Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier combines vintage style with more power and upgraded DAC (2024)

By Tom Bailey

published

New step-up amp promises "virtuosic performance"

Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier combines vintage style with more power and upgraded DAC (1)

Legendary British hi-fi brand Leak, which returned in 2020 after a 40-year hiatus, has unveiled its newest retro masterpiece.

Billed as a "step-up" from 2020's Stereo 130, the new Stereo 230 integrated amplifier delivers a boost in power (2 x 75W per channel vs 2 x 45W), upgraded circuitry for digital and analogue sources, plus an enhanced DAC stage that caters to smartphones, PCs, Macs and network streamers.

Despite all the cutting-edge internals, the Leak Stereo 230 rocks the same vintage aesthetic as the Stereo 130, which itself is a descendant of the classic Stereo 30 amplifier of the 1960s. (Fun fact: rock genius Jimi Hendrix kept a Stereo 30 in his London pad and regularly cranked it up to full volume when listening to his record collection).

Both the 130 and 230 sport Leak's signature bass and treble tone controls, but the newer 230 is 14cm deeper due to its beefier circuitry and extra power output. The new kid on the block also benefits from a top-spec, 32-bit DAC chipset from ESS Sabre, along with proprietary circuitry that aims to reduce noise and boost dynamic range.

Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier combines vintage style with more power and upgraded DAC (2)

Bluetooth 5 with support for aptX and AAC codecs should please streamers. There's also hi-res audio support up to 32-bit/768kHz (PCM) and 22.58MHz (DSD), not to mention support for MQA, the hi-res format used by Tidal's HiFi Plus tier.

A built-in MM phono stage welcomes turntables with open arms, while a range of digital (HDMI ARC, optical, USB-B) and analogue (RCA, headphone out) connections ensure that the 230 plays nice with everything from CD players to TVs.

We've yet to hear the Stereo 230 in action but Leak reckons it delivers "virtuosic performance". The first batch of Leak Stereo 230 amps will be available from January 2023 priced at £1249 / $1699 / $2699 with the walnut enclosure (£1099 / $1499 / $2399 without).

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Tom Bailey

Tom is a journalist, copywriter and content designer based in the UK. He has written articles for T3, ShortList, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Elle Deco, The Sunday Times, Men's Health, Mr Porter, Oracle and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include mobile technology, electric vehicles and video streaming.

4 CommentsComment from the forums

  • spicyramentt

    I say this all the time and I will say it again, unless you are a budget brand or budget product, you have no excuse if your product has no sub out. A product of this price has usb in, hdmi arc, but no sub out. Mind you they have a pre out for daisy chaining, but no dedicated sub out.

    Reply

  • nopiano

    spicyramentt said:

    I say this all the time and I will say it again, unless you are a budget brand or budget product, you have no excuse if your product has no sub out. A product of this price has usb in, hdmi arc, but no sub out. Mind you they have a pre out for daisy chaining, but no dedicated sub out.

    That’s one thing I’ve never looked for in almost fifty years of buying Hifi. Perhaps the majority of potential Leak customers would choose floorstanders and not want subs?

    Reply

  • Gray

    nopiano said:

    That’s one thing I’ve never looked for in almost fifty years of buying Hifi.

    Same here 👍

    Reply

  • spicyramentt

    Well how many Leak customers are going to plug this into a TV with HDMI or into a PC via USB? I'm pretty sure the Leak crowd of old would prefer to use turntables and wax cylinders. But i'm sure potential new Leak customers would appreciate the option to add bass that can go below 60 hz.

    There are a lot of questions you can ask, I mean, I've only been doing the audio hobby around 10 years, and im sure back when you got into it powered subs were an inconceivable thought then, just like the idea of a video cable supplying a signal to audio equipment, or plugging in a fancy compooter to your amp as a source, or providing an audio source via light beamed through glass cables, but again here we are living in the future, and yet a simple sub out... nope, that's inconceivable. Now im not saying you have to defile your deliberate ears and use the sub out, gracious no, but for the rest of us who appreciates the finer things in life (and would spend this kind of money for a hobby), it would be a nice thing to have, IF we wanted to use it.

    I say thank goodness, those asian engineers out there in asialand like SMSL/VMV and Fiio who figured out how to add in a sub out for us younguns' in everything from their budget to high end offerings. I guess that is where the old brands use nostalgia to prey on a particular crowd and the newer brands try to grow their market share by asking what the new generation of customers would like.

