20 Best Integrated Amp Under 500 (2023 Updated)

Just received my AXA25, have a m-track solo soundcard for my pc and mission LX 3 MK II on isiacouststics 155 stands 1gen + Sommer Cable SC-Meridian SP260 speaker cable, higher tier inakustik usb and rca cable.

Biggest flaw is crosstalk which my yamaha amp for the same price don’t have, crosstalk is when you play a cd or listen to music from your pc, switch to another imput and don’t mute or turn of what you listent to, it’s audible if wvolume is high , so even when you don’t notice it, it can effect the music,sound.

Some say theres channel unbalance at low levels, it’s fare less pronounced in my case than the high crosstalk. No black version, no regular detachable power plug that 99% of all amp have which is C13 it’s figure 8, for about 100 euros you can get a power cord from wireworld with figure 8, no remote controls and phono input for a turntabel, not a deal breaker for me (usin the amp with my pc and have an external phonostage that might sound better than the one in teh AXA35).

bass,treble,balance volume,4 inputs + aux, rec out and input for a bluetooth dongle,detachble power cord and speaker in,20 min standby function that can be turned of using the power button (se the manual).

Rated at 88db sensitive that goes down to 4. 1 ohm, is there power enough for my need and how much ? To answer the first question yes theres i enough power, how much i don’t know, since cambridge audio only rates the power to 25 watt in 8 ohm.

Some say let it get warm to get the most sound quality out of it (it doesn’t get hot as in temps) , out of the box the sound is of high quality, a good balance between the highs and lows even when you turn up the volume the balance is good, i would describe it as clear and open without the highs getting to much at high levels like many cheap,entry level amps does,midrange has the fullness when listen to something like leonard cohen without being muffled, good dynamics, depth and soundstage, not being warm or up to working temps (could take a few hours) im not shure about micro detail, i think theres is what you would expect Button works smooth, very smooth volume knob, no resistance, tone controls are subtle ultimate boost/cut +/- 5.

5dB @ 20Hz and 20kHz,low height of the amp makes it fit just about anywhere.

It’s been 9 months now that I’m running this amp. My room is small and my speakers are relatively sensitive (90dB), but they are not that easy to move (PMC TB1). I can get fair enough loudness, but I always felt that I was missing something.

I know that maybe my speakers are one step above in category in respect to this amp. But That was my budget and I’m thinking if I should have choose the Yamaha that’s in the same league (don’t remember the model).

Anyway, I don’t mean it sounds bad. It has muscle, it’s dynamic, and stages well, but it’s somehow soft (perhaps that’s the sound signature). I wanted something to compare with and I plugged and old and faulty Thomson amp 40wpc.

To my surprise, this old guy moved my speakers with much more authority, better transient response, deeper bass and slightly wider image, and effortlessly, though the difference is only 5wpc. So I decided to fix the old amp to pair with the PMC (hoping I can buy eventually an amp that makes justice to those speakers) and plugged the AXA35 to an old set of good pioneer speakers.

This combo seems to be fine, though I’ll look forward to find a better match to the AXA35. I’ve heard Klipsch and Dali’s are good candidates. Other thing I’d like to know is how to do the rec out turnaround to a subwoofer.

I’m clueless. I mean, it has to be there for one reason other than recording tapes like in the old days, right?.

I bought this AXA-25 amplifier to match the AXC-35 CD player I had previously purchased. They both serve my needs very well and I have no complaints about their sound quality. Both units are also more aesthetically pleasing than most modern stereo equipment.

I have rated the amplifier four stars instead of five because it is impossible to tell visually if it is turned on or in a pointless “standby mode. ” The LED on the power button is constantly on when the unit is plugged in.

It is unfortunate to see such a useless and annoying feature on an otherwise excellent product. I installed a power strip with individual switches for each outlet on the wall next to my stereo setup so I can easily turn both the amplifier and the CD player (which also has this standby mode) completely off when I’m not using them.

Both units also have an “automatic power down” feature which is as pointless as standby mode but which fortunately can be turned off. I fail to see what is wrong with simple on/off switches. Despite that little problem (which others may find less annoying than I do), the AXA-25 offers great value for its rather low cost.

My Yamaha A-S1200 ROCKS! This amp sounds great. Its MosFet design makes my Jazz sound warm, yet cranks rock, pop and dance music as well. Extremely well built. Breathes sonics and sweats harmonics. Makes my Monitor Audio Silver 8’s sound twice as good.

VERY HAPPY with choice!! Only flaw. no AC plugs like the beasts of OLD! I would love to plug in my stereo timer to this unit!.

Overbuilt & Great looking. After 100 hours of use – My perception of the sound from this amplifier: Very Good Focus and Control of the Sound and speakers. Details are revealing, pleasant, and not too forward.

The Full spectrum of sound comes across even at low volume. Well balanced and sounds very slightly on the warm side to my ears – which i really like! I think this is a great product! I have No complaints.

I returned because the As801 sound better maybe because I listen streaming music all the time

This is my 30 day review of the Yamaha A-S301. Getting alot of joy from this simple amp. The dynamics, stereo separation, transparency, and at times melodic sounds are candy to my ears. 60 watts is enough for my 28X20 room.

The support equipment I have is a BluDento HD receiver, Behringer QX 602 mixer, ( with built-in eq and reverb), and a BBE 882i maximizer, all interconnected using Infinite Cables. End of the chain are a pair of Bose 301’s and 201’s from the late 90’s.

I know the slogan. no highs, no lows. must be Bose. This Yamaha has really brought them to life. Better than any of the AVR stuff previously used. And finally, a Sony SA-W2500 sub. The pure direct mode is the best choice for me.

