The right amplifier will give you the most accurate sound possible so you can enjoy all your music in its fullest form. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 amps for under $2000.
We have more than 20 years of experience evaluating hi-fi components and listening to tons of gear, so you don’t have to! Here are our picks for the 5 Best Stereo Amplifiers under $2000!
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Here’s our shortlist of the 5 Best Stereo Amplifiers under $2000:
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The List:
The Best Stereo Amplifier Under $2000: NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier ($1599)
The NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier is a great choice if you want a high-quality sound system without breaking the bank. This “just-add-speakers” amp offers many features for the money, and it sounds fantastic with excellent scale plus finesse. In addition, it has plenty of power on tap, making it capable of driving a wide variety of speakers.
It also includes some nice features like a beautiful 5″ LCD screen with full-color album art, two-way Bluetooth connectivity, a USB input, and even Roon Ready certification. You will have difficulty finding a stereo amplifier with more features and better performance for less than $2000.
For: Those who want a sleek, compact amp that does it all!
Key Features/Specs:
- 80 watts x 2 into 8 or 4 ohms
- Can deliver up to 120 watts of instantaneous power for dynamic peaks
- 24-bit/192kHz DAC built-in (supports high-res MQA and FLAC files)
- 5″ color LCD display
- BluOS multi-room streaming compatibility
- Two-way Bluetooth® with aptX HD
- app-based streaming support for Amazon, Spotify, TIDAL, and more
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Roon-ready
What we love:
- Great Build Quality
- Natural, Balanced, Sound
- Remarkable Power
What to think about:
- No Phono Input
Buy: Crutchfield
Best Stereo Amplifier Under $1000: Cambridge Audio AXR100 Stereo Receiver ($600)
If you’re looking for a high-quality receiver with excellent sound quality, then the Cambridge Audio AXR 100 is the one for you. It has very good build quality and features a full range of inputs and outputs, making it easy to connect any audio device.
Many budget amps are either too bright, too weak, or have too little connectivity to live with for long. Still, the Cambridge Audio AXR100 Stereo Receiver has the refined sound quality needed to build a quality, affordable high-end audio system around.
The capable amp has 100 watts x 2 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz), is 4-ohm speaker capable, has three digital inputs (2 optical, 1 coax), and a sub output. It also has an MM phono stage, two sets of binding-post speaker connectors, and a built-in Bluetooth receiver for quick wireless connections.
For: Those wanting a powerful introduction to high-end audio
Key Features/Specs:
- 100 watts x 2 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz)
- 4-ohm speaker capability
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Brushed aluminum front panel
- Two optical digital audio inputs
- One coaxial digital audio input
- Three stereo RCA inputs
- Phono stage for moving magnet cartridges
- Front-panel stereo aux input
- Mono RCA sub out
- Type-A USB port for firmware updates
- 1/4″ front-panel headphone jack
What we love:
- Great Build Quality
- Warm, Natural Sound
- Remarkable Power
What to think about:
- Could use a little more transparency
Buy: Amazon
Best Value: Audiolab 6000A 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier ($1199)
If you are looking for a good quality amplifier, then the Audiolab 6000A is a great choice. This integrated amplifier has a clean sound and a powerful output. You will not find a better value than this one.
The more we listen to the Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amp, the more we love it. The spacious sound, sweet highs, and deep, controlled bass make inexpensive speakers sound better than they have any business sounding, and when you scale up to better speakers, you end up with a system that many audiophiles could live with for many years to come.
In addition, it’s Class AB and does 2 x 50w into 8 ohms, then almost double that into 4 ohms. It has a built-in aptX Bluetooth receiver for quick casual listening sessions and a Moving Magnet phono input.
