1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best entry-level
4. Best budget
5. Best mid-range
6. Best premium
7. Best high-end
8. Best for purists
9. Best desktop
10. Also consider
11. How to choose
12. How we test
13. FAQ
A stereo amplifier is the beating heart of any hi-fi separates system; the necessary middleman between a source (such as a CD player, turntable or streamer) and a pair of passive loudspeakers. Without one, you simply don't get a sound, and which one you pick will greatly impact the sonic quality and character of your whole system.
If you've chosen to go down the simpler, most convenient and space-efficient option of a one-box integrated amplifier as opposed to a pre/power pairing (where preamp and power amp duties are housed in separate boxes), you've come to the right place.
Our testing process is uniquely thorough, and we pride ourselves on reviewing every corner of the stereo amplifier market, often being one of the – if not the – first hi-fi publications to get their hands (and ears) on newly announced models. That wide contextual knowledge has allowed us to confidently pick the very best stereo amps across a wide range of budgets.
The eight class leaders below, five of them current What Hi-Fi? Award winners, cover a great variety of features and connections, but they all have one crucial thing in common: benchmark performance at their respective price points.
The quick list
Best overall
Best stereo amplifier overall
Arcam’s A15 is well-built, packed with useful features and, most importantly, sounds fantastic.
Best entry-level
Best entry-level stereo amplifier
With its clear, punchy sound, broad connections and trademark build quality, the PM6007 is yet another entry-level star from Marantz.
Best budget
Best budget stereo amplifier
Arcam is back in the affordable stereo amplifier market with a bang; the A5 is a superbly rounded performer for the money.
Best mid-range
Best mid-range stereo amplifier
Naim’s Nait XS 3 remains one of the most musically enticing options at this more serious level.
Best premium
Best premium stereo amplifier
The Rega Aethos delivers an exceptional combination of insight, dynamics and rhythmic precision.
Best high-end
Best high-end stereo amplifier
Lavardin’s ITx is a left-field choice that doesn’t come cheap, but in the right system it is a hugely compelling performer.
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Best for purists
Best stereo amplifier for purists
An assured, elegant and capable performer that cuts to the heart of the music, the Elex Mk4 works wonders when partnered carefully.
Best desktop
Best desktop stereo amplifier
As brilliant as it is quirky, this diminutive amplifier offers a premium twist on desktop sound.
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 requirements, to get your system singing whether it comprises a modestly priced turntable paired with entry-level speakers, or indeed higher-end kit.
The best stereo amplifier overall
Previous Arcam efforts have always looked tidy but this new range with the all-black finish and subtle yellow accents looks sleek and modern. But the best part of the Arcam amplifier makeover brought by its all-new Radia doesn't concern aesthetics...
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. It is crisp, insightful and engaging. We’re impressed by the scale of the sound and the way this still compact design deals with the music’s savage dynamics. There is no shortage of punch and power, but this is no muscle-bound thug. This Arcam is insightful, tracking the music’s multitude of instrumental strands with skill.
We worried a bit for the A15 once we heard how good the entry-level A5 (below) sounded, but we needn’t have. This is a clear step 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. The Cambridge does reply with a USB input, though, so if that's important to you then know it is 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.
Read our full Arcam A15 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Powerful and punchy but also crisp and precise | ★★★★★ |
Build | New sleek and contemporary design | ★★★★★ |
Features | A decent array of connections that include Bluetooth | ★★★★★ |
The best entry-level stereo amplifier
The Marantz PM6007 takes the winning formula of the Marantz PM6006 UK Edition, a former What Hi-Fi? Award winner, and manages to squeeze even more performance out of it. The result: another What Hi-Fi? Award winner.
Let's get the negatives out of the way first, though. There's no USB input or Bluetooth connectivity, which some users might demand. That aside, however, the PM6007 is pretty much faultless.
It boasts trademark Marantz styling and is a solidly built, nicely finished integrated amplifier with traditional hi-fi appeal.
Improvements include a new DAC and new filters, which can be switched between when you're using the amp's digital inputs, plus new components in the power amp and phono stages. The latter also gets upgraded circuitry.
And the results speak for themselves. The sound is smooth, full-bodied and balanced, with a pleasing spaciousness, making it another quality hi-fi amplifier from Marantz that should please most people and systems. There aren't many alternatives around this price point that we'd recommend, but the high-performing Mission 778X at £549 / $549 / AU$1099 is one to consider if you want Bluetooth and a USB, or simply value retro aesthetics and/or a half-width chassis.
If you're looking for an even cheaper option than either, we would point you to the five-star Rega io and Cambridge Audio AXA35, which are both brilliant 'my first amplifier' options.
