In today’s modern hi-fi landscape, amplifiers have resorted to playing a game of hide and seek. You will find amplifiers hidden inside wireless speakers and active speakers, inside all-in-one music systems, and combined with streamers and CD players – or even bundled inside a turntable. If it’s possible to fold more components into fewer boxes (or even one) to meet the demands of those who want a great music system but not stacks of black boxes taking up space in their lovely homes, then an amplifier is one of the first boxes to get hidden away.
An all-in-one system keeps things neat and tidy, while wireless speakers are no doubt convenient and popular. However, for those of us who prefer to prioritise ultimate sound quality over lifestyle aesthetics, there is merit in keeping the amplifier separate from other elements. The stereo amplifier, after all, is the beating heart of your hi-fi system (and to be fair, can also look rather distinctive), and there are plenty of us who want to see this crucial piece of electronics placed proudly on its own feet on a rack or cabinet to do its job, and not squirrelled away in another bit of kit.
The four stereo amplifiers we have gathered here are all five-star performers in their own right, each offering a specific sonic signature or a particular design, size or spread of connectivity to suit your system and personal preferences. All four integrated models are each brand’s entry-level offering, too, keeping the price to well under £500 for those who need to keep their budget sensible and realistic. It also means you can get a taste of what Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Rega and Rotel all have to offer as the first rung on the ladder to their extensive hi-fi repertoire.
If you’re setting up your first hi-fi system or are upgrading an old system to a new one, then one of this quartet of affordable stereo amplifiers should end up on your shortlist.