I don’t use the remote, so no comment on that. I installed a 120 volt cooling fan in my cabinetry, as this has no internal fan. Rubber caps for the numerous unused rca plugs. The speaker terminals are very good.

Not the cheaper push to open, spring loaded option. I myself am using banana plus for all 4 speakers. The A-B speakers button is a welcome plus, versus the standard F/R thingy of the AVR’s. Music only for me, and this amp does just that! I don’t care to listen to Bobby Boucher on the football field, I want to hear BB King on the guitar.

As a matter of background information, I held off purchasing the N22 for a long time – for a number of reasons. The main reason being is that I already have a total of 6 other amplifiers (two Class AB and 4 Class D models).

All of these are being used on a desktop, near-field arrangement. From time to time, for some odd reason, I kept coming across the N22 – whether on Amazon or on other sites. After all, the N22 has been around for well over 10-12 years now.

My attraction to the N22 was its desktop design and signature – standing vertically. Plus it was a Class AB amp – the class of which typically sounds warmer and fuller than the Chinese made class D models that you see permeating a variety of sites.

So I finally decided to get one and when the N22 arrived, I was impressed to see the packaging – a real work of art. Everything looks to be made of metal (I don’t know where the wood is that reviewers keep talking about, unless the wood is the actual enclosure – who knows).

All the accessories are an added bonus, but I made sure to use only upgraded World’s Best (WBC) RCA cables, along with Blue Jeans 10-gauge audiophile level speaker cables and banana connectors. These were then connected to the KEF Q150 and Wharfedale D320 bookshelf speakers (switching between them to test the audio).

For the purposes of this review, I also fed the N22 with a variety of DAC and Head Amp units – both Tube and transistor units from Schiit Audio, xDuoo, iFi, Topping, and JDS Labs. What caught my ear right away was that upon immediately turning on the N22, it had an immediate full and warmish sound signature.

Usually, with many amps on the market, you’d have to leave them on for a few days before the sound begins to become warmer. Not so with the N22 – it was immediate. Of course, it is a class AB model so that explains some of those results.

But I will add that the N22 is a bit warmer than you’d expect, and in fact, it is much warmer than the two class AB amplifiers that I currently own – now go figure? For some listeners, it may be a bit warmer than they might prefer – from the bass all the way through the treble regions.

As an aside, this would be an excellent amp to pair with components that have a bright sound signature. Now let’s talk sound qualities and overally impressions: 1. Sound-staging, Air, and Ambiance: All I can say is “unbelievable” at this price-point.

The sound is wide open and there is air and separation around the instruments that I previously didn’t notice with some of my other amps. Instrumental placement was reference quality with sound-staging that extended beyond the left, right, and on top of the speakers I was using (both KEF and Wharfedale).

With this amp, you seemingly can look right through to the performance at hand. I tend to listen to classical music and jazz only. It’s as if an audio veil has been lifted and one more obstacle was removed between you and the performance at hand – uncanny really for a $200 small unit like this.

Now do be aware, that the quality of the ancillary components and other accessories being used will contribute to the audio experience of the N22. Use cheap entry level cables, or less than stellar ancillary components and your sound may suffer a bit.

Likewise, increase the quality of everything else in the music chain, and it winds up having a synergistic effect on the audio qualities (read “improvement” here) on the N22. 2. Bass: Here again, the performance of bass instruments is unique in that there is separation among bass instruments, and that proverbial air around the bass instruments is exemplary for such an inexpensive and small amplifier.

On the bottom end, there is plenty of wallop when needed. Bass is well-defined and dynamic when called upon. So you won’t be lacking in the bass department. 2. Mids and highs: As I mentioned, I tend to listen to classical (mainly large orchestral stuff), along with jazz (prefer big band jazz).

The highs among many of the classical music instruments came with a delicious silky quality, along with warm textures. Strings were silky smooth and warm – not edgy or grainy. It’s not coloration, but again – it’s like a veil had been lifted.

Brass instruments had that requisite bite, yet weren’t harsh nor grating. Just listen to the brass chorale in Mahler’s Symphony #2, and you’ll be awe-struck to be sure, or Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man.

3. Dynamic Range capabilities: What I found exemplary with the N22 is that not only does it have a full, warm bodied sound signature, but it is also very dynamic. Dynamic range comes through superbly and things don’t feel compressed (unless the music you are listening to has been compressed in the recording).

Dynamics can be quite satisfying, and the musical clarity holds up, especially during full crescendos of an orchestra. Now do use some common sense here. Unless you are listening to speakers that have above a 90 db efficiency rating, the N22 is not the amp to use in a large room with huge floor-standing speakers – let’s be realistic here.

But it is a superb amplifier for smaller settings such as desktop environments, bedrooms, etc. So how can this be? I’m an audiophile – have been one for over 55 years – but my audiophile endeavors are now confined to a desktop arrangement.

Everything I listened to with the N22 was confined to a desktop scenario with higher end cables, great gear and excellent speaker cables. I came away gob-smacked, marveling at the sound qualities of the N22 – and for a $200 compact amp that has been around for a long while? Well, how about some negatives you may ask? Well, there is one – and it’s minor – however, it can become annoying.

And that involves the volume knob. There are virtually no volume level indicators either on the knob, or around the knob on the amp body, and this can get frustrating as you try to determine where to set your volume.

The body of the amp is all black, and volume know is silver/gray. The instruction manual suggests keeping the volume knob on the N22 at around 3 o’clock position and then just control your volume with your input device.

Well, “no-sh_t” Sherlock – how can you determine what is 3 PM? You can’t. So if there is one recommendation that I’d like to make and that is to just add a notch on the volume knob – either a red or black mark, so you know where you’re at volume-wise.

That’s all – a simple addition. Also, that grainy feel that some talked about in their personal reviews when turning the volume knob, was NOT present with my N22 – it was all smooth turning. So color me impressed.

