"HiFi Choice" IA170 Integrated Amp

January 1996

From Magnum, a small but well established and innovative British amp specialist the IA170 is a slim -lined integrated amplifier. It's a very straightforward and rugged design base on an old Darlington topology and features pairs of discrete 25A transistors run at enriched bias from a Class-A driver stage.

Clearly designed to be bomb-and-nerd-proof, 3A fuses blow well before the amp can, while there's a huge power supply to clout recalcitrant loudspeakers and no invasive hi-tech protection circuitry to interfere with the sound. Power output is registered a generous 96/155W (eight/four ohms, 1 kHz [British rating, not US] with a massive 21A of peak current available.

In ultimate terms, the sound quality does suffer some loss in transparency and low level "blackness", but this amp nevertheless captured the mood of the music as well as the enthusiasm and imagination of listeners. Their verdict: "Cooked in the oven, rather than the microwave, so the true tonal flavour of the music is allowed time to develop." It has clarity, confidence and real-world charm. Quirky in a safe yet entertaining manner, the unassuming IA170 earns Magnum its first HiFi Choice Best Buy.

Read Hi-Fi Choice

Get Back

Move on UP!!