About The LEAK Stereo 230 Amplifier
The LEAK Stereo 230 integrated amplifier is a spiritual successor to the iconic Stereo 30, released in 1963. LEAK has harnessed the latest technology to deliver an affordable integrated amplifier of the same philosophy, fully equipped to meet the demands of modern music lovers, from vinyl records to digital streaming.
Founded in 1934, LEAK is one of the most important names from the early years of the British hi-fi scene, responsible for many technological 'firsts' throughout the 1940s, '50s and '60s. For example, the Point One series of valve amplifiers introduced in 1945 were the first to reduce total harmonic distortion to 0.1 per cent, while its Sandwich speakers heralded true-piston cone action by sandwiching polystyrene foam between outer skins of stiff aluminium foil. Such was LEAK's engineering excellence that its 1955 Trough-Line is still considered one of the finest FM tuners ever made.
The Stereo 230 is a descendant of another LEAK classic, the Stereo 30 integrated amplifier, which arrived in 1963 as the first commercially available all-transistor amplifier. It spearheaded the use of transformerless transistor output stages over then-standard transformer-coupled designs, paving the way for future solid-state amps.
The Stereo 230's aesthetic resemblance, with its real-wood enclosure and invitingly tactile front panel, isn't the only nod to its ancestor. The engineering behind its circuit design embodies the Stereo 30's pioneering spirit, too, utilising the latest techniques and technologies to bring this classic transistor amp design bang up to date.
With its connectivity also benefiting from such modernisation, the Stereo 230 is destined to form the beating heart of many a high-performance, multi-format audio system – ready to deliver vinyl, CD, Bluetooth-streamed and USB-stored music, through all manner of speakers and headphones.
A dedicated phono stage welcomes turntables with open arms and traditional audiophiles will recognise the assured excellence in this high-quality, low-noise turntable input. Optimised for moving magnet cartridges, the JFET-based circuit offers precise RIAA equalisation in accordance with de facto industry standards for vinyl record playback.
As well as the dedicated mm phono input the Stereo 230 also has analogue line-level inputs and optical, coaxial, HDMI ARC and asynchronous USB digital connections accommodate external CD players, computers, network streamers, TVs and more.
The Stereo 230 also recognises the convenience of streaming music from a phone, tablet or music player over aptX Bluetooth. Yet for all its versatility, this is an amplifier that puts the music first. Whatever the source, its virtuosic performance is consistently engaging; foot-tappingly lively yet maturely refined, richly detailed and fluidly dynamic.
The Stereo 230's innate musicality is hardly surprising given the hi-fi handiwork involved. At its core is a Class AB power amp that draws on many decades of amplifier design experience.
Headphone users are also well catered for thanks to the Stereo 230 using a dedicated amplifier circuit with current-feedback technology for the headphone output. Equal in performance to standalone headphone amplifiers, beyond the price-class of this complete system, the design offers high-speed output signal transition thanks to a high slew rate. The result is a dynamic, detailed and engaging performance with all manner of headphone types.
In tasking the ES9038Q2M Sabre32 Reference DAC chip to handle digital-to-analogue conversion, complemented by specially devised circuitry including op-amps selected for their synergy with the ES9038, LEAK has engineered excellent digital music playback quality. By utilising the acclaimed ES9038 Sabre32 Reference chip with ESS Technology's 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, the LEAK Stereo 230 offers ultra-low noise, high dynamic range from digital audio files with a sampling rate of up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz and 22.4MHz/DSD512 files.
And to ensure the utmost detail and expression from every music source, the layout of the Stereo 230's digital and analogue circuits has been carefully applied, with independent power supplies feeding all critical stages.
Bass and treble tone controls, a feature passed down from the original Stereo 30, enable sound to be tailored to suit the varying characteristics of different analogue and digital sources. If preferred, these tone controls may be bypassed to deliver the shortest possible signal path to the precision analogue volume stage, which is controlled by a motorised ALPS potentiometer.
The Stereo 230's adaptability makes it a perfect partner for all manner of contemporary loudspeakers – not least the much-admired Linton and Denton Heritage speakers from LEAK's sister-company Wharfedale, with which it shares a classic 1960s-inspired design and walnut wood veneer.
Our Take
The 130 made quite a splash with its retro styling and beguiling sound when it was a released. Now the 230 takes things to the next level with a much more powerful amplifier section and the very pleasing inclusion of HDMI ARC so you can place the Stereo 230 at the heart of a simple 2 channel audio visual system when connected to your television.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Stereo Integrated Amplifier with DAC & HDMI ARC
- 2 x 75 Watts into 8 Ohms
- 2 x 115 Watts into 4 Ohms
- Powerful, efficient Class AB amplification
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.003% (30 watts, into 8 ohms)
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 109dB
- Built-In Bluetooth® with aptX and aptX LL audio coding for a better-sounding connection to compatible devices
- Built-In Phono Stage for turntables with moving magnet cartridges
- Premium ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9038Q2M DAC supports high-res digital files up to 32-bit/768kHz
Connections
- HDMI ARC port for connecting a TV
- Digital Inputs: 1 Toslink Optical, 1 Coaxial (handles signals up to 192kHz) - MQA Full Decoder
- Digital Outputs: 1 Toslink Optical, 1 Coaxial
- USB Type-B input for connecting a computer (PCM files up to 768kHz, DSD up to 22.4MHz) - MQA Full Decoder & Roon Tested
- 2 x Stereo RCA Line Level Inputs
- Phono Input for connecting a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge
- Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
- ¼" (6.35 mm) Headphone Jack on front panel
- One Pair of Binding Post Speaker Terminals
- USB Type-A input for software updates
- 12-Volt Trigger Input & Output
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to an IsoTek Power Cable for better performance
General
- Supplied Accessories: Power Cable, Remote Control, User Manual
- Finish: Silver/Walnut
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 328 x 147 x 414mm
- Weight: 12.7 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.