Amplifiers
At the lower end of the price scale, there are a number of excellent options available to you, such as Yamaha’s award-winning A-S500 integrated amp (pictured below), and the Marantz PM 6004. Both are capable of excellent sound reproduction when paired with the right speakers, and both come in at under £500.
If you have a little more to spend, you might want to consider the Roksan K2, which combines great all-round sound quality with a distinctive mirrored fascia. If money is no object, then the Leema Tucana amplifier, which features a highly advanced remote control system that can be linked up with a range of equipment, could be worth a look – if you don’t mind spending £3,500 on one hi-fi component, that is.
Speakers
At the lower end of the price spectrum, the Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 speakers (pictured below) have a lot of fans, although they tend to work better with some amplifiers than others. The stand-mounted Wharfedale Diamonds are slightly cheaper, and give a good, balanced sound without imposing much of their own character.
If you are prepared to spend a bit more, the Tannoy Revolution DC6 T floor-standing speakers offer boutique sound quality at a mid-range price point. If you can afford to spend upwards of £2000 on a pair of floorstanding speakers, then theProac Response D18s are worth a look. While they look a little bit plain, the sound quality is nothing short of breathtaking. Alternatively, you might want to consider the ATC SCM40s, which are some of the most revealing high-end speakers on the market, but bear in mind that you will need a powerful amplifier to get the best out of them. For more information about how to match amplifiers to speakers, take a look at this page on the Home Cinema Guide website.
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