Recent Audio Amplifier Reviews

Rotel has just introduced their new 14 series of integrated amplifiers and CD player to continue their legacy of offering high performance affordable audio that made them famous nearly a half century ago. The A14 ($1,299) features 80wpc, high performance AKM DAC and bluetooth connectivity. The A12 steps down to 60wpc but offers similar features and saves you $400. The CD14 ($599) uses similar Wolfson DAC's found on the A12, and is also controllable via a downloadable App to your Smartphone.

Pass Labs unveiled their new F7 power amplifier with emphasis on sonic purity and getting the first watt right. Unlike other models in their line up, the F7 is a relatively low power (25W/channel into 8-ohms) simple Class A circuit, that sells for a whopping $3k. Pass Labs touts the usage of minimal negative feedback in this design, but is that a good thing? Is Class A operation really necessary in this day and age where electronics have evolved so much and we are more conscious about energy conservation?

If you’re in the market for five channels of high quality amplification, the Marantz MM7055 might be just the ticket. At a price that won’t require you to sell a kidney, one gets a quiet, attractive, amplifier that won’t give you a hernia when you place it in your equipment rack. It has plenty of real world power, even when driving speakers with impedance dips into the 3-4 ohm range.

Looking for a massive Class AB amplifier to boost your home audio system? Check out the new Monolith 7x200 Multi-Channel Home Theater Power Amplifier from Monoprice. With 5 pair of output devices per channel, ample heatsinking, and two giant toroidal power supplies, this amp appears to have the goods to hit its 200 watts/CH into 8 ohms and 300 watts/CH into 4 ohms power ratings. The Monolith should fit the needs of most demanding home theater systems requiring a meaty amp that can drive lots of unadulterated power into low impedance speakers.

Looking for a great integrated amp to start your two-channel hi-fi system? The Canadian manufacturer Classe, of The B&W Group along with Rotel, debuted he 2200i Integrated Amplifier this month with a price point of $5,500. It has a host of features and AV connectivity beyond most traditional integrated amplifiers and boasts some impressive power output into 4 ohm loads. Is this is yet another great addition to Classe’s truly audiophile line of products or just an overpriced integrated amp? Read on to find out.

Looking for a great budget minded AV processor, stereo preamp/tuner, integrated amp, or multizone amplifier? Emotiva launched a whole new series of affordable amplifiers and preamps dubbed BasX. The fact that you can pair their MC-700 AV Pre/Pro and A-700 seven-channel amplifier and have a separates solution for about the same price as a midline AV receiver, should give any audiophile pause that cares more about performance and function over features. Are these products right for you? You'll have to read on to find out.

Just a few short years ago, we would have scoffed at the idea that Class D-based amplifiers were audiophile-certified. That's all changed with the latest generation of ICEpower modules and Legacy Audio is putting both the audiophile and home theater world on notice with their new Powerbloc2 Dual Mono Amplifier. Don't let this amp's slim form-factor fool you. It's a 325w into 8 ohm, 650w into 4 ohm, and ultra-wide bandwidth powerhouse. It sports a true, dual-mono architecture to eliminate channel crosstalk and comes in at such a low price point that it made our jaws drop. Check out our in-depth preview.

Emotiva has unveiled a brand new line of audio gear dubbed Emersa. With the Emersa, Emotiva is targeting home users who want to balance elegant design, performance, and lifestyle options. The Emersa high efficient power amplifiers and EMP-1 pre-pro features Dirac room EQ are ALL built in the USA have OLED, slim chassis and modular architecture. Read on and be sure to also check out our YouTube Video Interview with Emotiva President Dan Laufman to get all of the details.

Emotiva has delivered a major upgrade to its XPA lineup with the announcement of its third generation amplifiers debuted at CES 2016. The new XPA Gen 3 amplifiers are completely modular and upgradeable; feature a low-noise, highly efficient switched mode power supply; and are assembled right here in the USA. These new amps promise more power, more efficiency and lighter weight. Has Emotiva done it again? Read on for all the details and be sure to catch our YouTube interview with Emotiva Company President Dan Laufman to get the details.

The Yamaha A-S801 is an honestly rated 100 watt/ch stereo integrated amplifier. The inclusion of a high performance USB-B DAC updates its vintage appeal to the 21st century audiophile. Whether you're playing analog or digital audio, you can rest assured the A-S801 will bring your system to new sonic heights. This Yamaha amp will fit the bill nicely whether your building a hi resolution two-channel playback system in a dedicated listening space or using it for an upscale PC music system.

The Denon HEOS Drive fills a gap in the multi-room audio market that has been ignored for years. A great balance between the ease of set up and operation consumers demand, and the flexibility custom installers need, the Drive hits a sweet spot. At $2,499, this 4-zone amplifier sports a host of features that makes it a flexible solution. As the multi-room audio market moves from volume controls, IR repeaters, and FM tuners towards streaming sources and IP control, Denon seems poised to be a market leader.

Yamaha has come out with a solid lineup of integrated amplifiers geared towards soothing the two-channel audiophile in all of us. If you think that these integrated amplifiers are your father’s or grandfather’s integrated, you’d be sorely mistaken. Unlike the integrated amps of yesteryear, these new models have been designed for the modern audiophile. Rugged build quality, meaty power supply, conservative power ratings are all hallmarks of these new Yamaha integrated amplifiers. Now throw in a high end phono preamp and DAC and you're ready to enjoy all of your high resolution sources with pristine clarity. Best of all....they are affordable!

Outlaw’s new Model 5000 five-channel amplifier was, until recently, a top secret project they were working on to put them back on the map of a high value per dollar ratio currently shared only by a select few manufacturers. Rated at a modest 120 watts/ch, how could this amp possibly stand out in a sea of more powerful competitors? We put one on our test bench and gave it a listen to find out. Our results may not only surprise you but more importantly put several of Outlaw’s competitors on notice. At $599, can this be the amplifier deal of the year? Read our review and watch our recently added YouTube Video to find out.

Parasound has just announced their new Halo Integrated Amplifier. The new Halo updates the classic integrated concept and updates it for the digital generation. It's a powerhouse rated at 160 watts/ch (8 ohms) and 240 watts/ch (4 ohm), high bias class A/AB, Dual-mono featuring a home theater bypass, and analog bass management for a 2.1 speaker configuration. With high end digital support including the latest generation ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC, DSD decoding, will the new Parasound Halo Integrated appeal to the current audiophile generation?