    Note:
    As i re-read my comment I realize now there is a certain amount of snark in it and I do apologise for that, but when another commenter can say something like

    "That’s one thing I’ve never looked for in almost fifty years of buying Hifi. Perhaps the majority of potential Leak customers would choose floorstanders and not want subs? "
    It comes across to me as elitist and rubs me the wrong way.

    As we mention floor standings, I have floorstanding speakers that are not lowpassed, and when i add a sub to the mix, there is a whole world of bass floorstandings will never be able to reach unless you spend way too much money. And here i can have that for very little comparatively by adding a simple dedicated, powered sub (or two). And when i do a lowpass on my floorstanding, they are able to focus on what they do best and leave the really low bass to my subs letting the floorstandings perform even better.

    Reply

Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier combines vintage style with more power and upgraded DAC (2024)

FAQs

What does a stereo integrated amplifier do? ›

The term “integrated amplifier” refers to the integration of the preamp and power amp, plus phono EQ and tone controls, in a single component. This allows you to save space on your Hi-Fi rack without sacrificing power or capability.

Who makes leak amplifier? ›

Harold Joseph Leak founded the seminal H. J. LEAK & CO Ltd in 1934. Originally based in London, England; LEAK was a brand that specialised in designing and manufacturing high-quality audio components.

Do integrated amps sound better than receivers? ›

If you are looking for an audio and video solution, you should buy an AV receiver. If, however, all you are interested in is getting the perfect sound quality for your vinyl, CDs and other audio sources then an integrated amplifier is the right option.

What is the difference between an amp and an integrated amp? ›

An integrated amplifier not only powers speakers, but lets you select your audio source and control volume. A stereo amp handles two channels. An AV receiver is an amplifier plus a built-in tuner that also processes video signals and routes them to their intended displays.

What are the benefits of integrated amplifier? ›

In commercial sound applications, an Integrated amplifier will allow you to plug a Microphone 🎤 into the input and connect a speaker 🔊 to the output for a complete package. Advantages are often better cost then for the equivalent power Amplifier and descrete mixer, less interwiring and less panel space required.

What is the difference between a pre amplifier and an integrated amplifier? ›

An integrated amp combines both a preamp and power amp in one box (the pre- and power functions are integrated). There are advantages and disadvantages to integrating the two. Integrated amplifiers take up less space than a two-box pre/power solution.

What company makes the best amp? ›

Our pick: Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb. Best affordable amp: Boss Katana 50 MkII EX. Best tube amp: Bad Cat Hot Cat 1×12. Best modelling amp: Fender Mustang GTX100.

Where is LEAK audio made? ›

LEAK is the brand name for high-fidelity audio equipment made by H. J. Leak & Co. Ltd, of London, England.

What is the difference between Audiolab 6000A and LEAK 130? ›

Comparing the 130 to the Audiolab 6000A, the latter sounded more modern, brisk and neutral. The 6000A was strong in bass but only enough to provide a tonal balance but pulled back from the 130's touch of bass emphasis. The Leak liked to cuddle you in a blanket of warming bass.

Can you add a power amp to an integrated amp? ›

Obviously, this will make the power amp function of the integrated unit redundant but it's still a more cost effective choice than doing away with the integrated amp all together and replacing it with separates. You can add a power amp by plugging it into the preamp output of the integrated amp.

Which is more important, a preamp or a power amp? ›

Power amplifiers are essential when dealing with audio signals that are excessively loud for a preamp to handle, while preamps are designed to enhance softer sounds without introducing additional noise.

What makes an amp a combo amp? ›

A combo amp contains the amplifier and one or more speakers in a single cabinet. In a "head and speaker cabinet" configuration, the amplifier and speaker each have their own cabinet. The amplifier (head) may drive one or more speaker cabinets.

Why do I need an integrated amplifier? ›

An integrated amp has extra circuitry for the preamp function, including a gain knob and often a tone control and a volume control. In some ways, it makes a lot of sense to use an integrated amplifier rather than two separate units for preamp and power. It's generally cheaper, simpler to set up and takes up less space.

What do you use a stereo amplifier for? ›

An amplifier is the device that turns the low voltage signals from your source equipment into a signal with enough gain to be used to power a pair of speakers.

What is the purpose of a car stereo amplifier? ›

Amplifiers work to enhance sound by increasing the power output to speakers, which improves the sound quality and volume. In a car audio system, having enough power to ensure clear and loud sound is crucial to combating road noise and other competing sounds.

Which is better mono or stereo amplifier? ›

Also, it is much easier to go with a stereo amplifier because of the affordability. But if you are looking for an uncompromising audio experience the clear winner is a monoblock amplifier. Mono amps are better when there is no budget limit.

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