For: Those who want an affordable amp with a refined and detailed sound
Key Features/Specs:
- 50 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms
- 75 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
- 4-ohm capability
- ES9018 Sabre32 Reference 32-bit/192kHz DAC
- built-in Bluetooth with aptX audio codec
- Two optical and Two coaxial digital audio inputs
- Five stereo RCA audio inputs (including MM phono input)
- Stereo RCA pre-out
- Built-in headphone amplifier with front-panel (1/4-inch) jack
What we love:
- Bulletproof Build Quality
- Class Leading Refined Sound
- Ease Of Use
What to think about:
- No USB DAC input
- No Dedicated Sub Out
- Can Be A Little Edgy With Analytical Speakers
Buy: Amazon
Best Affordable Streaming Option: Marantz PM7000N Integrated Stereo Streaming Amplifier ($1299)
Like the CXA81 receiver below, certain amps just sound “right” as soon as you switch them on. Like the CXA81, the Marantz PM7000N Integrated Stereo Streaming Amplifier has a clean, weighty performance that takes command of speakers and bends them to its will. It produces deep bass, an open midrange, plus a sweet treble that isn’t overdone.
The CXA81 is a more powerful amp, but not that much, and the Marantz has a little more sparkle up top. In addition, the Marantz has an app-based multi-room streamer built-in, so you can play music from a bunch of music services plus your local Network Drive.
It also offers many external connectivity options, including aptX Bluetooth, Airplay, digital optical, digital coaxial, RCA, and USB.
For: Those who want a clean and beefy sounding “just-add-speakers” solution
Key Features/Specs:
- 60 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms & 80 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
- 4-ohm speaker capability
- 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter (supports high-res PCM-based files up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD files up to 5.6MHz)
- high-current toroidal power transformer for demanding loads
- Built-in Bluetooth for quick streaming aptX
- Built-in headphone amplifier
- front-panel tone controls (treble and bass)
- Built-in Wi-Fi for listening to music from a network, includes support for TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, and Spotify
- The free HEOS app offers easy Wi-Fi control and multi-room audio
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice control protocol
- Apple AirPlay 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad
- Ethernet port for connection to a wired network
- Two optical digital and one coaxial digital audio inputs
- Type-A USB port on the rear panel for connecting a disk drive
- Four stereo RCA audio inputs (including a MM phono input)
- Stereo RCA audio out for recording
- 1/4″ headphone output on front panel
- Mono RCA subwoofer output
What we love:
- Nice Power
- Transparent Amp Section
- Full-Featured Streamer Built-In/Plenty of connections
What to think about:
- Only one set of speaker terminals
Buy: Amazon
Best Stereo Amplifier Under $1500: Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier ($1299)
The $1299 Cambridge Audio CXA81, with its Class AB amp section, drives speakers down to 4 Ohms with 120W per channel RMS and 80W per channel RMS into 8 Ohms. That means it has the juice needed to drive inefficient speakers like the Kef LS50 Meta to their full potential.
We couldn’t get enough of the CXA81’s tuning, so we made it our 2019 Product Of The Year. The warm, open character (w/a massive soundstage) works no matter what music you play.
Additionally, it has the best-sounding Bluetooth section we’ve ever heard on an integrated amp. It also has a USB Audio Input, which accepts up to 32bit/384kHz PCM & DSD 256 digital files from a Mac or PC.
For: Those looking for a no-muss, no-fuss amplifier with a refined yet warm, weighty sound.
Key Features/Specs:
- 80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms (120 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms)
- 4-ohm speaker capability
- ESS Sabre SE9016K2M DAC chip
- Toroidal power transformer for high-current output
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity with aptX HD audio codec
- Class AB amplifier
- Full-metal casework with thick brushed aluminum front panel
- Two optical digital inputs
- Coaxial digital input
- USB Type-B input for connecting a laptop
- Four stereo RCA inputs
- Balanced XLR left and right input
- Mono RCA sub output
- Stereo RCA pre-out
- switchable A+B speaker outputs with binding-posts
What we love:
- Great Build Quality
- Crisp, Clear, Lively, Sound
- Powerful Amp Section
What to think about:
- Limited customization-no no screens, no menus, no tone controls
Buy: Amazon
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I’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. My hunger for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today.
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