AMPLIFIERS These amps can be the hub of a wireless system
These four stereo amps take what’s best about traditional hi-fi and bring it into the 21st century
The amplifier remains at the heart of any traditional hi-fi set-up, but that isn’t to say time must stand still. Nor does it mean the convenience of wireless technology has to replace what’s great about the old school: the tactility of a weighted dial, the range of physical connections and, most importantly, great sound.
Rather than deal in fundamental changes, this quartet of class-leading amplifiers builds on the component’s decades of success, bringing it forward to the current era of smartphones and streaming.
That extra functionality needn’t mean breaking the bank, either. The first amp in our list, Yamaha’s R-S202D, will give you change from a budget of £200. It’s a timeless design, built to the kind of
standard you’d feel more than pleased with much higher up the market, and has a DAB tuner built in alongside its Bluetooth connectivity.
Not that you have to hide the fact you’re modernising your system, as the NAD D 3020 V2 proves with its ultra-sleek vertical design. To some it may appear as style over substance, but that preconception is soon proved wrong after only a few moments of listening.
Our other mid-range selection, the Audiolab 6000A, builds on that again with an even clearer, perhaps more mature sound, which could entice you to push your budget a little further, while the group is completed by a true temptation component in Roksan’s Blak integrated amp. Proof, if needed, that even high-end audio doesn’t always require cables.