The key to getting the best out of your stereo system is finding the right amplifier.
Using separate units (DAC, preamp, amp) is always the preferred option (especially for audiophiles), but most of us don’t have the space or the money necessary for such a sophisticated setup.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Integrated Amplifiers
- Under $200: Sony STR-DH190
- Under $400: Yamaha A-S301BL
- Denon PMA-600NE
- NAD C 316BEE
- Sonos Amp
That’s why most people opt for integrated amps. However, finding the right integrated amplifier maybe even harder than finding the perfect power amp for your speaker system.
You have to pay attention to more details and consider more features. We are here to make things easier for you and help you find the right amp.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between power amps and integrated amps, talk about features a good integrated amp should have, and present to you a comprehensive selection of the 10 best-integrated amplifiers for all budgets and all speaker types.
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Our Top Picks
This post contains affiliate links. See the affiliate disclaimer here.
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Under $200
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Under $400
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VIEW ON AMAZON →Read Our Review → |
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VIEW ON AMAZON →Read Our Review → |
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Under $100
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VIEW ON AMAZON →Read Our Review → |
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VIEW ON AMAZON →Read Our Review → |
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VIEW ON AMAZON →Read Our Review → |
The Difference Between Power Amps and Integrated Amps
As you already know, the main (and only) purpose of a power amplifier is to supply the necessary power to the speakers and drive them. That’s also the purpose of an integrated amplifier.
However, an integrated amp has a few more duties. Every integrated amp is also a preamp.
This means that you can use an integrated amp to control the volume and select the audio source (input).
In a setup that consists of separate units, the power amp only amplifies the signal, and preamps are used for volume control and input selection.
Most of today’s integrated amps also have built-in DACs and digital inputs (TOSLINK, USB, coaxial, etc.). More advanced integrated amps also feature Bluetooth or even Wi-Fi connectivity.
Recommended: 6 Best High-End AV Receivers for Your Home
So, to summarize, integrated amps have more features packed inside one box and are in charge of more things than power amps.
That’s why constructing a high-end integrated amp is even harder than constructing a high-end power amp.
The Most Important Features of Integrated Amps
Finding the right integrated amp for your stereo setup can be complicated but, to make it simple, we are going to mention only the two most important things – connections and power output.
Connections
When looking for the right connections, you have to think about the audio sources you want to connect to your integrated amp.
If you want to connect a record player, you need an amp with phono inputs. If all of your sources have a built-in DAC and can send an analog signal to your amp, analog RCA inputs (or balanced XLR inputs) will be more than enough.
If you want to connect digital audio sources (like PCs) to the amp, you need an amp with a built-in DAC and with digital inputs (USB, TOSLINK, coaxial, etc.). So, it all depends on your needs and the sources you want to connect to the unit.
Power output
Like the connections, the necessary power output depends on the gear you want to connect. To be more specific, it depends on the speakers you want to connect.
There’s no point in buying the most powerful amp out there if you are going to use it with easy-to-drive and sensitive speakers. The amplifier’s power output has to match the speakers’ power requirements.
For more info about the things you should pay attention to when buying an integrated amp, read our Buyer’s Guide.
So, the best-integrated amp for your setup is not necessarily the most powerful amp. It’s just an amp that matches the rest of your setup. However, finding such an amp can be a huge hassle.
And that’s why we are here – to give you a hand and make your search easier. Our selection of 10 best-integrated amplifiers is divided into 3 categories based on the price.
The only thing you have to do is scroll down, find the price range that matches your budget, and read our reviews. It’s that simple.
BEST INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS UNDER $200
Integrated amps in this price range are not very powerful or versatile. Most of these amps are simple desktop amps (often made by generic brands) with only one or two analog inputs (usually RCA inputs) and are designed for less demanding speakers.
One of the rare budget-friendly integrated amps that’s not made by some generic brand is Sony’s STR-DH190 and that’s our top recommendation when it comes to best budget integrated amplifiers.