Now I realize that all reviews are subjective, and no two folks will hear things the same way. My evaluation/review was done as a result of having the N22 on a desktop environment. KEF Q150 speakers are not necessarily high efficiency – but dynamics, volume, and dynamic range were not an issue at all.

I just enjoyed sitting there with my eyes closed, imagining I was at a live performance and that is perhaps, the finest compliment one can advance with regard to audio components. I say very enthusiastically, “go get one – for most of you, you will not be disappointed!”.

I needed to replace a good amp that became a mismatch after some system modifications. I wanted an Class A/B amp that I could afford, so I looked at the used market. Even then, finding a quality amp that would meet my needs was going to be more than I wanted to spend.

I didn’t think I would find anything until I stumbled across two reviews (Stereophile & Audiophile). The N22 appeared to be exactly what I was looking for. A “tube-like” solid-state amp with low distortion and enough power to drive a set of efficient bookshelf speakers cleanly.

At the N22’s price point, I believed I found what I was looking for. I wasn’t wrong. Paired with my tube headphone amp/preamp and Klipsch speakers, the N22 gave me what I was searching for. It drove my pair of Reference R-51Ms effortlessly.

I live in apartment; sound volume can be an issue. But with the N22, I was able to hear deep into the music. I am hearing everything the music and the Klipsch has to offer at volumes that my neighbors won’t hear.

My speakers have never sounded better or given me this much enjoyment. You can run the N22’s volume at 100% with no buzz or distortion. When I turn the volume up on my tube preamp, the sound is clean, never harsh.

To my fellow Audiophiles, don’t let the price point fool you. I have been an Audiophile most of my adult life. Since I am 72, that’s a long time. The N22 is the real deal. If you have efficient speakers, then buy this great “little” amp.

You won’t regret it.

I’ve had my eye on the N22 for what feels like 3-4 years. I also have the D1 and have enjoyed it thoroughly to drive my Sennheiser HD 650 and 660 S headphones. I was always desirous of trying to capture something resembling an ‘analog’ sound in my all digital desktop setup (which includes an iMac, Apple Music + Lossless audio locally stored).

The N22 is everything I had hoped it would be. It’s stylish looking, as all AudioEngine products are. But it’s also about function – not just fashion. It provides an inviting analog (e. g. warm” sound to my Sennheiser’s and also beautifully drives the sibling Audioengine P4 passive speakers.

Overall, this is the setup I dreamed of having for quite some time – I’m glad I finally have it. Kudos to AudioEngine!.

I have had this amp since it came out. I purchased it for the pre amplifier section as it has great features and technology. I run Beyerdynamic Amiron home headphones from it. It runs my Dynaudio audience 52 speakers without problem in near field listening.

{ Dynaudio recommends 64 watts for a small room] In larger areas I run thru Onkyo m502 power amp. I use a Rega dac between my imac and the 9150. The dac in the 9150 is very good and I use the onkyo dac with the headphones as I find the Amirons are a slight bit warm as is the Rega dac.

We are talking about a subtle difference. stream Qobuz,and I use my imac large alac lossless library as well as cds. I would give this amp 5 stars if it had more power even though 60 watts into 4 ohms should be enough for most people.

The m502 amp puts out 220 watts into 4 ohms and does open the speakers up a bit. The Dynaudio are known to need more power and other speakers might be easier to drive. I would recommend the a9150 with out hesitation to all.

I have had this unit for 2+ years and can say without hesitation it is great. The sound is clean and pure. I have used it with my Dynaudio audience 53 speakers and Beyerdynamic Amiron home and AKG K712 phones and it performs wonderfully.

The headphone amp is built with discrete parts and the dac circuit. is of high quality. I have used it with both a Rega dac and the onboard dav with very good results. The Rega being a little warmer and the onboard dac a little more analytical.

Both are very good. I have used this unit as a pre amp with my Onkyo m502 power amp-220 watts into 4 ohm speakers and as integrated amp. both ways performed very well. The new technology of the pre amp section first attracted me to this unit and detailed info can be found on line.

If there is a drawback it would be the output of the phono preamp volume gain but can be made up with amp volume control. This is a fantastic unit.

Good-separation of instruments,especially electric guitars in rock music,violins in classical music, on warm side mixed with clean sweet highs,which has new layers of sounds,never heard such thing in more expensive amps,musical tunefull bass,overall sound is powerfull Bad- a little bit of lack beat presence and punch compared to other amps.

Slight sibilance in female vocals,slightly recessed vocals. Good thing -With burn in time -sibilance disappears or if use high quality speakers,there will be no sibilance at all. Can be connected to high sensivity high quality horn speakers with great results If you like listen dance ,rock,classical music,music louder ,It will be joy to listen.

After enjoying my existing Marantz CD receiver for many years, I felt it was time for an upgrade. After researching similar amps in a bit higher market sector, a few weeks ago, I purchased the Marantz PM7000N Integrated Amplifier, and I have to say that I am over the moon with the purchase.

Likewise, I am over the moon with the CD player I purchased with it. I am running the amp through KEF Q550 floor standing speakers, which the PM7000N drives with ease. I like the full-bodied sound it produces, while still giving the feeling of it not getting out of control.

The treble is clean and precise but not harsh, and the base is warm and deep. You can crank up the volume without compromising the overall experience and quality. I like the large ‘Input Selector’ and ‘Volume’ knobs, on the unit, along with the clear, informative display.

I like to use the ‘source direct’ setting and leave the base and treble controls alone. But they are there if you prefer to use them. And the blue indicator light on the front panel is a good touch, to confirm that ‘Source Direct’ is on.

