Low powered integrated recommendation


I’m looking for a low power integrated amp for a small second system in my home. I’m sure 20 - 30 wpc is more than enough. Looking for something that has really good sound in a compact package. Integrated phono stage not a priority. 
 

What’s your suggestion? I’ve intentionally omitted a price range as I’m flexible 

Thanks! 

zavato

Looking at your quite excellent listed main system, you might enjoy something from Sugden. They've got multiple choices for integrated amps. And there are color options if so desired. The good sound in a compact package was my thinking here. If you'd like to go further upmarket, and depending upon one's speakers for the bedroom system, Gryphon also has a few choices, but maybe less compact. 

Then again, reviewers seem to have fun with the Musical Fidelity A1. 

Best of luck!

Notable well reviewed low powered integrated amps:

  • Sugden A21SE Signature Edition 30/40 wpc 8/4ohms
  • Lejonklou Boazu 24wpc
  • Don Sachs Valhalla tube 32wpc
  • Line Magnetic Analog Sound AS-125 18wpc
  • Pass Lab Int-25 ss 25wpc
  • Leben  CS600X tube 28-32wpc (Genalex Gold Lion KT77 tubes)   
  • Luxman 590AXII ss 30/60wpc                 
  • Mastersound 845 Compact integrated 30wpc 12/7wpc tested         
  • Grandinote Shinai 30wpc 

Rega IO is stunningly good for the very low price, and fits your requirements perfectly. 

Compact, 30 watts, inexpensive, sounds great, and also has a decent MM phono stage.

I use mine in a desktop system with a pair of Chartwell LS3/5As and the sound is remarkably good!

@zavato can you share with the group what speaker brand / model you have today, along with size & dimensions of the room you are listening in?

Sugden A21SE Signature Edition.

Had the Pass(to heavy)

Also look into CHOCO Sound Emie.  Really great sounding, small form int amp..

Very little mention of Heed on this Forum, but the Elixer and obelisk are both excellent. Small footprints,  very good sound.  The Elixir has a headphone jack as well. The Audio Note OTO sounds very good, but it is quite large and heavy, runs fairly hot and only 10 watts. Not to mention quite a bit more expensive than Heed and no remote 

I recently purchased a Rega Brio to use in a second system; I am using the amp with some much older 84 db efficiency speakers—early 1990w Infinity Modulus satellites with EMIT tweeters, so I opted for the 50 wpc Brio over the 30 wpc Io model.  I am quite pleased with the sound quality, and construction seems to be excellent.  And even the larger Brio is compact, which was also a key criteria for me.  Finally, and this is not an audio issue, but the amps are made in the UK, so taxes on profits do not go to the rapidly expanding Chinese military.  The Rega Io should fit the bill.

The Nagra Classic Integrated Amp is tough to beat. More power than you wanted, but a small form factor, very reliable and sounds great. No Phono

https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/nagra-classic-int/

of the ones i've hear, cost being no object, i'd get the pass; for less dough i'd get the rega brio. i'd also look at the vincent sv-200, which sounds vg for around a grand.

+1 on the Sugden A21 signature. 
unless you need power on/off or source switching on your remote. 

Bruh, the Zest from Vista Audio is a fantastic little class a/ b amp with a very small footprint that puts out about 30 watts per channel. Check out Steve Guttenberg’s review on it.

I’d consider one of the relatively low wattage class A integrateds from Accuphase. 
 

However, since it’s never bad to have more power than you need, I’d personally save a bundle over some of the really pricey choices and grab a like new/preowned Hegel 390 for about $3000. Or splurge for a 590 for a still very reasonable 4500-5k. 

My favorite integrated amp is the Synthesis A40 (pushpull tube amp using KT66 tube).  It comes with a very good built in DAC.  This is a warm sounding amp with a very lively, punchy sound.  However, the chassis is on the large side (a good thing, in terms of dissipating heat).  Input selection and volume can be done by remote control.  Audio Note makes good sounding integrated amps too, like the Oto (pushpull EL84) and the Soro (pushpull 6L6).  

I am not as big a fan of solid state amps because most sound flat and lifeless when played at the same volume level as a tube amp; they must be played louder to come alive.  Still, most are otherwise quite decent.  For modestly powd solid state, the Sugden suggestion, above, is quite good, and I would add Lavardin.

