Breathe life into your hi-fi system with a new integrated amp
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The stereo amplifier is the beating heart of any hi-fi separates system. You can have all the sources (CD player, turntable, music streamer) and as fancy a pair of passive loudspeakers as you can get your hands on, but without an amplifier you simply won't get a sound.
You can cover amplification by connecting sources straight into active speakers, which have amplifiers built into the cabinets, or by opting for a pre/power amplifier pairing where the necessary preamp and power amp duties are housed in separate boxes. But the most simple, convenient, space-efficient and indeed popular option is buying a one-box integrated amplifier, which is the focus of this stereo amp buying guide. Of course, which you pick will greatly impact your system's sonic quality and character, so you want a best-in-class performer that offers the connections your system needs. (Need a hand choosing? Jump to our how to choose section below.)
Our experienced in-house reviews team tests tens of amplifiers every year – we are one of the (if not the) first hi-fi publications to get hands and ears on newly announced models – and has picked eight class leaders across several price points. The What Hi-Fi? testing process is uniquely comprehensive: every amp under scrutiny is compared to the current class leader at its price point in our dedicated listening rooms. Such thoroughness and wide contextual knowledge allow us to confidently pick the best stereo amps across the spectrum.
So let's dive into the definitive list, shall we?
Arcam’s A15 is well-built, packed with useful features and, most importantly, sounds fantastic.
Our stereo amplifier of the year – a fuss-free, well-built design that sets an enviable standard for sound quality at this modest level.
Arcam is back in the affordable stereo amplifier market with a bang; the A5 is a superbly rounded performer for the money.
An assured, elegant and capable stereo amplifier that cuts to the heart of the music – now with a built-in DAC.
Naim’s Nait XS 3 remains one of the most musically enticing options at this more serious level.
A stripped-back, performance-first amp that delivers exceptional insight, dynamics and rhythmic precision.
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A left-field choice that doesn’t come cheap, but in the right system this Lavardin is a hugely compelling performer.
As brilliant as it is quirky, this diminutive amplifier offers a premium twist on desktop sound.
November 2024: The Rotel A8 below has just won this year's Product of the Year Award and has been labelled as such. The newly reviewed, five-star Copland CTA407 also makes our Also Consider list, recommendable for discerning buyers who desire valve-based amplification. We have also recently tested the Goldmund Telos 690, which is one of the finest (and priciest!) integrateds we’ve reviewed.
I'm the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and have been testing hi-fi and audio equipment for over a decade, including my fair share of stereo amplifiers. An amplifier is the centerpiece of a system, through which music flows both into and out, so it's crucial to get the best performer and partner for your source and speakers that you can afford – and that's where this carefully curated list comes in. There's something to suit all budgets and connectivity requirements here, to get your system singing whether it comprises a modestly priced turntable paired with entry-level speakers, or indeed higher-end kit.
Previous Arcam efforts have always looked tidy, but the British brand's new Radia range, with the all-black finish and subtle yellow accents, looks sleek and modern. Of course, the best part of the Arcam amplifier makeover doesn't concern aesthetics...
The middle-sitter in a range of three, the A15 has this powerful, precise and poised character regardless of the input chosen. "Arcam was one of the pioneers of outboard digital-to-analogue converters back in the ’80s and that experience shines through in the performance of the A15’s digital section," our in-house reviewers note in our A15 review. "It is crisp, insightful and engaging."
We are also impressed by the scale of the sound – "stereo imaging is expansive, stable and nicely layered," we wrote – as well as how it handles music’s savage dynamics. There is no shortage of punch and power, but this is no muscle-bound thug; the A15 is insightful and subtle, able to track multitudes of instrumental strands with skill.
Once we had heard how good Arcam's entry-level A5 (below) sounded, we were a little worried for the A15 – but we needn’t have been. It is clearly better than its talented sibling, delivering a sound of greater clarity, scale and precision that justifies its extra price tag and represents a logical step up.
Better yet, there's a moving-magnet phono stage built in, which is something its closest rival, the Cambridge Audio CXA81 (formerly found in this very spot) doesn't offer – and nor does its brand-new replacement, the CXA81 MKII. The new (and old) Cambridge model does reply with a USB input, though, so if that's important to you then consider it a recommendable alternative.
Otherwise, make sure you give the A15 a listen if it falls within your budget; we haven’t heard a better-sounding alternative for the money.
amplifier power gain Read our full Arcam A15 review