Best Integrated Desktop Amp Under $100 – Micca OriGain A250
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.5]
Impressions
Micca OriGain A250 is a simple and compact boxy amp made for desktop use. It’s perfect for a pair of small and easy-to-drive desktop speakers.
The unit comes with a power adapter and RCA to AUX cable. The amp has a very clean design. On the front, you have just a volume dial that doubles as the power button.
On the back, you have one set of RCA inputs and a set of gold-plated 5-way binding posts. Also, there’s one preamp output for connecting the subwoofer.
The power output is rated at 30W per channel (into 8Ω loads) or 50W (into 4Ω loads). In both cases, THD is rated under 0.5%.
Advantages
- Clean and attractive design
- RCA input x1
- Subwoofer pre-output
- Stereo speaker outputs
- 30W x2 (with 8Ω speakers) or 50W x2 (with 4Ω speakers)
Disadvantages
- Only one analog input and no digital inputs
- THD is a bit too high
- Not powerful enough to drive more demanding bookshelf and floorstanding speakers
Best Integrated Amp Under $200 – Sony STR-DH190
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.8]
Impressions
STR-DH190 features the same design as Sony AV receivers and surround sound amps. It’s the same kind of boxy design, control layout, and the same build quality.
On the front side of the unit, you have a brushed aluminum panel with all the controls (input selectors, volume dial, power button, tuning buttons, etc.) and a simple LCD display.
Most of the inputs and speaker terminals are located on the back. The amplifier has 4 RCA inputs, one phono input, one RCA output, and a USB port (for firmware updates only). On the front panel, you also have one AUX input and a headphone output (STR-DH190 doubles as a headphone amp).
The amp houses four sets of spring-clip speaker terminals. You can connect 4 passive speakers (2 stereo pairs) but only two speakers (one pair) can be powered at the same time.
The advertised power output is 90W per channel (two channels driven, 8Ω each, 20Hz-20,000Hz). The unit is compatible with 6-16Ω speakers.
Aside from analog inputs, the unit also has an FM tuner and features Bluetooth connectivity (BT 4.2).
Advantages
- Clean and attractive design
- 4 analog RCA inputs + 1 AUX input
- Headphone output
- Bluetooth connectivity
- FM tuner
- Compatible with 6-16Ω speakers
- Power output – 90W x2 (into 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.09% THD)
Disadvantages
- Poor-quality spring-clip speaker terminals
- Not compatible with banana plugs
- The USB port is used for service purposes only (not for music playback)
BEST INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS UNDER $500
As the price increases, the number of available connections and the power outputs are getting higher. These are our top recommendations under $500.
Best Integrated Amp Under $400 – Yamaha A-S301BL
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.8]
Impressions
Like the previously reviewed STR-DH190, the Yamaha A-S301BL offers an amazing set of features at a more than affordable price. It’s one of the best and most versatile integrated amps under $400.
A-S301BL looks simple yet elegant. It has a nice and clean front panel with some basic controls (bass/treble level adjustments, balance/loudness adjustment knobs, speaker selector, input selector, volume dial, and a ‘pure direct’ button.
The unit also comes with a remote control so you don’t have to use the control panel at all.
All the inputs are on the rear panel. You have one pair of phono inputs, 5 RCA inputs, 3 RCA outputs, digital optical input, coaxial input, and a USB port (which allows you to connect Yamaha’s Bluetooth adapter).
The unit has four speaker terminals so you can hook up one or two pairs of passive speakers. You can use the speaker selector on the front panel to select the pair you want to send the audio signal to. The rear panel also houses one subwoofer output and impedance selector.
The power output is rated at 60W RMS per channel (with two 8Ω loads driven across the audible range). The distortion ratings are impressively low (0.019%).
A-S301BL features the so-called ‘pure direct’ function which overrides some internal circuits and enables a clearer path for the audio signal.