Connectivity is more than adequate. I am a fan of optical and have my TV and CD player connected to the optical 1 and 2 inputs. the sound quality is stunning from both. I use the USB input to plug in my Memory stick, and Network input to plug in my LAN cable.

There is a wireless option, if a wired connection is not available. I also like making good use of the internet radio and other external sources. I downloaded the ‘HEOS’ app, which as a minimum, you need to store you favourite radio stations, (TuneIn).

Also, you can use it to manage all your favourite streaming providers, navigate through your USB media storage etc. etc. To sum up, the Marantz PM7000N Integrated Amplifier is powerful, versatile and has a certain finesse, and I like that!.

I decided to buy the Marantz PM7000N after consideration and discussions with the team at Richer Sounds Glasgow. I was looking at the Marantz PM8006 which is a higher spec but no networking features.

So I decided to go for the PM7000N. It has a crisp well rounded sound quality and I’m now rediscovering my CD collecting. I’m hearing things I never heard before. The build quality is excellent and it’s easy to use.

I wanted to compare a vintage system with a modern system. I also purchased a pair of Fyne Audio F303’s with the help of Stephen at the Glasgow branch who went out of his way to find me a pair after the rep told him it would be January before I could get them.

Thanks again Stephen you’re a star. I already bought a pair of Fyne Audio F302’s in February this year to connect to my vintage Denon PMA-320. The sensitivity on these speakers were ideal as it is a low powered 40 watts per channel and every pair of speakers did not suit the amp, but these were perfect.

I also discovered it was a team of ex Tannoy engineers who started the Fyne Audio brand and as I already had a pair of Tannoy E11’s connected to my Denon PMA-560 I figured they would be good, I was not disappointed.

They have a sweet detailed sound quality and the bass is never overpowering always controlled. So thanks again to the team at Richer Sounds Glasgow, they are the only place to go for good quality HI FI components at decent prices with highly knowledgeable staff.

Positive points: crystal clear sound, solid bass (tested with 12 woofers and monitor speakers), brilliant treble (tested with various tweeters), low noise floor at full volume (no signal), loudness control is almost as good as an equalizer (after learning how to tune it), relays for power and speakers, no need to use ‘pure ‘direct’ with a high quality signal, runs warm (it does not get hot with 2 pairs of speakers @ 4 ohm impedance).

I prefer it does not have the DAC integrated like the A-S801. Sturdy connections for speakers, retro look, smooth knobs, reasonably heavy (well built). Negative points: slightly distorted sound when playing at very low volume (whisper-level sound with monitor speakers), no play/record loop to connect equalizer or recording device like old amps, no pre-out, no AC outlets in the back like old amps & receivers.

I wish it had some power output meter, like its more expensive cousins. Anyway, after months of research, this was the best integrated amp with at least 100W/ch under $1,000. Happy with B&H free shipment, no B&H account needed and no ads/spam in email.

Have needed a new amp for some time. When I purchased my new 77 LG OLED, I pulled the trigger on this, as I knew I’d be using digital audio out which this amp accommodates. It also has coaxial digital in for my Blu-Ray player.

it drives my ADS L980 acoustic suspension speakers with ease. Audio quality is smooth without stridency unless source material is poor. Very pleased!.

My Yamaha amplifier died. My Hearing no longer warrants the investment in something equivalent. I wanted a unit with extremely low distortion. I have no need for internet connectivity, or Bluetooth feasibility.

I never bought into surround sound or home theater. Yamaha was very helpful in helping me make a replacement choice. What I failed to consider is that electronic quality slowly degrades over time. This integrated amplifier is simply wonderful.

The sound is clean, and clear; and the sound stage is far better than I recall in recent years. I would describe reproduction as “pure” rather than warm. It has already brought me great pleasure.

So to start this off, I am using this as a computer/jukebox configuration. This amp drives a 10 cheap RockFord woofer through a passive crossover to a pair of MTX mini speakers, also attached is another 10 sub on a passive crossover with no other speaker attached.

Total load os 3 ohms, and I cannot turn the gain beyond 50% without distorting, but leave at 50% or below and I cam piss off the neighbors at 100% volume without any distortion. I luv this amp! It replaced a Carver 50watt amp that was failing after nearly 30+years.

Like I said Impressed!.

Night and day difference from the previous 200 W stereo amplifier it replaced. Great quality sound and ample room for more volume to six pairs of 75 W speakers through a speaker selector. Simple but solid construction.

The description says it has a voltmeter but it does not. That must only be on the smaller model. I expected it to get hot in a poorly ventilated cabinet but it does not even after hours of use.

This is the second of these we have purchased. We are using this amp for our patio/pool area through a speaker selector. Now we can listen to different sources in different areas at the same time. I’m very satisfied with this amp.

I have a vintage and modern hi-fi system, using an old surround sound receiver I have been using as a stereo. I don’t usually care for surround anyway. My focus is music. I go from cassette and reel-to-reel to as modern as minidisc and CDs.

So having great sound to hear it all is important. I found this series on a whim, and I opted for the S701 originally. I then realized the S501 suited my needs better for my size room. It’s roughly a medium living space.

I have these paired with some older and newer Sony speakers. Installation is super simple, and being able to use banana plugs is a huge plus. I do like the idea of having optical and coax inputs, as I can finally use my TV in an integrated amp.

There is not too many on the market that can do that. One of the best parts is being able to install two recorders in the unit. This is across all the models in the range. Overall look is that perfect balance of vintage and modern.

If you want that true vintage feel, go for the silver. Black suited my needs as 95% of my units are already black. Aluminum face, but plastic knobs. The knobs are still quality though. Very smooth operation.

Remote is simple to understand with few functions. That might not matter to some, except for the volume control. After playing around with the bass and treble a bit to find the right sound, I realize the bass is not as deep as the previous Pioneer surround I used prior.

