Integrated Amplifiers, Integrated Stereo Amps (2024)

How to shop for Integrated Amplifiers

There are a lot of ways to listen to music, so you should look for an integrated amp that can give you access to all your favorite sources. You'll want to be certain that any integrated amp you're considering has the right number and types of connections to accommodate the audio components you already have or may want to add in the future.

Integrated amps can be all-analog, or they can have a combination of analog and digital connections. If you want to hook up a turntable, look for a model with a built-in phono input. Got a powered subwoofer? Look for an amp with a subwoofer output. Want wireless music streaming? Find a model with built-in Bluetooth and/or WiFi.

To learn more about integrated amp features and see a few great recommendations, check out our expert's top picks.

An integrated amplifier is two components in one ù a power amp that drives your speakers and a preamplifier for your music source components. The preamp lets you select your sources and control the volume. An integrated amp is similar to a receiver, except it doesn't have a radio tuner built in.

A good rule of thumb is to stay within the power range of your speakers but look toward the upper end of that range. More power is a good thing ù it gives you stronger bass and clearer, louder sound, especially in larger rooms.

Yes! There are a few ways you can do that. Most of our integrated amplifiers have a dedicated "phono" input for hooking up your turntable directly. You can also use a separate phono preamp to connect a turntable to any standard audio input. And some turntables have a phono preamp built in, so you don't need a special connection on your amp.

Some integrated amplifiers have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for streaming music from your phone or other device. Streaming directly to your integrated amplifier over Wi-Fi is a solution we love ù the music doesn't stop if you carry your phone into another room. WiFi equipped integrated amps also offer built-in support for popular music services like Spotify and Qobuz, and some even let you stream music to compatible speakers or components in other rooms.

Yes. You can connect a TV to your integrated amp just as you would another audio source. This will give you much better sound than your TV's built-in speakers. A select few integrated amps have HDMI inputs for hooking up a TV, but you'll find more options with optical digital inputs that can be used for this purpose.