This lowers the noise and distortion but also prevents you from using some controls (bass/treble levels, loudness levels, balance).
Advantages
- Simple yet elegant design
- Analog inputs – RCA x1, phono x1
- Digital inputs – TOSLINK, optical
- Headphone output
- Allows you to connect up to 4 speakers (two sets of speakers)
- Subwoofer output
- Compatible with 4-16Ω speakers
- RMS power output – 60W x2 (at 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.019% THD)
- Adjustable bass/treble levels
- Pure Direct function (lowers the noise and distortion)
Disadvantages
- Lacks Bluetooth connectivity (requires Yamaha Bluetooth adapter)
- Not powerful enough for more demanding speakers
Denon PMA-600NE
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.8]
Impressions
PMA-600NE is just some 50 bucks pricier than the Yamaha A-S301BL but has some additional features (like Bluetooth connectivity) and more digital connections. Unlike Yamaha’s amp, you can only connect one pair of speakers to PMA-600NE and the power output is lower.
The amp has a great-looking front panel with a brushed aluminum finish. All the controls are on this panel.
You have a large volume dial in the middle, bass, treble, and balance controls on the left, and an input selector and Bluetooth pairing button on the right end. In the bottom left corner, there’s a headphone output.
PMA-600NE has numerous analog and digital inputs. It houses one phono input, 4 RCA inputs, one RCA OUT, two optical TOSLINK ports, and one coaxial input. The unit also features Bluetooth connectivity and has a 24bit/192kHz DAC onboard.
PMA-600NE has only one set of 5-way binding posts so you can connect only one pair of speakers to it. It also has a subwoofer output in case you decide to add a subwoofer. The advertised output is 45W per channel (two 8Ω loads driven across the audible range with 0.07% THD).
This amp has two special modes for improved signal clarity – Analog Mode and Source Direct. The first one turns PMA-600NE into a fully analog amp and disables all the digital inputs.
The second one overrides the volume and bass/treble/balance controls in order to provide you with the lowest possible distortion and noise.
Advantages
- Simple and intuitive control scheme
- Multiple analog inputs/outputs – RCA IN x4, RCA OUT x1, PHONO x1, HEADPHONE OUT x1
- Multiple digital inputs – optical x2, coaxial x1
- Bluetooth connectivity
- High-quality built-in DAC (max res 24bit/192kHz)
- Subwoofer preamp output
- Adjustable treble and bass levels
- Power output – 45W x2 RMS (into 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.07% THD)
Disadvantages
- Lacks AM/FM tuners
- Fairly low power output (45W per channel into 8Ω loads, 70W into 4Ω) – insufficient for power-hungry speakers
Best Integrated Amp Under $500 – Onkyo TX-8140
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.9]
Impressions
Onkyo TX-8140 is one of the older models, but can still compete with the latest integrated amps in its class. It’s one of the most versatile and most capable amps under $500. It’s one of the rare amps with both – Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity, but that’s not the only special thing about it.
On the front panel, the Onkyo TX-8140 has a nice-looking display, input selector, volume controls, bass/treble dials, speaker A/B selectors, 4 preset buttons (to save your favorite AM/FM stations), tuning and setup buttons, etc.
To control this amp and playback, you can also use the included remote control or the Onkyo remote app. The front panel also houses a headphone output and a USB port for music playback (plays all kinds of files including DSD128 and lossless FLAC and ALAC).
On the back, the unit has quite a few analog and digital inputs. There’s one MM phono input, 6 RCA inputs, one RCA OUT, and a subwoofer output.
When it comes to digital connections, you have two optical and two coaxial inputs. The unit is also Bluetooth-enabled and features Wi-Fi connectivity. It supports Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, Sirius XM, and other popular music streaming platforms.
Finally, Onkyo TX-8140 has built-in AM and FM tuners, so you can also listen to your favorite radio stations.
