Stereo amplifiers power your speakers, and allow you to select the sound source and adjust the level. A stereo amp, in its most basic form, controls two channels, the left and right, which make up the sound you hear.
One thing to keep in mind is that amps are designed to power passive speakers, which are speakers that get their power from the amp and are not linked to any direct power supply. You do not need to connect your amplifier to active speakers.
A stereo amp is appropriate if you only want to build a hi-fi setup with two speakers or even a subwoofer.
If you've purchased a high-end record player and paired it with high-end speakers, don't make the mistake of connecting the system with a poor amplifier, the sound quality of the complete system will be decreased to its level. Always remember, the hi-fi amplifier is the core of your Hi-Fi set-up, it's worth investing a little more in a higher quality amplifier.
Model | Price | Wattage | Inputs & Outputs | In-Built Pre-Amp | Sub Out | Headphone Out | Wireless | Conclusion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marantz PM6007 | ₹54,900 | 45W@8Ω
60W@4Ω | 5 In/1 Out | MM:Yes MC:No | Yes | Yes | No | Best Budget Stereo Amplifier |
Marantz PM8006 | ₹89,990 | 70W@8Ω
100W@4Ω | 6 In/1 Out | MM:Yes MC:No | No | Yes | No | Best Value Stereo Amplifier |
Denon PMA-600NE | ₹56,900 | 45W@8Ω
70W@4Ω | 5 In/1 Out | MM:Yes MC:No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Best Feature Set Integrated Stereo Amplifier |
Denon DRA-800H | ₹91,900 | 100W@8Ω
120W@6Ω | 5 In/1 Out | MM:Yes MC:No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Best Wattage Value Stereo Amplifier |
Marantz NR1200 | ₹1,09,900 | 75W@8Ω
100W@6Ω | 5 In/1 Out | MM:Yes MC:No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Best Value Stereo Amplifier with HDMI |
If you are into vinyl, then it’s important for the stereo amplifier to have an integrated phono input for your turntable. Additional RCA inputs come in handy for adding a standalone DAC (Digital Audio Converter), a cassette deck, or the analog output of a CD player.
Digital Audio Amplifiers include a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that turns digital signals into analog sound your speakers can reproduce.
A number of integrated amplifiers support wireless music streaming — you can’t beat it for convenience. And some let you add compatible speakers and components to create an expandable wireless whole-home audio system.
The rack in which you store your amplifier should not be chosen only on the basis of appearance. different materials have different acoustic properties. It's also vital to provide an amp a few inches of breathing room from a wall or rack to avoid overheating.
Stereo receivers combine an amplifier and a tuner, a stereo amplifier focuses on amplifying audio signals. They don’t have a built-in tuner.
Many stereo receivers include audio connections for TVs. This improves the audio quality of your television by using the receiver's amplifier and speakers.
A stereo receiver is designed to play back audio with two-channel (stereo) sound. An AV receiver is intended for home theatre setups and includes features such as surround sound, HDMI in/out, and video switching.