The 1980’s Rack System
The streaming amplifier is a modern engineering marvel. If you remember the 80’s, the Pioneer, Onkyo, Sony, and many others ruled the 2-channel audio market. They were an impressive stack of components with lights and sliding equalizers proudly located in many living rooms. At one point, a status symbol. These three-foot high racks usually sat in a cabinet constructed of flakeboard and a big glass door and flanked by two huge speaker boxes. I must admit they were a ton of fun and a breeding ground for today’s audiophiles including yours truly. Imagine designing a family room in 2026 around this rack system.
Today’s Stereo System
Today’s streaming amplifier replaces the three-foot stack of components and large wooden cabinet and only requires an electric plug and speaker cables. The streaming amplifier is an integrated amplifier with a built-in music streamer which puts Spotify, Appleplay, Amazon, Tidal, Qobuz, and others at your fingertips, literally. Using the Spotify app on your phone, you can cast your music to the stereo, both must be connected to the same network. Another way to explain it is that it’s an amplifier with an internal computer. The computer takes the place of 3 components in your dad’s old Pioneer stack; the equalizer, cassette deck, and CD player – and for some, the turntable. The technology is still evolving and buying from a supportive company keeps your investment current through firmware updates.
Recommending Methodology
AV Whiz’s recommended components are currently available either from brick-and-mortar or online. Qualifications for our recommended products, manufacturers must demonstrate the capacity to provide customer support. If I learn that a product is very difficult to get either due to backorders or too few retailers. The purpose of our recommended lists is to help consumers interested in the audio and visual market, especially those looking to purchase new gear. Products not listed were never reviewed by us, reviewed negatively, or can’t be recommended due to poor company standards. We want you to feel protected on your next purchase. The lists are segmented by price point, and each segment is sorted by price, lowest to highest. The streaming amplifiers listed are a one-box solution, just add the speakers for hi-fi. Each amplifier supports the major streaming platforms. Here we go…
Up to $1,000
WiiM Amp Ultra | $529
- 100 watts x 2
- Touchscreen control
- No Airplay support
- Auto equalizer
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Half-width size component
Recent product from an up-and-coming company disrupting the market due to its very good sound and high value. Excellent and intuitive BluOS app for control. Best for a small to medium room and warm speaker. Pair with a $500 pair of bookshelf speakers for a system unmatched by any soundbar for $1,000.
Bluesound Powernode Edge | $849
- 40 watts x 2
- Supports Airplay
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Half-width size component
Smallish amplifier that can be tucked away and out of sight with eye opening sound quality. Excellent app for control and music streaming. Excellent reliability and customer support. Stable enough to power 4 speakers in the same room for surround sound. Legendary product and brand.
Marantz Model M1 | $1,000
- 125 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Half-width size component
- Made in Japan
Small enough to be hidden. Made in Japan for superb build quality. Reliable product and company providing sound quality unexpected by this little box. HEOS app for good control and music streaming. Sounds above its price point – maybe a loss leader.
$1,000 to $2,000
NAD C3030 S | $1,499
- 50 watts x 2
- Vintage design
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Full width size component
NAD has mastered the streaming amplifier. Very good sound quality, able to drive most speakers with ease. Don’t be fooled by the 50-watt rating because they have the current to power most speakers with room filling sound. Handsome vintage design. Excellent BluOS app for setup, control, and music streaming. Built to last and focused to sound great. Interesting front panel design will be a showstopper.
Onkyo Icon A-50 | $1,599
- 110 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV Listening
- Full width size component
Recent product from a historic brand reestablishing themselves in the two-channel audiophile world. Very good powerful class AB amplifier with an engaging warm-ish sound. Very appealing to look at – shameful to hide in a cabinet. We are optimistic about its reliability despite some historic HDMI issues with their AV receivers.
Marantz Model 60n | $1,600
- 60 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Full width size component
Substantial amplifier designed and built to last a very long time. Excellent class AB amplifier section is powerful enough for most speakers. Conservatively speaking, the 60-watts per channel rating is misleading because they will fill a small to medium sized room with audio bliss. Great aesthetics. Good HEOS app for music streaming and control. Handsome knobs on the front panel.
$2,000 to $5,000
NAD C 3050 BluOS-D | $2,449
- 100 watts x 2
- HDMI Arc for TV listening
- Vintage design
- Full width size component
Another audiophile on-box solution from NAD. Excellent BluOS app for control and music streaming. Similar aesthetics as NAD’s C3030 S with more power. Dirac auto tuning which addresses room issues.
Marantz Model 40n | $2,700
- 70 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Full width size component
Terrific class AB amplifier design providing a big, beefy, and warm sound. The warm sound is comfortable. Good phono section for your records. HEOS app is not as good as the BluOS but does the job well. Audiophile sound that will impress any listener – a conversation piece while entertaining. Built in Japan and you will notice. Misleading 70-watt rating, these 70-watts are better than most other 70-watts.
NAD Masters Series M10 V3 | $3,199
- 100 watts x 2
- Front panel touchscreen
- Dirac auto equalizer
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Full width size component
This is the third version of the legendary M10. The M10 is a heavy compact component with a touchscreen up front. The build quality is evident and fits the price. The M10 always works, not an easy task considering the technology in this little beast. Superb BluOS app for control, setup, and music streaming. Sound quality competes very well with my separate. Hall of fame product well worth the cost.
Arcam SA35 | $3,299
- 120 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Full width size component
Arcam’s latest line making an impact on the all-in-one market. Visually appealing with a yellow band across the top, will catch your eye. This Arcam is one of those components that made me want to listen. Class G amplifier technology with a strong neutral sound. An audiophile component at its core.
NAD C399 BluOS-D | $3,449
- 180 watts x 2
- HDMI ARC for TV listening
- Dirac auto equalizer
- Full width size component
We debated including this amplifier on our list since we already have three NADs. I easily convinced the staff to include it because it has a significant purpose. For audiophiles looking for an all-in-one component, the C399 is the one. It’s a typically sized plain looking component. Where this amplifier shines is brute force sound. I like to use nicknames for people and products describing them or it with one word. For the C399 I instinctively came up with Monster. It’s a simple nickname but that’s what this amplifier is – a simple-looking monster built as an end-game component. Big neutral sound with enough horsepower for any speaker. Excellent BluOS app for control and music streaming. Hard to beat.
Conclusion
The streaming amplifier is a very important area in the audiophile market. They can satisfy the casual consumer looking for quality tunes in their family room which are easy to use that they would be proud to own. For the casual listener, the all-in-one can also be the gateway drug to next level high end audio. The problem with that is these are so good it would cost at least twice as much to appreciate the difference. They can also satisfy the demanding audiophile with their sound. Audiophiles don’t want to be associated with the stigma of owning a lifestyle product. These amplifiers are all lifestyle products but as you get deeper down the list, they become high-end components that make your listening life easier.
Don’t be fooled by the “lifestyle” amplifier. These are high-end companies producing the components on this list. If you are a casual listener looking to purchase a stereo system that will provide great music and TV listening in your family room, any of these streaming amplifiers will deliver. If you are an audiophile with a stack of heavy components and bundles of cables and considering simplifying, some of these streaming amplifiers will deliver. When I switch out my stack of separates for my NAD M10 V2, I’m never disappointed and never miss my stack. The streaming amplifier is a significant part of the high-end audio market. Kudos to the innovators and engineers that make it happen.
Our recommendations reflect our personal experience with the equipment reviewed and should be considered alongside your own listening preferences and room acoustics. We encourage readers to audition audio equipment whenever possible. Great sound is personal, and the best component is the one that brings you closer to your music.
