Stereo integrated amplifiers and receivers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2010. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
Price: $1495
Website: www.tubehifi.com
Colin said: The Antique Sound Lab AQ1003 DT Mk.II is a good, robust, simple, attractive integrated amplifier that would serve as a fine entry into the world of vacuum tubes.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Your first tube amp.
Price: $10,950
Website: www.asraudio.de
Uday said: The Emitter I is a fantastic product that’s so close to the audiophile ideal of a straight wire with gain that it’s hard to believe that’s true without hearing it for yourself.
The gist: One of the best integrated amps in the world, bar none.
Price: $5995
Website: www.audioresearch.com
John said: I don’t care what you’re looking for, whether you’re on a budget, looking to downsize, upgrade, or whatever: You need to hear this integrated. But get ready to have your preconceptions about solid-state and class-D amps take a beating: The DSi200 can stand with the best separates I’ve heard.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Class-D from ARC? Yes, and it sounds great.
Price: $3995
Website: www.audioresearch.com
S. Andrea said: The Audio Research VSi60 is not inexpensive at $3995, but its sound and build qualities are commensurate with its price. When you consider that it’s designed and built in the US by a company with a long and solid reputation, that price seems even more reasonable.
The gist: Get into classic ARC sound for under four grand.
Price: $2195
Website: www.belcantodesign.com
Randall said: Bel Canto’s e.One S300iU 24/96 is a top-notch product in both performance and price, and the fact that it comes in such an unassuming package makes it one of the more unique high-end bargains I know of.
The gist: Get a lot for a little.
Price: $1795
Website: www.bluecircle.com
Thom said: If you’re into the game of ‘my amp is bigger than your amp,’ the GDC will come up a bit short -- put it in an equipment rack and you probably won’t even notice it. But if your priority is fine, solid, realistic sound, the Blue Circle GDC is just the ticket.
The gist: Plain-Jane looks, real-looker sound.
Price: $5000
Website: www.esoteric.teac.com
Philip said: With an onboard analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, as well as a master-clock sync generator for use with Esoteric’s other digital products, the AI-10 occupies a product class all its own.
The gist: Esoteric’s entry in the growing integrated amp-DAC product genre.
Price: $4400
Website: www.hegel.com
Uday said: The H200 may be new to North America, but Hegel Music Systems has brought to the table a formidable competitor in terms of both performance and price. Being able to perform as well as amps costing much more marks the H200 as a great value -- and in these trying economic times, even more of one.
The gist: From Norway comes competition for the Brystons of the world.