The vintage audio theme remained very popular with both consumers and manufacturers in 2022; Klipsch, Wharfedale, Mission, and Leak introduced loudspeakers and electronics that offer a blast from the past (minus the shag) but with modern updates and rather expensive price tags. Leak’s original Stereo 30 Integrated Amplifier was a rather coveted piece of equipment that found itself in more than a few London flats.
Leak was resurrected in 2020 during the height of the pandemic and has continued to expand the lineup based on the growing demand for “vintage” components which has become a hot category for IAG Group; the parent company of Leak, Wharfedale, Mission, Audiolab, and Quad.
Mission recently launched an updated version of its 778x Integrated Amplifier, along with the Mission 770 loudspeakers which sold out in a matter of months.
The Leak Stereo 230 offers a slightly different take on the original Stereo 30 and current Stereo 130.
Technology
The new Leak Stereo 230 Integrated Amplifier offers an increase in power (2 x 75W per channel vs 2 x 45W), upgraded analog and digital circuits, and a revised DAC section that supports hi-res audio streaming, MQA, and 22.58MHz DSD. The DAC also supports up to 32-bit/768kHz (PCM).
The Stereo 230 offers support for Bluetooth 5.0, aptX and AAC codecs.
Just like the Mission 778x, the Leak Stereo 230 includes a MM phono preamp which is designed to work with any MM cartridge and high output MC carts as well.
Leak have also designed the Stereo 230 to act as a hub for you 2.0 home theater system with a wide range of inputs including HDMI ARC, Toslink Optical, and USB-B. There are also two analog connections for a pair of headphones and 1 pair of RCA inputs for a CD player.
The Leak Stereo 230 amps will be available from January 2023 priced at lb1249 / $1699 / $2699 with the walnut enclosure (lb1099 / $1499 / $2399 without).
For more information: leak-hifi.co.uk/stereo230/
Related Reading: Editors’ Choice 2022: My Favorite Integrated Amplifiers
Kiwiscott
December 23, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Buying an amp is so confusing these days. Everything seems to be getting more and more integrated and we know, from our Sonos experience, that the shelf life of these new integrated systems is limited by the technology.
Why can’t someone build a great amp that I can demo (sorry Shiit I really want a Ragnarock but I can’t listen before buying it).
Jonas
December 24, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Buy the best analog amp and audio accessories to connect to digital world.
Ron
December 24, 2022 at 7:57 pm
the audio from the seventies still rule
Ian White
December 25, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Ron,
It was definitely a good era. Some classic pieces for sure.
Best,
Ian White
old timer
December 28, 2022 at 5:09 pm
except the leak like many modern amps does not have a tape loop for authentic 70s operation
Merwyn Machado
January 2, 2023 at 1:46 am
I am of the earlier era where I think nothing can hold a candle to the seventies and eighties solid state amps. I am partial to Sansui and the earlier Trio, owning a Sansui Aux-711 and a Trio 7500. Paired with Infinity Renaissance and Kappa speakers, no modern system will be able to match this musically, although they are not in power league. Which is why I always shake my head when audio companies make a big noise of reviving old models, but totally fail.
Ian White
January 3, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Merwyn,
There are some solid state amplifiers from Mark Levinson, Krell, Adcom, Threshold, Jeff Rowland, Classe, and Spectral that were released from 1983 to 1989 that I think are utterly brilliant components.
Best,
Ian White