However, I feel it is deep enough. I feel like the the sound is actually cleaner and with nice range. I like bass, but having too much could be a bad thing. Overall, the S501 is a perfect price to performance balance that will allow you to have any style of set up you want from vintage tape decks and turntables to just a stereo for watching TV or listening to CDs with.

You won’t be disappointed.

Been a Yamaha guy my whole life. Tried all the other brands and nothing sounded as good as a Yamaha. So when one of my early 90s reciever died I decided to treat myself. Big mistake. This thing does not come close to my old RX495 or any if my other old Yamahas.

I listened to it in shocked disbelief. It made all my speakers sound dull muffled and boomy. All of them. From Klipsch to Kef to Boston to Elac to Wharfdale. Blah. Returned it after less than a week and found on old RX595 and ahhhhhhhh.

Clear crisp highs deep bass. Night and day. I also saved $350.

Okay, we’re retiring and we grew up in the 1970’s. We both missed the days of vinyl. We went with what worked back then. Ortofon cartridges and Yamaha amps are what we remember and they had a great sound back then.

Well they still sound great. I dropped the Ortofon Blue on the first track of Supertramp’s ” Crime of the Century “, we both looked at each other with big smiles. Enough said.

I expect great sound from an amp and no unnecessary bells and whistles. All the design budget in this unit has been spent on top-notch electronics and not on add-ons and digital inputs. Why have an amp this good if you’re only going to plug your phone into it? The supplied remote is thoughtfully laid out and not cluttered with a load of functions nobody needs.

Partner this with a turntable, tuner or CD source and sit back and grin. That’s why I like it!.

I’ve had my Onkyo A 9010 for about a year. It’s still in my system. I have several pairs of speakers, I listen to CD, Vinyl and Tidal streaming through a quality DAC so I take sound quality very seriously.

My other main amp is an Eico HF-81 modded which costs around $800 and is stellar. I’ve had Conrad Johnson, Rotel, Mark Levinson and various others over the years. This Onkyo A-9010 has a magic to it that has made it live in my system far longer than I expected.

There are better integrateds out there but not for under 1K. It has an exciting, musical, fast, warm, dynamic presentation that can be summed up simply by saying that it’s a lot of fun to listen to. More so than many other amp/ pre combos and integrateds I have had the pleasure to enjoy.

It’s special. Just get it.

Excellent budget amplifier, the sound is very good at all volume levels. It has both punch and deep bass tones. With a turntable input and Wharfedale Diamond speakers it is a great little set up. Come on Australia you need to catch up and start importing some good stuff like this.

We spoke to and visited countless audio stores and was quoted around $1000-$1500 for an equivalent which is why we chose ebay and got this Amp for less than a third of the price. Well Happy.

I purchased io amp from World Wide Stereo. Arrived double boxed in perfect condition. Use amp with KEF q150 speakers. Plenty of power and sounds balanced. Voice, piano, guitar are natural. Plays rock, pop, country and classical well – the Rega io amp with speakers.

No clicks or pops from the volume control. Recommended highly.

Excellent amplifier. Good build and really entertaining sound – rhythmic, open and clear. Although analogue only, this is no problem if you simply need it for a cd and tuner. The phono input is outstanding.

Sounds great, plenty of grunt. Phono stage seems to work well with Ortofon 2M Blue. Runs a bit warmer than I was expecting, but not uncomfortably so. Super compact, looks much better in the flesh than in photos.

M2si is a modern incarnation of classic hifi amplifier design that promises a long service life. I like the HT passthrough switch for my TV setup. I plugged in the TV headphone out so I can control the TV volume (and playstation) with the Apple TV remote.

With previous amplifier, I had to adjust the volume before/after using CD or turntable for the source. Highs are clean, lows are deep, mid bass is tight. Some says the sound signature is bright and I agree with the opinion.

I use Schiit Magni for the phono amplifier which also offers bright flavor, so I am considering downgrading my cartridge for the turntable to have more roll off on the high frequencies. I’m using Vandersteen 2 series speakers with this and they pair well – except the slight brightness I mentioned which can be toned down a bit using the crossover knob behind the speakers (but I don’t want to!) This is a discontinued brother of M3si, which offers some more advantage in the circuit components with larger capacitors etc, but not to the level I’d notice.

One missing feature compared to its brother is ‘stand-by’ mode. I don’t mind keeping the amplifier on when I forget to turn off but some might see it as an inconvenience and prone to degrade quicker after decades of usage.

But to me the price difference was notjustifiable.

A simple but solidly built integrated amplifier with surprisingly good power. There is a 3 dimensional heft to its rendition of all the frequencies and if I had to sum it up, the M2si is all about power, pace and grace.

It has enough reserves to provide a fluid weighty presentation, but yet agile and rhythmic enough to attack the notes with precision and timing when the tempo picks up. I am powering a pair of Whaferdale bookshelf speakers with the M2si and the lower and mid bass response are really deep and punchy while the mids are lush and smooth with plenty of weight to it.

High frequencies are projected with detail but never to the point of being bright, you just hear more of it but always properly textured but never harsh or brittle. The biggest improvement I got retiring my old NAD amp and moving on with the M2si is the lower frequency response and imaging.

Spinning cd after cd it is very noticeable that vocals and instruments seem to pop out at you with better pace and timing. Even when the musical passage gets busy the amp always has a grip on things and do separation well, you never seem to lose the presentation of individual sources.

Thank you Joel/Upscale for your recommendation of the Musical Fidelity M2si, I can see myself living with this set up for quite a few years. The purchasing experience at Upscale was also very pleasant; the fact I was given an I-Pad to stream music I was familiar with really helped with the auditioning of the amp.

