I’m a pretty lazy listener, which is why I love modern streaming amplifiers. These amplifiers have controls for Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and other streaming services built right into easy-to-use interfaces. Streaming amplifiers have gotten a lot better in recent years. Before, anything with an internet connection sounded terrible, but that’s not the case with the latest models. My high-end favorites right now are the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 ($2999) and the Naim Uniti Atom ($3,799)Both feature gorgeous color displays and some of the best fidelity (and most glorious knobs) I’ve ever experienced. Both work with every major streaming service imaginable, and you can connect them via Bluetooth, too.
A good option to reduce spending is Yamaha R-N1000A ($1,800) Stereo network receiver. It’s packed with high-end components like a SABRE ES9090Q DAC for high-resolution digital audio and enough A/B amplification for just about any pair of speakers in your arsenal. Equally important, it provides rock-steady performance and plenty of connection options, from tons of streaming services and internet radio stations to a turntable input and HDMI ARC for hooking up to your TV. Its retro design, which skips a color display for a slim digital screen housed beneath tactile knobs, stokes nostalgia while delivering excellent sound quality.
If you don’t have that kind of money, I recommend you take a look at the Canadian brand NAD. Their amplifiers, like the NAD C 316 V2 ($399) They’re not the flashiest, but they sound amazing for the price. Like the Yamaha mentioned above, the C 316 even comes with a built-in phono channel so you can connect a turntable—a nice touch, considering the NAD model doesn’t have built-in streaming. If you want to stream, you can find the appropriate adapter to connect your phone.
Vinyl is back! And record players are more fun and sound better than ever. If you’re looking for a basic turntable with audiophile-grade sound quality, I highly recommend checking out options like the Project T1 ($499) either Debut Carbon Evo ($599)At the high end, we like the Rega Planar 2 ($775)which has a slightly more open and dynamic sound, and U-Turn Orbit Theory ($999)which sounds fantastic thanks to extras like a custom-made magnesium tonearm, the piece that positions the needle in the groove.
If you have an older stereo, chances are it has a built-in phono preamp, meaning you can plug a turntable straight in and start listening. But if you have a modern stereo, you may need to purchase a dedicated phono preamp to play your records through your headphones or speakers. Check both your turntable and your stereo, because setups differ, and some turntables come with phono amplifiers inside that you can activate with a switch. Still, while some built-in options like the one found inside the Orbit Theory pictured above work well, others may not sound as good as you’d like.