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 £1249 / $1699 / $2699 with the walnut enclosure (£1099 / $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 😕
Americo
July 21, 2023 at 10:17 am
O Áudio dos anos setenta até aos meados dos anos oitenta foi a melhor época de fabricação de Audio feita até hoje!!!! Eu tenho Yamaha Elac, BW,Marantz THORENS, CREEK Musical fidelity, X-10D e XLPS,Pro-Ject e posso dizer que não troco pôr nada estes Divinais seres…. Hoje concordo que audívelmente há coisas boas mas só sonorização qualidade e prestígio e altíssima qualidade nem se faz nem há enfim é triste porque tudo tudo tudo é descartável.Deixo aqui uma dica quem procura qualidade durabilidade ainda se encontra bom vintage, pôr último digo prefiro gastar dinheiro no vintage porque atualmente como acima citei não tenho interesse em comprar prazos de validade.A.Louro
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
TonyE
March 22, 2025 at 3:33 am
Sorry, I do have some fully rebuilt 70s components (Marantz, Kenwood, Sansui..) and I mean fully rebuilt to OEM specs, all boards taken out and rebuilt… no LEDs… stuff like original high speed output transistors for the Sansui.
I also have a pair of ADS L810s that I had refreshed last year (new caps to the crossover and a new spyder for one of the woofers).
They sound very good indeed, BUT!
More modern stuff, based on tubes and Class A FETs and speakers (Maggies, Audio Note, Elac, Acoustic Energy…) using better quality materials just blow the old vintage stuff out of the water.
The soundstage and dynamics are simply outstanding nowadays.
Ian White
March 22, 2025 at 2:57 pm
TonyE,
I agree with you in regard to loudspeakers. The tone on some of the older models is really nice and I would love to find a completely refurbished pair of my ML Request Zs — but the current crop of loudspeakers are superior.
I’m into the “vintage” market but prefer the products from the 1980s and 1990s in that regard. There were some great products from Threshold, Aragon, Krell, Klyne, and Conrad-Johnson.
When it comes to turntables, I have a mix of 1970s tables from Thorens (restored by Vinyl Nirvana) and Yamaha, and current models from Pro-Ject and NAD. I’ve played with enough of the $$$$$ tables to know that I’m sticking with my Thorens rigs. Only the five-figure Kuzma rigs impress me on that level.
IW