Read our full Marantz PM6007 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Smooth, full-bodied and balanced, making it easy to listen to | ★★★★★ |
Build | Sturdy build but traditional aesthetic may not appeal to all | ★★★★ |
Features | The standard analogue and digital connections | ★★★★★ |
The best budget stereo amplifier
Arcam’s once dominant presence in the affordable stereo component market definitely waned in recent years, leaving the likes of Cambridge Audio, Marantz and Rega to take bigger pieces of the pie. Cambridge Audio's CXA61 sat in this very spot on this list for many years, in fact. That it no longer does tells you a lot about how good Arcam's new A5 is. Like its next-level-up A15 sibling (at the top of this list), the A5 is a stonkingly good stereo amp for the money.
It may be the most affordable amplifier in the all-new Radia range, yet it perfectly encapsulates what the company is trying to do. To our eyes, this is a fresh and modern-looking product; and to our ears, it is just as attractive.
An amplifier at this level has a difficult balancing act to perform. It is as likely to be partnered with budget kit as it is more premium offerings, so it has to be forgiving enough not to emphasise the shortcomings of more limited partnering equipment, yet still have the insight and transparency to make the most of more capable signals. The A5 manages this balancing act superbly. It has a sweet nature that while full-bodied and smooth never errs far enough to rob the life from the music. Arcam was one of the pioneers of dedicated outboard units back in the 1980s, and that experience shines through in the A5’s DAC section, too, which feeds coaxial and optical inputs but, like the A15, does omit a USB connection.
Partner the Arcam with suitably capable sources and speakers, and it will invariably deliver musical and enjoyable results. It has been many years since we’ve heard such a convincing stereo amplifier from Arcam. If you are thinking of buying at this level, this one has to go at the top of your shortlist.
Read our full Arcam A5 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Smooth and sweet-sounding but not without drive | ★★★★★ |
Build | Attractive modern-day looks and build | ★★★★★ |
Features | A decent array of connections that include Bluetooth | ★★★★★ |
The best mid-range stereo amplifier
This is the third-generation instalment of a model first introduced in 2008. The XS 3 adds a moving magnet phono stage and better responsiveness, and that's about it. If that sounds negative, it shouldn't – the XS 3 is a killer stereo amp, having earned a well-deserved five stars and multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards for its trouble.
Why? Attention. To. Detail. Open it up and you'll see what we mean – there's immaculately assembled audio circuitry, with fantastic care shown in reducing the degrading effect of outside interference and unwanted interactions between components.
And it shows. The sound is much crisper and more agile than its forebears, thanks in no small part to this exacting eye for detail (it even goes as far as the shape of the connecting wiring and the exact number and placement of tie clips holding it in place). It might not be enough of a difference to justify upgrading from its predecessor, but it still makes for an awesome amp nonetheless.
So not a massive change, as we say. But if it ain't broke...
Read our full Naim Nait XS 3 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Sets the bar for subtlety and dynamic expression | ★★★★★ |
Build | Naim-like – minimalist and reliable | ★★★★★ |
Features | Analogue only | ★★★ |
If anything on this list has stood the test of time, it's the XS 3. I've loved listening to it over the years. Just be aware that it doesn't have digital connectivity, which you might find slightly surprising in this day and age. But I – and I'm sure Naim! – would argue that an outboard DAC would be a better solution anyway at this level, and at least this way the XS 3's analogue performance doesn’t suffer from any digital integration and the price didn't change too much.
The best premium stereo amplifier
The Rega Aethos delivers a fantastic combination of insight, dynamics and rhythmic precision to produce a class-leading sound at this serious level. It's not the most highly-specced stereo amp we've seen: there are no digital inputs (something Rega is now starting to add in its newer releases), nor is there a phono stage for a turntable, which is perhaps the more surprising omission. So those wanting to connect digital sources or a phono-less turntable should seek an outboard DAC and/or phono preamp.
You do get five line-level inputs and a 6.3mm headphone socket, though, and for those who don't care much for digital (or have another solution to get it), that'll do very nicely.
If you can live with that, the Rega will reward you with a captivating sound that majors in clarity and dynamic fluidity. Its sense of timing is second to none at this price, which is part of the reason it is a current What Hi-Fi? Awards winner.
Performance-wise, the Aethos is our definitive number-one pick at this level. That said, if your budget can stretch a bit further but you don't have high-end money to spend on the Lavardin ITx below, the competitively performing Naim Supernait 3 (phono inclusive), Rotel Michi X3 (phono and digital) and Cambridge Audio Edge A (digital and Bluetooth) are all worthy alternatives if you crave more features.
