Amplifiers can be considered in three subcategories: Preamplifiers, Integrated Amplifiers and Power Amplifiers.
Preamplifiers handle small signal switching and gain or attenuation (volume control). In many cases, these products have balance controls, equalization or even automated room correction. Preamplifiers may also contain phono preamps, DACs, video switching, headphone amps and streaming/playback of digital files to name just a few additional features you may encounter. There are several different circuit topologies on the market, some are quite simple and others very complex. Preamplifiers do not have amplification to drive speakers and for this purpose you will need to add a separate power amplifier.
Integrated Amplifiers : take a preamplifier, add a stereo amplifer in the same chassis and you have an integrated amplifier. Though more convenient, this is widely regarded as less desirable than having a separate preamplifier and power amplifier as this isolates the small and large signal sections far better than with integrated amplifiers. Integrated amplifiers can have all the features of preamplifiers. They are also available in solid state, vacuum tube or hybrid designs.
Power Amplifiers provide the power to drive your passive loudspeakers. Like all the other amplification components, they can come in a variety of styles. It is of the utmost importance to select an amplifier that is compatible with your speakers and with sufficient power to fill your room with music.
All our reviews feature breakdowns of the product design, product setup and notes on the performance with subjective listening impressions. Most of our reviews also include our own objective bench tests which tell you how much distortion an amp has, its frequency response and, in many cases, its maximum power output, irrespective of manufacturers' claims.
Review Categories
Preamplifiers
Wireless Amplifiers
Integrated Amplifiers
Power Amplifiers
Home
Reviews
Amplifier Reviews
Fezz Audio Evo Silver Luna Prestige Integrated Amplifier Review
Jim Milton
The Evo Silver Luna Prestige (ESLP) is a versatile push-pull stereo integrated tube amplifier. The output tubes are the EL34, which are...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
Rotel RB-1582 MkII Stereo Amplifier
Isaac Adams
Originally introduced in 2008, the Rotel RB-1582 is a 200-watt per channel class A/B stereo amplifier with Rotel’s understated industrial...
Amplifier ReviewsPower AmplifiersReviews
Soulnote A-1 Integrated Amplifier Review
Jim Clements
The newest integrated amplifier from Soulnote is the A-1. This amplifier is designed by ear first with fanatical attention to its musical...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
Octave Audio V 110 SE Integrated Tube Amplifier Review
John E. Johnson, Jr.
From Germany, and Europe in general, come a lot of great audio products. One of the companies there is Octave Audio. Their specialty is...
PreamplifiersReviews
HiFi Rose RS520 Streaming Amplifier Review
Jim Milton
The HiFi Rose RS520 is a network high-resolution audio and Ultra HD video streamer with an integrated amplifier and a massive 12.6-inch...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
ADCOM GFP-915 Preamplifier and GFA-565se Power Amplifier Review.
Craig Chase
ADCOM has been building high-value preamplifiers and amplifiers for over 40 years. For most of that time, their components have had a...
Amplifier ReviewsPower AmplifiersPreamplifiersReviews
PS Audio StellarGold Stereo Preamplifier Review
John E. Johnson, Jr.
PS Audio has been around for a very long time and has accumulated considerable experience in designing a lot of different products. One of...
Amplifier ReviewsPreamplifiers
Arcam Radia A25 Integrated Amplifier and ST5 Streamer Review.
Taps Das
This is a brand-new streamer and integrated amplifier combo from Arcam. It was a combo I wanted to get my hands on from the moment I saw it...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
Vincent Audio SV-237MKII Hybrid Integrated Amplifier Review.
Craig Chase
Over the last 28 years, Vincent Audio has established a reputation for making solid-state and hybrid (equipment that employs both tubes...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
Rogue Audio RP-5 v2 Preamplifier Review
Jim Clements
Rogue Audio just released a major upgrade to their highly regarded RP-5 preamplifier. The new model, the RP-5 v2, features several...
Amplifier ReviewsPreamplifiersReviews
Technics Network Audio Amplifier SU-GX70: A Video Review
Taps Das
This feels like the future of integrated amplifiers. I was fresh off reviewing the Rotel S14 Streaming Amplifier. So, I pretty much knew...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
ARCAM Radia A25 Integrated Amplifier and ST5 Streamer Unboxing
Taps Das
The new ARCAM Radia A25 integrated amp and ST5 streamer arrived at my doorstep for a full review. In the meantime though, let’s do a little unboxing and see wha...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated Amplifiers
NAD C 3050 Stereophonic Amplifier
Yongki Go, Ph.D.
To commemorate the company’s 50-year history of innovation and value, NAD revives the classic look of the 1970s vintage NAD 3030...
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
Parasound Halo A21+ Stereo Power Amplifier Review
Jim Clements
The Parasound Halo A21+ stereo power amplifier is a very powerful but reasonably priced amplifier that improves on its predecessor on almost every count.
Amplifier ReviewsPower AmplifiersReviews
Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier. A Video Review.
Taps Das
When the team at Cambridge saw my Monitor Audio Silver 300 review where I used my trusty CXA60 as the amp, they thought I needed a bit of an upgrade. So, they reached out and sent me the step-up, the CXA81 as a long-term loaner.
Amplifier ReviewsIntegrated AmplifiersReviews
