BUYING GUIDE 2021 STEREO AMPLIFIERS

The world of electronics is one of constant innovation and a few small technological revolutions. That's what got me into the business many years ago. Doing business in this field is to be in the midst of happiness every day! We are dream merchants and we share this passion for these objects that make the soul feel good!

What better way to feel good than by listening to music. A bubble that we often share with our loved ones: parents, friends, spouses or children. Music lovers speak the same language, which makes interaction with our clientele so pleasant.

I therefore propose a list of audio amplifiers of different prices, vocations and brands. Most of what is here, you can come and listen to it in one of our sound rooms.

Enjoy your reading!

Entry level.

Not so long ago, there wasn't much of value in this category, but manufacturers have made the right decision to offer successful products at more than reasonable prices. The rationale being to bring more people into the audiophile family.

CAMBRIDGE

AXA-35 - $539

Cambridge Audio has always been known for offering products that are free of gimmicks, but with superior fidelity to its competitors for the price. One of the features that stem from this philosophy is the use of large toroidal transformers in every unit including this input model. With a large power source comes flawless performance. The AXA-35's 70 watts of total power will surprise you, because unlike other units in this price range, the transformer will allow sustained sound at full power without distortion.

AXR-100 - $749

There are 3 series at Cambridge, the entry level 'AX', the mid-range 'CX' and the reference 'Edge'. The AX-R100 is the best of the series. It offers 200 Watts with a powerful Transfo as always. Compared to the model 35, it adds FM reception as well as 2 fibre optic inputs for digital source playback. Usually reserved for home theatres, this stereo amp has a subwoofer output. The display is white, the front panel Lunar Grey with a Phono input for connecting a turntable. Complete! 

DENON

PMA-600NE - $649

Our best value for money entry!

With 110 years of experience, Japan's Denon knows how to do it right! For a good price, you'll get 140 watts powered by an intelligent circuit that disables processors not needed for your listening. For example, the Bluetooth receiver circuit will not work when listening to an analogue source. A 192 kHz @ 24-bit digital decoder will ensure that nothing is lost from your digital sources. Great sound for the price.

YAMAHA

AS301B - $599

A minimalist product that does everything beautifully. This little amplifier has nothing to envy to its brothers and sisters of the brand. It offers a reasonable 120 watts of power in total with a multitude of analogue inputs. The distortion rate is low with a score of 0.019%, the same as the larger AS501 and AS801. Two pairs of speakers are available for a multi-room connection...

The regular range.

Here we find the most popular products, offered at an interesting price, they allow us to obtain excellent results when coupled with a selection of high-fidelity speakers. Just like the input models, these products benefit from the technological advances in the field, so that their performance approaches what was once considered very high end, but at a better price...

CAMBRIDGE

 Our best mid-range value for money!

CX-A61 - $1449

For the past 5 years, the CX series, which includes two integrated amplifiers, a network audio streamer and a CD transport (it only plays, you need a DAC to play it), has seduced many. At the beginning of 2020, the series was renewed from A to Z and the result is even better! As digital files such as FLAC and DSD have become flawlessly accurate, the tone circuits have been completely removed. The sound remains pure, there is no bass and treble control on the CXA61. There's no need to buy a small Bluetooth receiver, the new version incorporates it with the recent APTX HD high-fidelity standard. A USB audio input that accepts Mac or PC digital files up to 32-bit/384kHz and & DSD 256 allows audiophile listening. The decoder is a renowned one: ESS Sabre ES9010K2M, when you consider the performance, you quickly forget the price.

DENON

PMA-800NE - $899

The PMA800NE is a dedicated amplifier for analogue sources with a digital twist. You get 170 watts of power and a low distortion rate of 0.02%. The special feature of this model is a preamplifier stage for moving magnet record players, but also a moving coil stage which is the prerogative of high-end cartridge record players. It can be considered as the big brother of the PMA-600NE, sharing most of the technologies.