The amp has a built-in AKM DAC that supports 32bit/384kHz digital-to-analog conversion.
On the back, you have 4 sets of 5-way binding posts compatible with banana plugs. You can connect two pairs of speakers and play them alternately.
The advertised RMS power output is 80W per channel (two 8Ω loads driven across the audible range with 0.1% distortion). The amp is compatible with 4-16Ω speakers.
Advantages
- Intuitive control scheme
- Included remote and Onkyo remote app
- Multiple analog inputs/outputs – RCA x6, RCA PRE-OUT
- MM Phono input
- Multiple digital inputs – optical x2, coaxial x2, USB
- 4 sets of speaker terminals (allows you to connect two speaker pairs)
- Subwoofer output
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Built-in Pandora, Sirius XM, TuneIn, Spotify
- Built-in AKM’s 32bit/384kHz DAC chip
- AM/FM tuners
- RMS power output – 80W per channel (into two 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.1% THD)
Disadvantages
- Nothing at this price point
Best Low-Profile Integrated Amp Under $500 – NAD C 316BEE
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.9]
Impressions
NAD C 316BEE is a super-slim integrated amp, perfect for smaller bookshelf speakers. It will provide you with remarkable clarity and accuracy and minimal distortion. It’s one of the NAD’s entry-level amps but has some features that you can only find on high-end amps.
On the front side of the unit, you have an array of input selectors, volume dials, and bass, treble, and balance dials. This control panel also houses one headphone output and one AUX input. To control this NAD amp, you can also use the included remote.
On the back, you have a phono input, 4 RCA inputs, a power button, and a set of speaker terminals for two speakers. The terminals are compatible with banana plugs.
The RMS power output is rated conservatively at 40W (into 8Ω loads, across the audible spectrum), while the peak is over 100W. Across the whole spectrum, the distortion is impressively low (less than 0.01%).
NAD C316BEE uses NAD’s PowerDrive technology to improve the power supply and provide you with that impressively clear sound with minimal distortion.
The unit also has some components that you can usually find on more expensive amps (like toroidal power transformers, heavy-duty output transistors, ESR smoothing capacitors, etc.)
The power output is maybe not high enough for more demanding low-sensitivity floorstanding speakers but NAD C 316BEE will drive most bookshelf speakers with ease.
Advantages
- Super-slim and compact design
- Intuitive controls and included remote
- Multiple analog inputs – 4 RCA inputs, 1 AUX input
- MM phono input
- Headphone output
- Power output – 40W RMS per channel (into 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.01% THD)
- Compatible with 4-8Ω speakers
- Bass/treble/balance controls
Disadvantages
- Lacks digital inputs
- Lacks Bluetooth connectivity
- Lacks wi-fi connectivity
BEST INTEGRATED AMPLIFIERS UNDER $1,000
This price range is reserved for some entry-level audiophile-grade integrated amps and some incredibly versatile and quite powerful amps made by very reputable electronics manufacturers.
Best Smart Integrated Amp Under $700 – Sonos Amp
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.8]
Impressions
Sonos amp is primarily designed to drive Sonos architectural speakers (in-wall, in-ceiling, outdoor speakers) but can also drive numerous third-party speakers.
It’s one of the tiniest smart integrated amps on the market and it’s absolutely perfect for small rooms and for those looking for the cleanest possible setup.
The amp features a fairly simple minimalistic design with only three touch-sensitive buttons on the front. The whole top panel is basically a heatsink.
On the back, you have the power input, JOIN button (for connecting to your wi-fi), one RCA line input, HDMI ARC port (for connecting your TV and playing sound through the connected speakers), and two Ethernet ports (one IN and one OUT).
Sonos amp has a set of 5-way binding posts. The amp comes with banana plugs so you just have to buy the speaker wire. Also, there’s one subwoofer output that allows you to connect any third-party subwoofer. Or you can pair Sonos SUB with the amp wirelessly.
