Leak released the first stereo 130 amplifier in 40 years
After four decades of silence, the British company Leak introduced a new product – the integrated amplifier Stereo 130. The company was revived by investments from the IAG Group, and during this period of its history Leak will concentrate on the production of equipment for modern audio enthusiasts, looking like greetings from the past, but with functionality worthy of of our time. The novelty is based on the classic Leak Stereo 30 model, released in 1963. That amplifier was at the time the first serial fully transistor amplifier without transformers at the output.
The current integrated amplifier, according to the company’s plan, can become the heart of any audio system, as it is ready to work with digital and analog sources: on board it also has a DAC based on ES9018K2M, which understands 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM signals in DSD256, and MM phono stage. The inputs are linear analog, coaxial, a pair of optical, USB, also you can transmit signals via Bluetooth – there is aptX support. The amplifier works in the AB class, and during development the company paid considerable attention to careful shielding of elements, it used separate low-noise power supplies for critical nodes and divided the circuits of analog and digital signals. At 8 ohms, the amplifier produces 45 watts per channel, and at 4 ohms – 65 watts.
On the aluminum front panel, together with the input selector and volume control, two tone block controls, a “Direct” button and a headphone output are placed. The amplifier is available in two finishes: in aluminum or with additional decorative walnut panels. The aluminum version will cost 699£ in the UK, and the option with wooden lining will cost a 100£ more.