NAIM

NAIT 5SI - $2190

Naim is a British manufacturer with an uncompromising focus. Naim products are expensive, but you are sure to get something that will not disappoint.

The Nait 5SI is priced at $2190 and offers 120 watts of power to amplify your sources connected to either RCA or DIN (low interference microphone style plug). The headphone jack is connected to a second unbalanced Class A amplifier and borrows many technologies from various Naim products, all to better convey the fundamental elements of the music. Those wishing to listen solo and at high resolution will not need to purchase a dedicated headphone amp. As with all audiophile products, the wattage count is only a small part of the picture. Expect much more from this Naim than a $500 unit offering the same 120 watts, not at all in the same family!

ANTHEM

MCA 225 GEN 2 - $2499

Anthem is a Canadian manufacturer and part of the Bagby family that founded the highly regarded Paradigm Speakers brand. In just fifteen years, Anthem amplifiers have established themselves as a world-class manufacturer.

The second generation MCA225 is as robust as the entire Anthem range. By robust, we mean solid abilities to transmit the most dynamic renditions without failing. In good Quebecois, we say that the amp has "Torque".

ideal for sounding out inefficient speakers (usually the most faithful) or for shaking furniture and making its owner happy!

Anthem's products are aimed at the purist, similar to Naim, but with a selection that is mainly geared towards high end home theatre. On the specification side, the 225 delivers 450 Watts over two channels, it's a power amplifier so you'll need a preamplifier or at least a volume controllable network player. The power is massive with two toroidal transformers, the signal to noise ratio is amazing at minus 120 DB. State-of-the-art circuitry protects your investment from overload and overheating. Ideal for long term projects, this is solid stuff!

YAMAHA

AS801B - $1199

The AS801 is an excellent value due to its very reasonable price, the only downside is that since the beginning of the pandemic, Yamaha products are very difficult to obtain...

An interesting 100 W + 100 W (0.019 % THD) is offered, while at short intervals 290 +290 W can be obtained! In short, its construction has plenty of reserve! It is possible to bypass the purchase of a digital audio player thanks to its USB computer input and its DAC ES9010K2M from ESS Technology Inc. Compatible with playback up to 5.6 MHz DSD and PCM 384 kHz/32-bit, it gives access to a wide range of high-resolution sources for unparalleled quality. In addition, a front-panel indicator displays DSD and PCM playback formats and sample rates.

Although it has a bass and treble control and variable Loudness, I recommend listening to it in "Direct" mode

AS1200 B - $3299

Resolutely at the top of the chain, the AS1200 is dedicated to the serious amateur. Music is born from something emotional. A unique and personal story that an artist wants to share. Massively built, it weighs 52 lbs due to the presence of a large toroidal transformer. There is little gimmickry or sound processing here, just well designed circuitry. Power is very respectable with 320 total watts. The music breathes, as this amp is never caught off guard. For flawless connectivity, the connectors are solid copper, gold plated. In short, with power, headroom and refined circuitry, you feel the music. And what about the old-fashioned hands... Beautiful!

Standard bearers.

The very essence of each company's vocation is found here. By that I mean that the sound the brand's designers were looking for is found in its purest form in these models. Whether it's a rich and warm sound or a cold and accurate one, the standard bearers will never disappoint you! The robustness of the circuitry and the power available will ensure that the sound is always free of distortion* of any kind. Perfectly reproduced, the music will transmit the emotion in the artist's performance...

* Used in general terms, any variation of the original source is considered "distortion" so I'm not just talking about the percentage of harmonic distortion, but the total envelope of the rendering.

CAMBRIDGE

Duo EDGE W and EDGE NQ Best value for money at the top end of the market

When it comes to emotional design, it doesn't get much better than this Cambridge. The Edge series was created to celebrate 50 years of the British brand. A team of 9 engineers has been dedicated to the design of the different subsystems forming a whole: very high precision electronic devices... Each circuit has been signed by its designer and the name of the series itself refers to GORDON EDGE, one of the pioneers at Cambridge 5 decades ago!