Sonos amp works as a regular amp, but can also be integrated into any Sonos system, whether it’s a home theater system or a multiroom system. Like all the Sonos products, the Sonos amp is compatible with all the other Sonos Gen 2 devices.
The Sonos app gives you full control over the unit and playback. The app also gives you access to numerous streaming apps. Sonos amp supports Airplay 2, which gives you another streaming option.
The amplifier outputs 125W RMS per channel (two 8Ω loads driven). For such a small device, the Sonos amp is surprisingly powerful. The sound output is clean and accurate. The distortion is minimal.
Advantages
- More compact than any other integrated amp
- Can be integrated into any Sonos home theater or multiroom system
- Perfect match for Sonos architectural speakers (in-wall, in-ceiling, outdoor speakers) but can also drive numerous third-party speakers
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Airplay support
- Power output – 125W per channel (into 8Ω loads)
Disadvantages
- Lacks Bluetooth
- Only one RCA line-in
Marantz HD-AMP1
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.8]
Impressions
HD-AMP1 is a compact and versatile amp by Marantz. It features USB connectivity as well as numerous analog and digital connections. It also doubles as a headphone amp and has a high-quality ESS Sabre DAC onboard.
The front panel is very clean and very symmetrical. You have a circular input selector on the left end, a volume dial on the right end, and a circular display in the middle (it shows the source, file name, and file type). For all the additional controls, you can use the included remote.
This attractive control panel also houses one USB port (you can connect a USB drive, or NAS, or a device that needs charging) and one headphone output.
On the back, you have two analog RCA inputs, one coaxial, two optical, and one USB Type-B input.
The unit has two sets of speaker terminals for connecting one pair of speakers. The terminals are compatible with banana plugs. You also have one subwoofer output in case you want to add a subwoofer to your stereo system.
HD-AMP1 has a built-in high-quality ESS Sabre DAC that supports 32bit/384kHz conversion and enables you to play DSD files as well as numerous lossless and lossy audio files.
The RMS power output is rated at 35W (into 8Ω) or 70W (into 4Ω). The sound output is clean, balanced, and transparent, and the distortion is not noticeable.
Unlike some other expensive integrated amps, HD-AMP1 doesn’t feature Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Advantages
- Compact and attractive (perfect for desktop use)
- Intuitive control scheme
- Dual analog RCA inputs
- Multiple digital inputs – coaxial x1, optical x2, USB Type-B x1
- Headphone output with selectable gain
- Subwoofer output
- High-quality built-in DAC (32bit/384kHz ESS Sabre) with DSD playback support (up to DSD256)
- Power output – 35W RMS per channel (into two 8Ω loads, 20Hz-20,000Hz, 0.1% THD)
Disadvantages
- Lacks phono inputs
- Lacks Bluetooth
- Lacks wi-fi
The Slimmest and Most Versatile Integrated Amp Under $1,000 – Parasound NewClassic 200
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.9]
Impressions
The next product on our list of the 10 best-integrated amplifiers comes from Parasound. It’s one of the best entry-level audiophile-grade integrated amps on the market.
It is extremely slim and has a great number of inputs/outputs and numerous additional controls.
NewClassic 200 comes with a great-looking backlit remote. You will use this remote for all the advanced settings (bass/treble levels, subwoofer levels, bypass mode, etc.). The control panel houses one AUX input, one headphone output, a simple display, an input selector, a mute button, and a volume dial.
The rear panel is surprisingly crowded. You have one phono input (compatible with MM and MC cartridges), two RCA inputs, two subwoofer bypass inputs, one RCA bypass input, two subwoofer outputs (80Hz low-pass output and full-range output), RCA output, optical IN, coaxial IN, and a USB Type-B input. The amp also has a high-pass crossover dial and RS-232 controller connector.
The amp stage is designed by PASCAL Audio. The unit has two sets of 5-way binding posts for connecting one pair of speakers. The continuous power output is rated at 110W per channel (two 8Ω loads driven across the audible range with 0.05% THD).