Read our full Rega Aethos review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Clarity and dynamic fluidity are its forte | ★★★★★ |
Build | Feels rock solid and inspires confidence; runs warm | ★★★★ |
Features | Analogue only, no phono | ★★★ |
The best high-end stereo amplifier
The Lavardin ITx is one of the most uncluttered and self-effacing amplifiers we’ve ever heard. Its presentation isn’t warm or rich in the manner of some valve designs, but it is incredibly sweet sounding, in all the best ways. This is also a fast and fluid performance, one that’s immensely precise without sounding clinical in any way.
This is not a product that encourages analysis of the hi-fi system or the recording being played. It is more than transparent enough to perform that role but prefers to put the spotlight firmly on the music. That’s the way we like it. Does the ITx live up to our fond memory of the original from the late 90s? Yes, it absolutely does.
Just be aware that this is nothing other than an integrated amplifier for purists. The ITx’s connectivity is limited but adequate for most stereo setups. There are four single-ended line-level inputs, a lone tape output and a pair of modest-looking speaker terminals. So if you play records or use headphones, make sure to budget for extra boxes to do the job.
If you've got more to spend, the Luxman L-509X is also excellent, while the Copland CSA 100 is a slightly more affordable option to consider.
Read our full Lavardin ITx review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Fast, fluid, sweet-sounding and immensely precise | ★★★★★ |
Build | Solid but not slick; remote not included | ★★★★ |
Features | Analogue only, no phono or headphone output | ★★ |
The best stereo amplifier for purists
The successor to our multi-Award winning Rega Elex-R, one of our favourite amplifiers of the last decade, is thankfully far from a disappointing sequel.
Revealing and faithful, it’s capable in ways far beyond our expectations at this mid-tier price point. The elegant, confident way it delivers music is something that’s very rare at this level. The addition of digital inputs (at last!) and a headphone port is a great step in the right direction too, giving customers more flexibility in how they listen to this terrific amp.
If you take the time to partner it carefully (we’d avoid any bright or forward-sounding kit as a rule; pairing it with speakers with more richness to the tone – like the KEF LS50 Meta or Wharfedale Linton – will give the sound more body and weight), this stereo amplifier will work wonders.
Got a bigger budget? Rega's Elicit MK5 is a similar but superior-sounding proposition that'll set you back a bit more.
Read our full Rega Elex Mk4 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Unexpectedly faithful to the recording at this level | ★★★★★ |
Build | Sturdy, hefty, streamlined chassis | ★★★★★ |
Features | The standard analogue and digital connections | ★★★★ |
The best desktop stereo amplifier
Chord Electronics has proven to have quite some talent in finding new market niches. And the diminutive Anni desktop integrated amplifier is a perfect example of that.
Make no mistake, this really is a proper Chord amplifier in miniature, using as it does the Ultima dual feed-forward circuitry seen in the latest generation of the brand’s high-end power amplification. However, this little box is only the size of the Chord Qutest digital-to-analogue converter – for the uninitiated, think smaller than a pair of coasters laid end-on – and it’s intended to be an ideal partner for that DAC and the company’s Huei phono stage. The important thing to note is that it’s designed for desktop use with either headphones or suitable speakers.
This is one of the most capable headphone amplifiers we’ve heard. It sounds clean, clear and articulate yet captures the manic energy of Nick Cave & The Bad Seed's Babe, I’m On Fire superbly.
Use it as a desktop amplifier as intended and it shines. Sure, there are operational quirks – something that’s proving to be a Chord trait – but when the Anni sounds this good we can forgive a lot.
For a much cheaper but similarly sized, desktop-friendly alternative, consider the NAD D 3020 V2.
Read the full Chord Anni review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Sound | Highly musical and detailed, and a very capable headphone amp | ★★★★★ |
Build | Smaller than a pair of coasters laid end-on | ★★★★ |
Features | Only RCA inputs and 3.5mm, 6.3mm and stereo outputs | ★★★ |
Also consider
- Cambridge Audio CXA81: Only recently replaced on this list by the Arcam A15, this veteran amplifier remains a top mid-price choice for those wanting musical sound and modern features – especially at its current knockdown price (which has us wondering if it's soon to have a successor!) There's no built-in phono stage, but unlike the Arcam it does have a USB input.
- Rega io: If you're looking for a more affordable amplifier than any on this list and don't need digital connectivity, this Rega has been a favourite of ours for years. No, it isn't all that well equipped, but sonically it's bags of fun and hugely entertaining.
