Hi-fi amplifiers

A hi-fi amplifier is chosen first for the speakers it will drive: their sensitivity and the size of the room matter more than raw power. Next come the inputs you need, a phono stage for a turntable, a digital input for a television or network player, a headphone output. A preamplifier on its own only works with a separate power amplifier. Tiny differences in measurements are rarely audible.

Rated on these criteria

Price
Power per channel
Number of audio channels
Total harmonic distortion

The buying guide

Choose by use

The right product depends on the situation. Each page below takes the category’s criteria and changes their weight for one specific need.

Amplifier for headphone listening Choose an amplifier optimised for headphone listening: maximum sound quality, moderate power, controlled budget for this configuration. Read Amplifier for large reception hall Choose an amplifier for large halls: maximum power, multichannel capacity, sound robustness to animate vast spaces and accommodate audiences. Read Amplifier for low-volume night listening Choose an amplifier for night listening: sound quality preserved at low volume, moderate power, adjusted budget for these moments of silence. Read

What we rate in this category

Every product in the category is rated from 0 to 100 on these criteria : the same for all of them, whichever merchant sells it.

Read the full method

Price: The price found online for this hi-fi amplifier. The bar extends when the price is competitive.
Power per channel: The peak power delivered by each amplifier channel, expressed in watts. The bar extends with power.
Number of audio channels: The number of audio output channels on the amplifier. The bar extends with the number of available channels.
Total harmonic distortion: The total harmonic distortion rate of the amplifier, expressed as a percentage. The bar extends when distortion is low.

Price brackets by tier

Orders of magnitude, not displayed prices: a price only appears on Kalyneo once it has been collected from a merchant, with its collection date.

Under €300

A compact amplifier with basic digital inputs, enough power for a small room and sensitive speakers, without phono input.

€300 to €600

More power headroom for a medium-sized room, an integrated phono stage for turntables and components that hold up better over time.

Over €600

An amplifier with multiple analogue and digital inputs, a quality headphone output, solid construction and enough power for large rooms.

The buying guide for this category Buying guide: how to choose a hi-fi amplifier? Choosing a hi-fi amplifier depends on three key factors: the power delivered per channel, the number of available channels, and the purity of the audio signal. These criteria determine how well the amplifier matches your speakers, your listening setup, and your sound fidelity requirements. Read the guide

No model compared here on this market

Kalyneo only shows a price once it has been collected automatically from the merchant, with its collection date. The rating criteria for this category, the price brackets by tier and the buying guide are above.

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