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.

What to check

Prioritise signal purity Total harmonic distortion measures the purity of the amplified signal. Expressed as a percentage, the lower this rate, the more faithful the sound reproduction. Among recent market listings, this rate ranges from seven tenths of one percent for the least performing models to two hundredths of one percent for the best, with a median of nine hundredths. The rating bar lengthens when distortion is low. Reduced distortion ensures listening without colouration or alteration, particularly noticeable during complex musical passages and dynamic nuances. Market median: 0.1 %

Match power to your speakers Peak power per channel, expressed in watts, indicates the amplifier’s ability to drive your speakers. This value must correspond to your speakers’ sensitivity and impedance to avoid distortion or underperformance. Across thirty surveyed listings, power ranges from ninety-five watts for entry-level models to one thousand eight hundred watts for the most powerful, with a median of one hundred and seventy-five watts. The bar lengthens with available power. Excessive power for efficient speakers offers no benefit, while insufficient power limits dynamics. Market median: 175 W

Select the right number of channels The number of audio output channels determines possible listening configurations. A single channel suits specialised monoblock use, two channels enable classic stereo, and multichannel configurations open the way to home cinema or immersive systems. Recent listings show amplifiers ranging from one to eight channels, with a median of two. The rating bar lengthens with the number of available channels. Ensure the channel count matches your current installation and planned upgrades, without overinvesting in unused outputs. Market median: 2 channels

Plan integration into your system The amplifier sits between your sources and speakers. Verify connectivity compatibility with your existing equipment: analogue, digital, or wireless inputs. Ensure output impedance matches your intended speakers. Provide a ventilated location, as amplification generates heat, and keep a reasonable distance between amplifier and speakers to minimise cable length. Stable placement, away from vibrations, preserves listening quality and the longevity of electronic components.

Benchmarks based on 30 recent market listings, collected on 4 October 2026.

What you get for each budget

Under €300

Accessible models offer two-channel stereo with sufficient power for modest-sized rooms and acceptable distortion, suited to everyday listening without audiophile demands.

€300 to €600

This range provides more powerful amplifiers, reduced harmonic distortion and sometimes multichannel configurations, for more demanding listening in larger spaces or home cinema systems.

Over €600

Premium models combine high power, minimal distortion and extended multichannel configurations, meeting the needs of audiophile installations and the most demanding immersive systems.

Frequent mistakes

Choosing excessive power for low-sensitivity speakers or a small room wastes budget without audible gain.

Neglecting harmonic distortion in favour of power alone leads to tiring listening despite high volume.

Adding channels without a multichannel installation plan leaves functions unused.

Ignoring speaker impedance risks incompatibility or performance degradation.

Underestimating ventilation needs causes overheating and shortens the device’s lifespan.

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Choose by use

Guide written from measurements collected on the market and from our price records. No merchant is involved in its content.