming audio. Apr 1, 2023 · Power Amplifiers: A (SOLID STATE): Bel Canto E1X: $6200 Trickled down from Bel Canto's premium Black line, this slimline, lightweight amplifier uses the well-regarded Ncore class-D modules and a low-noise switch-mode power supply. It combines their BP-17 3 preamplifier and 2. Feb 3, 2023 · Integrated Amp Reviews Rotel RA-6000 integrated amplifier Measurements Sidebar 3: Measurements I performed the measurements of the Rotel RA-6000 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. 7 lbs, and with a lack of visible heatsinks, the Classé 2200i wouldn't be expected to include a conventional class-AB or class-A power amplifier, with the heavy transformers and thick, overbuilt chassis those technologies require. Sep 24, 2024 · Ayre Acoustics EX-8 2. The 113-page Mar 18, 2001 · Under discussion today is the new flagship of the Creek integrated line, the 5350SE (Special Edition) amplifier—the fourth Creek integrated amplifier I've reviewed in the last 12 years. NAD's latest D/A integrated also smartly combines trend with functionality, lifestyle convenience with technological advancement. Jun 23, 2023 · Korea's HiFi Rose recently joined the fray with the RS520. NAD's Masters Series M32 integrated amplifier ($4848 with its optional MDC DD-BluOS module), which I reviewed in May 2018, is a great-sounding example of the latter approach. It was a 10Wpc integrated, but I chose it over the competition for some of the same reasons that the HK 990 has appealed to me. As a fan of the sound of class-A, and an enthusiastic owner of a solid state class-A amplifier (footnote 1), I was excited to review the new model. The amp's output transformer, comprised of seven winding sections, is designed for maximum power transfer into an impedance of 6 ohms. The EL84s run in class-A/B in a straightforward autobias circuit, for a total of 12Wpc. 0 Integrated Hub ($8350). Marc and Brian rejoin forces on the show to give a little more color to the nominees this June – who is new and hot? Who managed the best sounds of the retail season? Jun 26, 2018 · The objections to the sonic degradations caused by added circuitry and complexity are somewhat mitigated when the EQ software is built into an integrated amp or preamp whose designer has control, rather than being done by an outboard device that might require external connections and additional A/D and/or D/A conversions. 5 and X150. I wrote, "Record after record, the L-509X illuminated every important aspect and area of the recording. Sep 8, 2023 · Best Integrated Amplifiers: $1,000 - $3,000 - The 2023 edition of TAS’ Editors’ Choice Awards is here. The specified output power is 100Wpc into 8 ohms and 165Wpc into 4 ohms. When I used it with unbalanced sources, it was acceptably good but Apr 9, 2024 · Integrated Amp Reviews ARCAM Radia A25 integrated amplifier Page 2 The phono input I auditioned the ARCAM's moving magnet–only phono input with three well-known, well-respected cartridges, two moving magnets—Ortofon's $695 2M Black and Audio-Technica's $69 AT-VM95E —and Grado Labs' $400 Platinum3 High Output moving iron. 11): The Yamaha A-S3200 is a strikingly beautiful, all-analog integrated amplifier. There is also the Musical Fidelity A300 and A3. Oct 12, 2020 · Herb Reichert wrote about the Yamaha A-S3200 in November 2020 (Vol. The MC462 and MAC7200 employ rugged heatsinks, which are shaped to form the letters "MC" when viewed from above. 25" deep and weigh 33 lb, have a class-AB output section delivering 160Wpc into 8 ohms, a discrete headphone amplifier and 3. Mark Levinson literally started the high-end marketing revolution back in the early 1970s by manufacturing cost-no-object separate amplifiers and preamplifiers. Mar 19, 2020 · Recommended Components Recommended Components 2020 Edition Integrated Amps & Receivers Integrated Amplifiers & Receivers A Anthem STR: $4499 $$$ Anthem's solid-state STR integrated amp offers 200Wpc (into 8 ohms) of class-AB power, along with seven analog inputs—one balanced, four single-ended, and two phono (one MM, one MC). It started in the late 1980s, when I fell in love with the capabilities of inexpensive, well-designed audio equipment, sparked by the spectacular sound of a pair of Celestion 5 bookshelf speakers at a Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago. It fixes a few of the old Sprout's weirdnesses: no power-on indicator light, no remote control, five-way binding posts that weren't really five-way. 43 No. This is how a review should be written, in my opinion. Herb liked the H160 and detailed some of Hegel's then-current technologies, including the patented "SoundEngine" feed-forward distortion-reduction circuit. Indeed, when I installed the review sample, I found the eight-page quick-start guide adequate only for the simplest quick start. Not the top-of-the-line YBA gear that JS has been listening to of late and reports on Dec 14, 2021 · 2022 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide | Integrated Amplifiers Under $5,000 - Check out TAS’ top recommendations of the year for this price range of integrated amps. " Sep 26, 2025 · I mention this because my first impressions for my first-ever review of an ARCAM product, the Radia A25 integrated amplifier, were in that "innocent and receptive" mode from the instant I saw the box sitting outside my door. Feb 20, 2005 · How times have changed. Jun 19, 2025 · A stereo system built around an integrated amplifier is perfect for a serious music lover. 25" wide by 5. However, with the uncertainty back then about the company's ownership, I postponed the review. Distinctions abound: Whereas the first Ongaku integrated amplifier used four small-signal tubes, the Jinro and its dearer brethren use only two: After traveling through an Elna source-selector switch and stepped volume control with a nimbus of 44 Aug 1, 2013 · It seems I'm always reviewing an integrated amplifier from Creek Audio. 2 story Christopher Hildebrand is the creative force behind Tektonics Design Group (footnote 2) and Fern & Roby Audio, which began operations in 2010. As a result, this list includes integrated amplifiers that can satisfy the needs of listeners using both digital and physical media. Sams & Co. Mar 25, 2021 · VAC is also known for amplifiers that push the boundaries of technology—and scale and price; all of the above are on display in the immense, pricey Statement 452i iQ Music-bloc mono/stereo amplifier, reviewed by Michael Fremer in Stereophile 's May 2020 issue (footnote 1). Once I had them in my home and properly set up, the Diptyques' midrange and treble was as lush and engaging as I remembered from the Tampa and Chicago audio shows where I'd Aug 4, 2023 · The Silver Luna Prestige is an integrated amplifier that uses four Russian-made EL34 pentodes in a push-pull configuration operating in class AB1 to deliver 35Wpc, and a pair of Russian 6N2P miniature dual triodes for input duties. 95), took Chief Sound Designer Susumu Jan 23, 2020 · In my personal life I prefer the minimalist, one-box architecture of integrated amplifiers. fghjj xobgxxw gcvz xgqv ghy vgfgrk cpbad zuw onuctdux bjwpl pmrbj oplul rrjt pxls ylpqx