Finally, this amp has a built-in Burr-Brown DAC that supports 24bit/192kHz conversion (coax and optical – 192kHz, USB – 96kHz).
Parasound NewClassic 200 will provide you with an impressive listening experience. It’s accurate, balanced, transparent, and dynamic. It’s very enjoyable. With so many adjustment options, you will easily create the sound signature that suits your taste.
Advantages
- Minimalistic slim design
- A Backlit remote included in the package
- Great versatility and adjustability
- Analog inputs – AUX x1, RCA x2
- MM/MC phono input
- Headphone output
- Bypass SUB and RCA inputs
- Digital inputs – USB Type-B, coaxial x1, optical x1
- Dual subwoofer outputs
- Adjustable high-pass crossover
- Built-in Burr-Brown 24bit/192kHz DAC
- Adjustable bass and treble (remote)
- Power output – 110W RMS per channel (two 8Ω loads driven across the audible spectrum, 0.05% THD)
Disadvantages
- Lacks Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
Audiolab 6000A
Editor’s Rating: [usr 4.7]
Impressions
Audiolab 6000A is another great entry-level audiophile-grade integrated amp. It’s not as powerful as previously reviewed Parasound NewClassic 200 but it’s still a great option for many passive bookshelf speakers.
The unit has a simple control panel with three dials (input selector, mode selector, volume dial), a nice-looking OLED display, an IR receiver, and a power button.
The front panel also houses a headphone output. The amp also comes with a remote that gives you a bit more control and allows you to make some additional adjustments.
The rear panel houses one MM phono input, 4 RCA inputs, one RCA preamp-output, a USB Type-A port (for firmware updates only), two optical, and two coaxial inputs. The unit also features Bluetooth connectivity.
Audiolab 6000A has two sets of 5-way binding posts allowing you to connect one speaker pair. The amp can output up to 50W per channel (into two 8Ω loads with less than 1% THD).
Inside the amp, there’s a built-in ESS Sabre DAC with 192kHz max sampling frequency. The DAC has three filters that you can select when you enter the menu – slow roll-off, fast roll-off, and minimum phase.
The unit can operate in three modes – as a separate preamp, a separate power amp, or as an integrated amp.
Advantages
- Slim and compact
- Intuitive controls + included remote
- 3 working modes – separate preamp, separate power amp, dedicated amp
- MM phono input
- Headphone output
- Four RCA inputs and RCA preamp output
- Two optical and two coaxial digital inputs
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Peak power output – 50W per channel (8Ω loads, less than 1% THD)
- Built-in ESS Sabre 192kHz DAC with three digital filters
Disadvantages
- Lacks wi-fi connectivity
- Lacks USB input
- Lacks dedicated subwoofer output
This concludes our comprehensive selection of 10 best-integrated amplifiers for every budget. Hopefully, it helped you find the right amplifier for your stereo setup or at least gave you some guidelines that could help you with your search.
If you want to find out more about integrated amps, read our buyer’s guide.
Buyer’s Guide – Looking for the Best Integrated Amp for Your Setup
Here we are again talking about things and features a perfect integrated amp should have. As mentioned in the introduction, two factors are crucial – connections and power output.
We will discuss these two factors in more detail and also introduce a few more important things you should consider when buying an integrated amp.
Connections
As mentioned previously, there’s no such thing as the right type and number of inputs. It all depends on all the audio players and other sources you want to connect. If you’re connecting just analog sources, then you don’t need an integrated amp with digital inputs or with Bluetooth connectivity.
- Phono inputs
The phono input is a special kind of input with a grounding post for connecting a ground wire. If you want to connect a turntable to your amp and use it as an audio source, then you must look for an amp with phono inputs.
Also, you should pay attention to the cartridge compatibility – some amps have MM phono inputs, while others are compatible with both MM and MC cartridges.
