Top 5... £500+ AMPLIFIERS

There's nothing technical about this top 5 listing for great amplifiers you can buy for £500+. I fully realise that there are some glaring potential ommissions here and I've not chosen any properly expensive units... but these are amplifiers that I've bought, sometimes owned and sold over the years. They are all, in my humble opinion, great units within their price range...

1. Musical Fidelity M6 SI

Musical Fidelity does so many amplifiers that could come into this very short shortlist! The M6 SI is here because it's a current model that represents good value as a used buy. It has inbuilt moving magnet and moving coil phono stages and is built with the company's typically over-engineered weight! Expect to pay... From £900

2. Kinki Studio EX-M1+

Rare to find in the UK, particularly as a used buy, but we've now come across a small number of these and they never fail to impress. Lovely build quality, substantial in size and weight, great graphics and, of course, sounding super. Expect to pay... £1800

3. Sugden A21A

At the more affordable end of our price point, the Sugden A21A integrated is a simple looking amplifier that impresses from the moment you hear it. Build quality is good, controls are tactile and the sound is just terrific. A beautiful sounding, easy on the ear, articulate amplifier that isn't fatiguing and just works brilliantly. Also consider in this price area the Rega Elex-R and Primare i30. Expect to pay... £650

4. PrimaLuna Prologue 4

I'm a massive fan of valve amplifiers (my Radford STA25 MkIII power amplifier has previously been in this list). PrimaLuna makes some lovely examples, and while I've chosen the Prologue 4 power amplifier, there are many variants to choose from. Build quality is lovely and these amplifiers sound sublime too. Don't be overly put off by the cost of valves and don't think you'll be constantly wearing them out - you won't.  Expect to pay... £950+

5. Hegel

Hegel is producing some great amplifiers, all of which get great reviews. We've had one or two pass through the shop and they feel impressively made and always sound good too. Here's a Hegel H200.  Expect to pay... from £1100

Others to consider...

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