Onkyo A-50 streaming amplifier The Onkyo A-50 stands out as a powerful, feature-rich, and great-sounding all-in-one amplifier, with only minor usability and connectivity drawbacks holding it back. Indelible association A quick search through the archives of The Ear reveals that the A-50 is the first Onkyo product to be reviewed on the site. For many […]
Gold Note IS-1000 MkII Deluxe streaming amplifier Italian brand Gold Note have certainly been making waves over the last decade. From its beginnings back in 2011, this once-boutique brand now produces a full range of equipment that covers all bases, from vinyl and digital replay to loudspeakers. I also spotted some rather natty-looking racks in […]
Hegel H150 streaming amplifier The 75W Hegel H150 integrated streaming amp replaces the brand’s popular H120 but with a world of difference. The timing is also apt because my long-in-the-tooth original H190 has had a hard life over the past six years and has been surpassed by Hegel’s latest circuitry; not least the option of […]
Arcam Radia A15+ integrated amplifier Tom Hanks. You know where you are with Tom Hanks. And that’s kind of a problem. A fine actor, yes. But I wonder if he ever feels a bit hemmed in by his much lauded ‘everyman’ persona. If, in a career shaped by good guy casting – the ultimate safe […]
Bryston Bi-200 integrated amplifier There are a few refreshingly candid companies in audio; organisations where the outlook is defined by an almost pathological honesty. Even among these firms, Bryston stands out for a nigh on complete lack of fluff in terms of how they describe their product. It is their considered opinion that all their […]
Unitra WSH-805 integrated amplifier You might be forgiven a brief, unvoiced ‘who?’ when confronted with the Unitra WSH-805. Answering that question isn’t the work of a moment either. Unitra was the umbrella group of Polish companies involved in consumer electronics back in the Cold War who produced audio equipment for domestic and export purposes. I […]
Moor Amps Angel 4i integrated amplifier I have often enjoyed listening to Moor Amps amplifiers and speakers at audio shows, especially the Angel 6 and Ascalon-8 speakers. The Angel 6 is the amplifier of choice of a couple of fellow reviewers, including The Ear’s esteemed editor, Jason Kennedy. So naturally I was keen to try […]
Naim Nait 50 integrated amplifier In 1988 I purchased my very first Naim amplifier, the original first generation Naim Nait, the firm’s amplifiers have been my reference choice ever since. The term Nait actually stands for Naim Audio InTegrated and for decades the Nait marked the first rung on the ladder of the Naim line. […]
Soulnote A-1 integrated amplifier The story behind Soulnote’s rise to success is bound up with chief engineer Hideki Kato’s youth. At that time he loved music but couldn’t afford to buy a decent amplifier so built one himself and managed to create something that sounded better than the alternatives he compared it with. Later on […]
Atoll IN400 Evo integrated amplifier with DAC Top-of-the-range products are usually something to shout about, especially if they are new, and Atoll’s IN400 Evo integrated amplifier scores on both counts. The Evo standing, perhaps unsurprisingly, for Evolution since it replaces the former IN400 Signature iteration. A heavyweight in more ways than one: the IN400 Evo […]
Chord Ultima Integrated amplifier It is a given that a linear power supply is key to extracting the best results from any hi-fi component, right? Scroll through any forum or dealer’s website, and you will see various upgrade kits involving such devices. I confess to having followed the accepted wisdom and invested in my fair […]
Roksan Caspian 4G integrated amplifier This reviewing malarkey never ceases to amaze me. Our esteemed editor will ask if I am interested in reviewing a product and I will agree, usually without getting into a lather awaiting the ring of the doorbell by the courier. Other times I cannot wait to get my hands on […]