- Naim Supernait 3: A better-equipped alternative to the Rega Aethos on this list thanks to its inclusion of a phono stage. The Supernait is also a remarkable all-round performer and recommendable for anyone who favours Naim's authoritative and dynamic sonic character.
How to choose the best stereo amplifier for you
Stereo amplifiers aren't as simple and stripped back as they used to be; the days of equipping them with just analogue inputs and outputs and a pair of speaker terminals are now no longer the norm.
With laptops, phones and music streaming services becoming ever-more popular music sources, the integrated amplifier has indeed moved with the times. Many now contain built-in digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) that feed digital inputs for connecting laptops, hard drives and digital-savvy hi-fi sources. This is convenient, though note that not all digital stages are implemented as well as analogue ones, and higher-end systems may benefit from an analogue-only amplifier design paired with an outboard DAC.
The vinyl revival has seen many integrate phono stages for turntables, too. Some have Bluetooth for added wireless convenience, while others boast wi-fi/Ethernet complete with network streaming to make them fully-fledged, just-add-speakers systems, otherwise known as 'streaming amplifiers' (and for the best of those, you'll want to head on over to our best hi-fi systems page). So what you require will depend on your needs and the connectivity of any existing equipment you have.
You should also consider your amp's partnership with your speakers. The speaker/amp relationship not only comes down to an amp’s power output but also the speaker's impedance characteristics and sensitivity. There are tonal characteristics to take into consideration too to ensure the best sonic synergy. So if you need clarification on system matching, you should head over to our thorough how to choose and set up a stereo amplifier advice page.
How we test stereo amplifiers
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test every bit of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door. Every stereo amplifier we test takes up residency in one of our two reference hi-fi rooms for the duration of its review.
What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we listen to every stereo amplifier we test against the current leader – often a What Hi-Fi? Award winner – in its class to gauge how it compares to the competition. We keep Award-winning products in our stockrooms so we can always put new products against ones we know and love. We do our best to review as many new models in as many markets as possible, too, ensuring our contextual knowledge is the best it can be. And we encounter even more during our What Hi-Fi? Awards judging in autumn, where we listen to every amplifier manufacturers submit.
We are always impartial in our testing and ensure we hear every stereo amplifier at its optimum. So we'll use different partnering products – those in our high-end reference system as well as more price-comparable ones – and ensure we listen through an amp's multiple connections to test both its analogue and (if applicable) digital output stages. We also try plenty of different types of music and naturally give them plenty of listening time (and time to run in) too.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
Recent updates
- February 2024: Added an FAQ section (below) to help readers with their stereo amplifier buying decisions.
- December 2023: Added 'also consider' options to each entry where relevant to give readers an alternative in case our pick wasn't suitable for their connectivity needs.
- November 2023: Replaced the Cambridge Audio CXA81 for the Arcam A15 as our 'Best overall' recommendation following its What Hi-Fi? Award win. The Arcam A5 was also added as our go-to budget amp following its awards season triumph.
F.A.Q.
Should you buy an integrated amp or separate pre and power amps?
Integrated amplifiers pack both pre- and power amplification into one box, and all of the stereo amps on this list are this type. The advantage is neatness due to fewer boxes and cables and the fact that the pre and power stages will have been tuned to work optimally together.
Alternatively, you can buy individual preamplifiers (which essentially handle input selection and volume control) and power amplifiers (which increases the amplitude of the audio signal) and these have advantages, mainly in that they keep the sensitive preamp circuitry away from the electrically noisy high-current power amplifier section, and having separate power supplies helps improve sound quality too. It generally makes sense to pick a pre and power pairing from the same manufacturer as they will have been tuned together.
More information can be found in our how to choose and set up a stereo amplifier article.
Can you get stereo amps with HDMI?
Most stereo amplifiers will offer digital connections such as optical, coaxial and USB, though fewer include HDMI ARC ports for hooking up your TV. HDMI is much more common on surround sound-savvy AV receivers.
However, some people like to use their stereo system to make their television sound better, and including HDMI is a neat way of making that happen. Cambridge Audio has recognised that with its Edge A integrated by including an HDMI ARC socket. Other examples with HDMI ARC include the NAD C 389, Audiolab 7000A and the more home cinema-aligned Marantz Stereo 70.
Stereo amp or receiver?
You may see integrated amplifiers labelled as 'stereo amplifiers' or 'stereo receivers'. They are essentially the same thing, though the term receiver indicates that the amplifier has FM/AM and/or DAB radio built-in and therefore can play radio channels through connected speakers without requiring a source. An example of this is the Yamaha R-S202D.
These are less common nowadays as internet radio and DAB are often built into source components.