For those who have never visited Upscale in person, I highly recommend you make a pilgrimage; ok maybe after all this crazy virus thing blows over. This place is an audio gear candy store staffed with friendly & knowledgeable audio heads.

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Where to begin? 9 o’ clock unlocks the magic – more on this below. I introduced this magnificent amp into my 2 channel setup paired with the Focal Aria 936 speakers. From the get go, the M6si wowed with it’s warm sound signature and dynamic & impactful sound.

Paired via balanced interconnects with my Oppo BDP-95, CD/SACD playback packed a wallop. The integrated phono stage was quiet and musical as well. The M6si had the looks to match the premium sound – with it’s impeccable build quality, jet black front face, the oversized matte silver volume knob, matching input selectors, and blue leds.

Everything screamed upscale (pun intended). I did not have an opportunity to use the USB DAC. Regretfully I shipped the M6si back to Upscale today thanks to their generous 60 day in-home audition program.

Why would I do that? Only because I made the impulsive decision to switch to tubes for my 2 channel rig, and what better way to do that than go all the way with the PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated? Anyway I digress.

The M6si is a glorious amp and I would buy it again in a heartbeat should the solid state urge come calling once more. In fact I almost convinced myself to hold on to it as a second amp, but narrowly avoided fiscal suicide.

I already miss the M6si. Kevin Deal’s video on this amp was spot on. Musical Fidelity makes incredible gear, and this amp is on top of that list. Simply amazing. What the heck does 9 o’ clock have anything to do with this review? Simply turn the volume control past this position and unlock the magic from this beauty!.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box to see how well it was packaged. It came in a larger box full of kernels and the factory package is double boxed. You will be surprised when you open it to see a cleaning cloth and a pair of white gloves for handling the unit.

The amp is not wrapped in a clear plastic bag like mose amps are. No, this amp is wrapped with a large drawstring felt bag which told me to expect the same care in the sound quality and I was not disappointed.

The unit is not broke in yet but after a couple of hundred hours the sound is suppose to improve even more. For those of you buying this because of the bypass; please make sure you have pre amp outputs on your HT receiver.

Some lower price models just call the sub woofer outputs pre out and this is not the same as pre amp out puts and will not work. My amp had this problem so I brought up my older Def Tech speakers to use for my HT front speakers and using my Klipsch as the fronts for the Musical Fidelity amp.

How is customer care? Could not ask for better. Joel answered every question I had with a very good explanation. Was surprised at how much he knew about sound compared to other HiFi shop salesmen. You won’t be disappointed with this amp.

Downside is no power on/off on the remote. Joel said not uncommon in high end amps and best just to leave it on as most other audiophiles do.

I purchased this item as an upgrade to the amps I was using (Crown 2502, Marantz PM7005) and I am not disappointed. First, this amp matches well with speakers with metal tweeters. There’s no rolloff on the top end but it is stepped back compared to the Class D amp I was using.

Imaging is on point and sound stage is deeper and wider. Vocals are crisp and clean. Background vocals come more into the foreground. almost like the lead singer and background vocals are singing around a campfire instead of behind the lead singer 10 or so feet.

The highs, mids and lows are very balanced. neutral. I’m using a Gustard P26 as the pre and a SMSL M500 as a DAC with Tidal/Roon as the source (MacBook Pro). And for those of you who are undecided on whether or not Roon is worth it or not (like I was), as of now there’s a 14-day free trial.

But beware. I tried the 14-day trial and made the Roon purchase and stopped using Audirvana. Yes, there’s a difference.

YAMAHA A-S2100 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER By definition, it is virtually impossible to write a consumer review of a stereo component that has real value to another consumer. The number of variables are staggering, including equipment, listening environment, type of music, media format, bias toward playback musical ranges, the current state of a person’s God-given hearing, and vocabulary.

So, why bother? Simply stated, because few non-technical commentaries on the Yamaha A-S2100 integrated amp exist. Quite a conundrum, when a person is exploring spending over $3,000 for a stereo 2-channel amplifier.

The reader can view the on-line photos, specifications, marketing materials, owner’s manual, technical reviews, and blogs to their heart’s content. If you are fortunate to have a hi fi store nearby, you might even be able to compare equipment in a comfortable setting.

My review offers none of these elements. It only purports to answer one simple question: “How does the A-S2100 make your music sound?” The answer: “Really, really dandy!” The sound produced through the A-S2100 is warm, engaging, honest, and effortless.

Using headphones and towers, silver CDs, vinyl LPs, and even a vintage Sony AM/FM tuner is a joy. All of my component connections are unbalanced RCA, and speakers (including the subwoofer via the Pre-Out) are connected with 10AWG banana plugs.

I won’t bore the reader with citing my equipment models and cables. I will tell you that everything in my pure 2-channel stereo system has been acquired within the last 2 years. Both the MM and MC cartridges dedicated to 2 separate turntables love their alliance to the A-S2100.

Like I stated before, everything is just dandy! Prior to acquiring the A-S2100, the most I paid for any single music component was $1800. Trust me when I proclaim that the notion of spending in excess of $3K for an amplifier is something heretofore unimaginable.

Hundreds of hours were invested in research, examining specifications and features. The ultimate questions boiled down to what amplifier features I would actually use, what sounds and textures I yearn to hear, and recognition that I am driven by functionality and ease of use.

I do not possess 11. 2 ears, do not watch movies, am not a gamer, and not titillated by digital evolutionary advancements. My perspective is heavily influenced by the 33 years I spent with the defense department and NASA, where I wrestled with engineers and technologists who had a propensity to forget their mission was to design affordable, reliable, producible, and user-friendly products that responded to needs of operational personnel and astronauts.

The A-S2100 meets my needs in fine fashion. I wholeheartedly recommend the A-S2100. It is. well, really, really dandy!.

