Recent Audio Amplifier Reviews

In market for a powerful 200 WPC amp? ATI has you covered with two completely different technologies . The AT4000 class A/B and the AT522NC Class-D amplifiers both fit into the 200-watt sweet spot and both have surprisingly similar specifications. The AT500 series is 25% cheaper and up to 50% lighter than the AT4000’s. So, how do they compare? Let’s find out.

Mark Levinson has introduced two new integrated amplifiers: the № 5802 ($7,000), and the № 5805 ($8,500). Though hardly cheap, these new products represent the least expensive amplification options from the company. Both feature built-in DACs, and both deliver 125 watts of class A/B power. The № 5802 is designed for digital sources only, while the № 5805 includes a patent-pending analog preamp section. Read on to learn more.

Audio company NAD released information on three new hi-fi products unveiled at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest last month. The products include the upgradeable C 658 Streaming DAC, D 3045 amplifier/DAC, and the C 588 belt-drive turntable for hardcore vinyl enthusiasts. Read on for our first look at these new products from NAD to see what makes them so compelling to the modern audiophile.

Denon has introduced three new audio components that aim to combine the look and feel of classic Hi-Fi components with the functionality of a smart, streaming, multi-room audio system. Can the PMA-800NE integrated amplifier, DNP-800NE network audio player, and DCD-800NE CD player bridge the gap between the traditional and the cutting-edge? Read on to learn more.

The new 450-watt/ch McIntosh MC462 is the company’s most powerful stereo power amplifier. With 50% more filter capacity and 66% more dynamic headroom than its predecessor, the “Quad Balanced” MC462 is the result of some serious engineering work. As you would expect from McIntosh, it’s also built like a tank, nice to look at, and more than a little pricey. Read on to see what new enhancements McIntosh made to their latest stereo amplifier.

Looking for a cool new amplifier with enough power to blow you away? The new Model 7220 seven channel amplifier from Outlaw Audio may be your answer. This class AB, fully balanced, differential design is rated to deliver 220W per channel into an 8-ohm load with ALL seven channels driven. Outlaw Audio teamed up with ATI Audio technologies to develop a powerful linear amplifier into a moderately heavy unit without the use of massive heat sinks. Read on to find out how this amplifier stays cool enough for Mr. Freeze.

After 16 years of great reviews from their JC 1 amplifier, Parasound has finally given consumers exactly what they want: Two top-of-the-line Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifiers integrated into a single chassis that is the same size as one JC 1. The new Parasound Halo JC 5 combines high power and ultra-high bias Class A/AB sonic quality at roughly two-thirds the price of a pair of JC 1s.

ATI is a well-known amplifier manufacturer that also builds amplifiers for Lexicon, Outlaw, SAE, and most recently Monoprice. Their Signature Series amplifiers are their top-of-the line reference offering. It is a fully balanced class A/B design using two toroidal transformers and independent secondary windings to provide separate power supplies for each channel. With configurations from 2 to 7 channels the ATI AT6000 series amplifier performance is as massive as its dimensions and weight; and yet, completely silent. Their performance matches and exceeds many mono-blocks while versatile enough to support bi-amplified and multi-channel audiophile systems.

If you’re a fan of NAD electronics or if you’ve been thinking of upgrading your amp to a more sophisticated product brand you might want to check out NAD’s new M22 V2 Masters Series Amplifier released this year at CES, Las Vegas, Nevada. NAD’s new M22 V2 delivers a 20% increase in power over their previous model and adds bridging mode and an input sensitivity switch for system flexibility. Did they really offer a significant upgrade in performance without an increase in price? Read on.

Anthem Electronics released their STR Preamplifier and STR Power Amplifier at the 2017 CEDIA Expo. Like the STR integrated amplifier they released last year, the new separates both feature a fresh industrial design and premium audio circuit components and Anthem ARC room correction. The power amplifier is a no holds barred class AB rated to 800 watts/ch into 2 ohms. The entire series is proudly designed, engineered, and Crafted in Canada. Check out all of the details to see if these babies will be in your next two-channel rig.

For over half a century audio manufacturer Rotel has been putting out award winning hi-fi components. Rotel's newest lineup of 15 series components was recently released and include an integrated amplifier, stereo preamp, and their newest CD player which processes digital signals up to 24-bits in length at sampling rates from 8 kHz to 192 kHz. To see what Rotel has to offer with their new 15 series components, read on.

Monoprice may have made its name making cheap HDMI cables but there's absolutely nothing cheap about their new line of audiophile-grade Monolith amplifiers. The Monolith 7 is a 7-channel, 200wpc (with all channels driven), 93 pound beast of an amplifier. From its build to astonishing real-world performance the Monolith 7 may just rank as one of the best price/performance amplifiers you can buy. We put the Monolith through a battery of tests and came away impressed. Read our full review and watch our YouTube Video to see why the Monolith really is THAT good.

Hi-Fi company Marantz released information on their new audio products in preparation for the January 2017 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their Premium 10 series is their most advanced Hi-Fi combination to date and includes the SA-10 SACD/CD player/DAC and PM-10 fully balanced Integrated Amplifier. This duo features Marantz’ renowned audio technologies designed to deliver great sound from high-resolution audio formats and CDs alike. So if you’re in the market for a great new SACD/CD player and Integrated Amplifier pair, the Marantz SA and PM-10 might be right for you. Read on to find out more.

Outlaw Audio had lofty goals when redesigning their 7125 into the new 7140. How do you take a great amplifier and give it increased power (140wpc x 7), improved performance, greater reliability, AND an enhanced user experience for only $100 more than the original price of their 7125? They kept their classic AB amplification and added some amazing redesigns. But, was it worth it? Read on to find out.