- RCA/3.5mm inputs
Analog RCA and AUX inputs are the most common when it comes to integrated amps.
Even the cheapest amps on the market have at least one pair of RCA/AUX inputs. Pricier ones have multiple inputs and higher-quality inputs.
- Headphone output
Some integrated amps also have headphone outputs and can be used as headphone amps.
If you’re looking for something that can also drive your headphones and allow you to enjoy music without disturbing others, look for an amp with a headphone output.
- Digital inputs (optical, coaxial, USB)
Want to connect a PC or a Mac to the amplifier? Or any other digital source? In that case, you will need an amp with digital inputs.
If an amp has digital inputs, it means that it also has a built-in DAC. If you want to connect a digital source, you will either need a dedicated DAC or an integrated amp with digital inputs and a built-in DAC.
- Bluetooth, wi-fi
Streaming music wirelessly is incredibly convenient and gives you more freedom than any other way of music listening.
You can’t get the same kind of audio fidelity when using Bluetooth and when using wires, but Bluetooth connectivity can still come in handy in some situations.
Wi-Fi is a better wireless option than Bluetooth and enables better audio quality. However, amplifiers with wi-fi connectivity are usually pricier than Bluetooth-enabled amps.
Power Output
As discussed earlier, you don’t need the most powerful integrated amp – just an amp that works in perfect synergy with your speakers (meets perfectly the power requirements of your speakers).
So, how to find the amp that matches your speakers perfectly? Well, you basically have to compare the numbers you can find in the specifications.
You have to check your speakers’ specs and find the impedance and power handling ratings. Then, look for the power output ratings for the given impedance in the amp’s specs.
When comparing different amps, you should compare the outputs for the same impedance and also pay attention to other conditions/parameters under which the power measuring is performed.
In some cases, the manufacturers publish RMS power outputs for the whole audible spectrum (20Hz-20kHz), while others publish RMS power output for only one frequency (1kHz).
Make sure that you’re comparing the right values (RMS power output for one frequency is usually higher than the power output for the whole audible range).
Also, when comparing power outputs, you should check the amount of distortion for the given output rating. Lower distortion values are always better.
Budget
The prices vary a lot. You can find a simple integrated amp for less than $100 but there are also high-end amps that cost over $10,000.
The price, quality, and power requirements of your speakers dictate the price of an amp. It would be stupid to use some $300 amp with a pair of high-end speakers that cost $5,000 or more.
Higher-end amps will introduce less noise and distortion and will deliver more power necessary for higher-end speakers.
Additional Features – multiroom capability, AM/FM tuners, additional speaker terminals, bass/treble control, app
Depending on your needs, you will look for an amp with a certain set of additional features. Even the cheapest integrated amps may have AM and FM tuners.
A bit pricier amps support Bluetooth connectivity. For an amp with wi-fi connectivity and multiroom capabilities, you’ll have to pay at least $500.
So, What’s the Best Integrated Amp on the market?
Well, as you can assume, it’s impossible to single out just one amp since they are all priced differently, and have different power outputs, different inputs, and different features. We can only recommend you scroll up and check out our selection of 10 best-integrated amplifiers for every budget.
What Are the Best Integrated Amp Brands?
Selecting only one brand would be unfair and, more importantly, it would be wrong. There are so many great brands making some beautiful and powerful integrated amps.
When it comes to cheaper amps (under $500), some of our favorites are Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo, Denon. Some of the best midrange and high-end amps are made by Cambridge Audio, Audiolab, Parasound, Marantz, NAD.
If you are looking for the best possible integrated amps on the market, some of the go-to brands are Musical Fidelity, NAD, Devialet, Krell, Naim, Simaudio, PS Audio, Goldmund, Anthem, Arcam, Bel Canto, Outlaw Audio, Rega, Peachtree, GamuT, Mark Levinson, Vinnie Rossi, Advent, Linn, Lumin, etc.
