“Avoid popularity; it has many snares and no real benefit.” So, apparently, said 17th century English writer and theologian William Penn. Now, while William’s advice may be sociologically sound, it should not, in our view, be universally applied.
When it comes to stereo amplifiers, for example, the £400-£800 price bracket is very popular with buyers – and, as a result, it’s fiercely competitive. That, in turn, means the quality-to-value ratio is at something of a sweet spot – particularly towards the upper end – making it a segment to investigate rather than avoid.
At this level, there is an abundance of great-sounding kit to select from. More than that, features are plentiful, build quality is usually very good, and performance is generally at a higher level than that of amps…