Audio Note Oto SE.

Look for a second hand one. It's a single ended pentode. If you find a SE Signature, get it! Jackpot. Look for one with 4 knobs, the ones with 5 knobs are quite old now.

If you want to buy new, Audio Note has had a price increase on 1st July, before that I enquired and the new price for a Signature was £4700 rising to around £5500 now. You can find a nice second hand SE for around £2000, if you're lucky you'll find a Signature at £2,500-3500. The holy grail is the Silver Signature if you want to spend thousands more (and if you can ever find one!)

It's a 10W valve amp. I have never needed to push the volume past 50% in my small-medium room. Yes high-efficiency speakers are a good idea, but before my Audio Note speakers I've used it with ProAc D2Rs and Harbeth P3ESRs no problem.

The sound is absolutely gorgeous, whilst still retaining clarity. EL84 valves. I have owned a Sugden A21SE Signature, and while I had a lot of respect for what it did, I couldn't love it. I love the Oto SE and the SE Signature. I also have a couple of pre/power combinations (Croft/Primaluna/Audio Research) but always want to listen to the Oto.

No remote control, but I use Lumin U2 mini streamer with Leedh processing for changing the volume when the cat's on the sofa with me.

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I’ll second the Vista, though in my case, the Vista Spark.  High quality, low power (35wpc).  But very good sound quality, and <$500.

Lots of great suggestions.  I will add Decware Torii to the list.  Beautiful, transparent and fun to listen with.

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 I’d recommend two integrated amps that are sonically exceptional but quite different in design and presentation.

 

First, the Vinnie Rossi Brama integrated amplifier. It’s a hybrid design with a directly heated 300B tube stage feeding a 200W solid-state MOSFET output. While the power output may seem like overkill for your setup, the amp operates with incredible finesse and musicality even at low levels. It’s one of the most refined and emotionally engaging integrated amps I’ve ever heard—true ultra high-end in every respect. Designed and built by Vinnie Rossi himself in Massachusetts, who’s not only the engineer behind it but also a great person to work with. A stunning piece of modern industrial design too.

 

Second, the Mastersound Compact 845, which is, hands down, the most beautiful and harmonically rich sounding amp I’ve owned. It’s a 25W single-ended Class A integrated using 845 tubes, hand-built in Italy. The sound is lush, dimensional, and deeply involving—ideal for relaxed, intimate listening sessions. The caveat is that support in the U.S. can be tricky if something goes wrong, and it’s a heavy beast, but sonically it’s worth the trade-off. I actually own both the Compact 845 and the Evolution 845 (55W), and both look and sound like high art. The Mastersound has a more classic, masculine look, while the Brama is sleek and ultra-modern.

 

Both would be over your stated power needs, but if sound quality is your top priority, they’re hard to beat.

I’m incredulous that no one has mentioned the Enleum AMP-54R. 25WPC into 8 Ohms, wonderful, transparent sound, and available on the pre-owned market. It is a little picky about speakers, but sounded really fantastic with my ProAc D48Rs and a pair of Zu Audio speakers that I used to have. YMMV, but read the reviews out there. I would still own the one I had if I had not purchased speakers that need much more power. The only downside is that it has only two unbalanced inputs and  no DAC options or phono input, but for an office system it could be ideal.

Made in USA are the Rogers Hi Fidelity 65V-1 Integrated Amplifier or 65V-2 Integrated Amplifier (this one works with phone or tablet) Pre owned stuff is as new and a phone call will save you ebay's 13%.

 

 

@zavato 

I checked out your main system. Great times two. Something in the Rogers Hi Fidelity fits in your physic profile. I have only my biased opinion, like other’s here. You can try before you buy.  

A bit more from others and little old me. 

I have seen the image in your ID but can’t remember where. The interpretation is easy enough. Snoopy sigh. 

Hey folks- I bought something completely simple- Wiim Vibe; $300, input for one source (ie, my Streamer), and puts out way more power than I’ll ever need for my casual listening 2nd system. Oh, and it actually sounds decent too

Mmm, you disappoint dealers and audiophiles who don’t believe in the diminish return of any tiered gears. But a thumbs-up yes is the only comment I can offer.  Enjoy it!