Designed and assembled in the UK, this technological marvel comprises 31 precision-machined parts.

As I mentioned earlier, Cambridge uses only toroidal transformers in the amplifiers, which improves performance. Edge, on the other hand, goes one step further by using symmetrical opposing toroidal transformers. This cancels out electromagnetic interference while delivering exceptional power and maintaining a consistent tone, regardless of the sound level.

Côté puissance on obtient 200 watts sous 8 ohms et 400 watts sous 4 ohms. La distorsion se trouve au plancher avec 0,002 % ! La réponse en fréquence dépasse la capacité de l’oreille humaine ce qui garantit un rendu absolu dans la gamme d’écoute < 3 Hz – > 80 kHz +/-1 dB.

Background noise is inaudible at less than 113 decibels.

To take advantage of this, Cambridge offers a preamplifier combined with a network player. The Edge NQ will allow you to listen to streaming signals as well as playback of audiophile files up to 32-bit 384 kHz PCM, or up to DSD256 in DSD.

The distortion is almost esoteric with 0.000 8%.

Edge W $5499

Edge NQ $6999

NAIM

SUPERNAIT 3 - $6490

The British woman's obsession with detail is evident in the absolutely outstanding design. The power output is 160 watts, so let's move on to the other call!

Firstly the engineers at Naim have found a way to more than double the speed of the voltage gain stage, which in turn doubles the speed at which the speaker output stage can respond. Then a larger toroidal transformer is used which provides higher power and recovery speed. There are ceramic isolators for the power transistors and a galvanically isolated microprocessor control section, all to purify the signal and isolate it from interference!

The supernait 3 is for you if you appreciate finesse at a comfortable listening volume.

ANTHEM best in class performance

Duo STR 

The power here is masterful! up to 1600 watts under 2 ohms, but more typically 800 watts when using 8 ohms sound boxes. When we know that to double the audible volume we need ten times more power, we understand that this amp has its reason to be for anyone who wants to obtain the realism of concerts...

Inside, the STR power amplifier uses two colossal transformers and several high-current output devices to ensure that the finest details and dynamic peaks are treated equally. On the outside, its beautifully designed cosmetics, including a 7-inch graphic control display and secure, highly conductive audiophile connectors, are a perfect match for the STR preamplifier.

Not only does the STR perform with stunningly clear, nuanced sound, but it also looks great! Designed and built in Canada, it is perfectly adapted to the specific needs of the rather demanding North American clientele...

Very confident, the specifications presented by the brand speak for themselves...

• Total harmonic distortion: 0.000 7% (1 kHz), 0.004% (20 kHz)
• Intermodulation distortion (coloration) (19 kHz + 20 kHz) 0.000 6 % SMPTE (60 Hz + 7 kHz) 0.001 6 % .

• Noise signal : - 121 decibels
• Frequency response : (20 Hz - 20 kHz)± 0.1 dB (very small deviation!)
• Damping factor: 360 (speaker control capability)

STR Power Amplifier - $7499 / STR Pre amp - $4999

YAMAHA

AS3200 B - $8999

Authentic, pure hi-fidelity is less about listening to brilliant sounding equipment and more about the disappearance of that equipment and the performance of the artist as if they were live in front of you in the room. The openness of listening puts the music first and makes listening to music an active rather than a passive experience.

While maintaining the level of sonic purity, imagine 300 watts into 8 ohms with an overcapacity of 600 watts at peak!

Frequency response: +0/-3 dB (5 Hz-100 kHz)

Distortion rate: [20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07% THD].

8999 $

The last word.

I have presented here a sample of products with a high quality-price ratio. In this jungle where all claim to hold the truth, I suggest you now come and listen and discuss with a serious adviser who will know how to identify your needs according to your prerogatives. One thing is certain, I will not be embarrassed by this selection, with prices varying from the smallest to the largest, they will give you the right measure for your money! Most of the models on this list are also available in alternative versions with a little more or less equipment, so everyone will find something to suit their needs!

Stay tuned

- Christian.