I did a lot of research before splurging on this integrated amplifier. Fortunately it lives up to my requirements and more. I have some B&W speakers which reveal any high end brightness almost too much.

This amplifier has full bodied sound and is well matched to those speakers. Even with the volume turned up with no input source there is no background hiss. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this amplifier also has a set of balanced XLR inputs that work well with the XLR outputs of my phono preamplifier.

The unit has a solid feel and heft and the quality of the connectors, knobs and switches are first class. I would recommend this amplifier to anyone looking for high quality stereo sound.

I splurged and paid for the AS2100 and matching SACD. After a month of waiting I brought the units home, set them up and Holy Cow, they sounds as good as the McIntosh MC302 300W and C2500 tube pre amp combo I have been saving 12,000 for.

I did consider the AS3000, but it was not available at the time, and many reviewers commented no difference in sound quality. So, how does it sound? Well, all the positive comments on the AS2100 are true.

It is a close as you will get to being in a live performance. In fact it is a little too real! With my 12 year old Sony SACD player, Denon receiver and Axiom M60 speakers, I could hear a jazz singer breathing, but now I hear foot movement, and musicians shifting position on their chairs.

The AS2100 is not only accurate in treble, Midrange, and bass reproduction, it also envelopes you with its broad soundstage, and completely black background. Its imaging is holographic and immerses you in an out of body tube experience.

This combo is the best bang for the buck. You could spend 12K for the McIntosh and it will play the same or you can spend 30K for a boutique and get the same; but why? For now I’m in heaven. I would have gotten the McIntosh, if I could get it to Europe without paying the VAT (value added tax).

What a laugh! But now I won’t have to worry about it. So about that sound, well, from the AS300 to the AS2100, the sound is consistently audiophile grade; low budget audiophile to high budget audiophile that is.

What you sacrifice for the price is mostly cosmetics; plastic or aluminum knobs, solid or flimsy casing shell and lacquered wood panels and beautiful meters; none of which add to its ability to reproduce great music, because all the A-S models from 300 to 3000 do exactly that: PRODUCE GREAT MUSIC and it does it very well.

Concerning power, most of my listening is at 9 o’clock, but at 12 o’clock it rocks my house! What do you get when going from AS300 to AS2100 is more power, more sound stage, and more clearly defined instruments, and vocals and their location? The return on investment for AS3000 is poor in that you spent nearly 10 times more for it than you would for the AS300, but the music is not 10 times better.

On an audiophile scale of 1 – 10 the AS300 is 6 the AS500 is 7 the AS1000 is 8, the AS2000 is 8. 5 and the AS2100 is 9 and the AS3000 is 9. 5. Trying to reach the elusive 10, well the sky’s the limit; around 30 to 300k, but why? The negatives are the SACD player is dead quiet except when opening; it sounds like a slab of marble sliding on the floor.

The knobs on the amplifier should have indicator markings painted. I used a white Sharpie marker! And last, the remote is stunning, but the volume should be on top; its bottom location is awkward on my hand, and not balanced.

We bought this amplifier to drive a pair of Klipsch reference bookshelf speakers and it does a great job, especially at higher volume. I think the sound could be better at low volumes, but I think that’s more a function of the speakers than the amplifier.

All of the controls are right out on the front panel rather than buried in a menu somewhere so it’s easy to tune it to the sound you want. The only complaint I have is that the remote does not adjust anything but the input and volume – no treble, bass, balance, loudness on the remote.

Ours is in a BDI console which lets the remote work even when the door is closed, but you still have to open it and adjust the tone on the front panel to give you the sound you want. It would be great if those were also on the remote.

Other than that minor complaint we love this thing and the neighbors in the houses on either side of us and across the street seem to be enjoying it, too. They’ll really love it when I upgrade our speakers next month.

This product worked as expected. Sound is awesome. I read online about issues with controlling volume with remote control and troubles pairing the amplifier with phones via Bluetooth. None of that turned out to be true.

I used it with iPhone SE first generation and with Bose Acoustimass 3 Series IV speakers ( Passive subwoofer and 2 cube speakers ). Sounded better than my previous Onkyo CR-325. Great product.

This amplifier is definitely the best in the similar price group. Even further, looks, feels and performs much better than very expensive prestige models of some known brands. Bluetooth, built-in DAC, direct to analog digital turn off and tone control bypass options make this integrated amplifier very valuable for serious listeners.

I use some DENON Professional source components in front and a pair of KEF speakers after this and what I hear is better than GREAT !.

I paired this amp with the Denon DCD 800NE and B&W 603 S2 and it sounds amazing. Before I hade the pma 800NE which was also pretty good already but this amp is just a beast. It’s hard fo me to describe the sound – there are reviewers who do it better but I think you should always try these products at your home and not rely just on reviews.

What I can say though is thta with this amp I finally heard the so called separation of instruments and also via the optical input – so the DAC. Great!.

Thanks to the Audio Tailor for helping me upgrade my stereo needs. I bought a Rotel A 12 and its wonderful, i`m playing it all the time, largely because I`m eharing sounds I hadn`t previously from my music collection.

Previously I had a Yamaha which did the job but the Rotel is certainly a step up in class. Much better clarity and seperation of the instruments. Vaughn did a great job and certainly knows his stuff.

It is the place to go for your stereo needs.

Got a refurbished HI-Fi A12 unit paired with KEF bookshelf speakers. I use it with both internal and external DAC and dont find much of a difference. The built in Wolfson DAC is very very good in regards to full/analog sounding.

Power is plenty and clean sound all the way up to max volume!! Absolutely a great piece of equipment to own!!.

The guys at Audio Tailor are very knowledgeable about all their products and the new showroom is amazing. The Rotel A12 I brought has an amazing sound playing out on my BWs. I decided to go to the A12 as it had a better digital to analog converter.

