Best Integrated Amplifiers: $1,000 – $3,000

Essentially, it’s a sleek-looking, small-footprint hybrid Class A/Class D integrated amplifier/DAC that combines Class A warmth and resolution with Class D speed, power, and efficiency. The well-conceived IDA-8 delivers substance with plenty of gusto—and does so from an astonishingly quiet background. A great-sounding, stone-cold bargain, and a 2016 Golden Ear Award recipient. JM, 263

NAD’s C 368 is a great-sounding and forward-looking integrated that will satisfy now and well into the future. The 80Wpc C 368 (240Wpc IHF dynamic power into 4 ohms) incorporates not just a DAC, but a full suite of interchangeable modules thanks to NAD’s Modular Design Construction. The C 368 sounds more powerful than its rating, capturing music’s continuously changing dynamic level with noteworthy precision and exhibiting a dynamic exuberance typical of NAD equipment. VF, 279

The Quad Vena II is small and gray with a matte finish, though the optional case adds a very nice gloss. The amp is rated 45Wpc into 8 ohms, and includes a phono section, two analog inputs, a pre-out, and a plethora of digital inputs. The Quad strikes the perfect balance between classic analog inputs and modern digital capabilities. The Vena II is surprisingly engaging with a big, bold, somewhat warm sound, regardless of whether you’re in the digital or the analog domain. That flexibility is key to the Vena II, and why it’s highly recommended. DK, 302

The Evo 150 is an all-in-one integrated amplifier that packs just about every feature imaginable into its little frame. It outputs 150Wpc and utilizes Hypex NCore Class D amplification, which means it has plenty of power and runs cool and efficient. The Evo 150 has a ton of input options, including a phonostage (mm only), RCA, balanced XLR, optical, coaxial, and HDMI ARC for TV control. It can parse, pull, decode, and play just about any file type or service available, which might be overwhelming if the Evo weren’t so simple and intuitive to use. Sonically, the Evo’s signature was crisp, clean, and neutral in most applications, almost surprisingly so. Bass drums had punch, guitars had weight, mids were crunchy and sharp. It’s the sort of box that could anchor a new system or replace an aging one and will sound fantastic doing it. DK, 331

Rogue products have, like their moniker suggests, usually gone their own way in design, price, and value. The Sphinx integrated amplifier may be the most roguish of the lot. This is the first Class D amplifier (a hybrid with a pair of 12AU7 tubes in the preamp section) that RD feels offers true world-class sonics. Includes a very fine discrete headphone amp and a phono section that is worth the asking price all by itself. TAS’ 2013 Tube Integrated Amplifier of the Year. Ron Doering, 236

The A14 amplifier has a moving-magnet phonostage, a very capable DAC that can play DSD and (some) PCM music files, an aptX Bluetooth connection, a front-panel USB connection so you can play the music stored on your smartphone, and a headphone amplifier to drive your favorite cans. It’s rated at 80Wpc. The A14 has a punchy bass with detailed mids and sweet highs. It also does a good job of tracking rapid changes in dynamics. Most surprising, however, is the truly excellent soundstaging, which competes well against some of the most expensive gear available today. VF, 273

NAD’S C399 is a streaming integrated amplifier that incorporates too many functions and features to summarize in a capsule. The main talking points are a superb on-board DAC with full MQA capability, an equally superb moving-magnet phonostage, and a pair of slots on the back for modular upgrades to keep the unit future-proof (digitally speaking). It was reviewed with BluOS-D module that incorporates Dirac Live, a new digital-signal-processing room/loudspeaker-correction technology. Features aside, most people will be buying this for its basic function as an integrated amplifier. Its 180 watts per channel, the amplifier section deriving from NAD’s Hypex HybridDigital nCore Class D circuit, are capable of driving almost any home speaker system to fearsome levels with inaudibly low noise and distortion. Considered strictly as an integrated amplifier, the C399 is a true high-end component of superior performance. PS, 333

One of the great bargains in high-end audio, this latest version of the Nait 5i brings more than a taste of expensive separates to a mid-priced integrated amplifier. The Nait is sweet without sounding rolled-off, presents a huge sense of space, tremendous separation of images, and, most importantly, sounds like music. In production in updated versions since the 1980s (RH reviewed the Nait 2 in 1989), the Nait’s iconic status is deserved. (Recently updated to the 5si.) RH, 183