Overall the service from the guys was fantastic.

The Yamaha A-S2200 is an excellent product. It is visually beautiful, but more importantly it is sonically superior. I can’t say any negatives about it. I had debated buying it for several months and now that I have my only regret is that it took me that long to pull the trigger.

Most highly recommended!.

Mr neutral, pure Yamaha sound, easily paired with most of the speakers ; great purchase !

I bought amp for one-half of original price. Overall sound was a little too bright. I returned it because it didn’t have a record out for my cassette deck.

The overall sound is excellent the only minor snag is that you’ve got to turn the volume control up to 50 to be able to hear anything but this is just a very small quibble. The sound overall is excellent.

you get what you pay for. When I rediscovered Cambridge Audio and learned about the Edge product line, I was intrigued. I’ve been in the consumer AV design and manufacturing business for 25 years, and am very aware of the work that goes in to something like Edge: nothing off the shelf, maximum bang for the buck, screams premium inside and out.

But my experience has included brands and products at considerably higher price points, and I could be excused for being skeptical of CA’s claims of exceptional dynamics and neutrality. You get what you pay for, right? Of course.

But how could so many consistently stellar reviews keep going on and on about how Edge so easily compared against much more expensive systems from other brands? How does that fit into the you-get-what-you-pay-for trope? I’ll tell you how: through years of experience and dedication, and incredibly smart design work, efficient parts sourcing and testing, and doing as much of it in house as possible.

Those factors contribute considerably to keep costs down both for the manufacturer and the end user. (I won’t name names, but my prior 2ch system was, like Edge, excellent bang-for-the-buck gear. I had been quite happy with it for several years, and it is by no means a bad system even when put up against the Edge.

But I was always left wanting, like I was missing something. And, truth be told, that system was about 2/3 the price of the Edge) Driving my reference speakers with a pair of M’s and an NQ—even within the first few minutes out of the boxes, without even a “Hey, how ya doin’, nice ta meetcha” break-in period—-I found myself immediately smiling.

I was happy. I had expected good things, but I had been expecting minor improvements over my previous 2ch electronics, not big improvements. I had been hoping for a little more space, a little more definition, just a little more.

Instead I got “Hey! Wake up! It’s time to be entertained! It’s time for MUSIC!” Now, after nearly a week, my smile is even bigger. Bass has become not just more precise, but has greater sustain. The breathing of each organ pipe has grown into separate, living entities.

The differences between steel and nylon guitar (and violin) strings are now startling vivid. The individual notes in a chord are all present at once, like a series of paint strokes appearing in the air side by side instead of being smeared together.

Localization and space are greater, and more natural than ever before. and again, my previous 2ch electronics were nothing to be embarrassed by. But with that system, all of the above points were diminished just enough to make the Edge system truly shine.

Is Edge a casual purchase? No. Top-notch audio buying decisions never should be. An NQ and a pair of M’s will be fairly expensive for most people. But let me just add my enthusiasm for Cambridge Audio’s latest and greatest rabbit-out-of-a-hat trick to the avalanche of praise you’ll find everywhere else online.

You will not be sorry if you pull the trigger on Edge. It’s a statement piece all around, from the outstanding sound, the build-quality, the dead-sexy cosmetics and ease of set-up and use.

I originally purchased the Azur 815N Streamer just as we went into lockdown in early March. I had been after this for a while as I had both the 851A amplifier and 851C cd player and it was the logical choice to complete the set.

Prior to the 851N I had a CXNv2 streamer. The 851N is streets ahead of CXN both in terms of performance and sound stage and is in its self an excellent machine. However, I don’t know whether it was lockdown blues or just a hankering to upgrade but I took the plunge and decided to try out the Edge NQ.

I can honestly say that in the short time I have had it I have been totally smitten and within a day of taking delivery I decided to keep it. I was a bit nervous at first, principally because of the colour and how it was going to fit in with the rest of my equipment as this is all black.

I needn’t have worried the Edge NQ looks the business and fits seamlessly into the rack. It is not an angular machine unlike the rest of my equipment but has a much smoother and curvaceous feel to it.

Once can appreciate why CA took 3 years to design it. It is an absolute stunner of a machine both in build and sound. Firstly, the packaging, CA audio is always well packaged but this comes in its own mini sarcophagus! Secondly, the accompanying handbook and literature is well presented and the remote control is a thing of beauty, definitely minimalist but oozing luxury as well.

It’s also a tad heavier than your average control so be careful you don’t drop it. With regard to the sound if I thought the 851N was good prepared to be blown away by the Edge NQ. It has taken my listening to another level.

The soundstage is very expansive and open. I had read various reviews where people had said they could hear every nuance and detail but nothing quite prepares you for how revealing and good this machine is.

It is true is doesn’t have the connectability of the 851N but my 851C connects without issue as does my Rega RP8 turntable via a separate phono stage and although I am still using the 851A it won’t be long before I upgrade to the Edge W power amplifier.

That’s not to say the 851 doesn’t have plenty of power; certainly enough to drive my B&W 805d3 speakers but I want to see what the Edge W brings to the show especially as they are made for each other.

The service from RS at Leicester is exemplary as usual and many thanks to Rich for his assistance. I’ll be honest once you hear this machine can do, I think you will be hooked like I am. Overall the Edge NQ is definitely worth the money.

I have had this amp for 3 weeks. Replaced a £ 800 pre power combo from a renowned brand and it is superior on most counts. Soundstage, presence, toneality and instrumental timre, dynamics and detail.

I have compared directly to several £10k integrated designs and it is the equal of all of them (or better). a REAL BARGAIN but once its installed don’t move it around too much, it is big and heavy! Delivery service was exceptional.