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It was a consideration for me as was looking to get as much in one box as possible which the NAD C320BEE I had didn't really assist with. I had plugged into it
-phono stage
-optical DAC
-Airport Express
-Bluetooth
-Mac Mini for steamingI liked the look of the Leak and it covered most bases, and has USB in, but then I read a mediocre review which put me off (I've had a look but can't find it) but then saw a Onkyo receiver with retro styling so went for that, and picked up the matching CD player on eBay was like£530 in total. The phone stage is rubbish though, unless you've got a particularly high output cartridge, so ended up getting a separate phono stage.
Admittedly I'd never heard the Leak, also I don't know the circumstances in which it was written. It's certainly a nice looking bit of kit, and was my favourite of the not unaffordable amps at the time, but if I were to buy one now it'd be the NAD 3050.
I did hear something as well from NAD ... Which it that pretty much every output from every solid state amp currently should be flat, so really what you're buying is the aesthetics, the functionality and the power.
I'd suggest you listen to it, but I never listen to anything before buying it.
Dogs-
Because I don't read enough hifi reviews to have a publication or author whose opinion I trust, I just found them all a bit of a waste of time; it's either YouTube channels and random websites just regurgitating the specs and some BS about the original brand or reviewers that do try to describe the audio qualities but using such opposing language to each other it's as if they're listening to completely different amps.
From what I can tell, the Leak is a decent mid-tier amp with similar performance/insides to a couple of others in the same price bracket, that's been put in different looking packaging.
I'll take a couple of my preferred test records to the shop & see what's what. Might end up with the Leak or there might be something better on the day!
Lw.
Not locked in but it's in primary position - I'm just waiting for the cash to come in before going to the shop and trying them out.
Why? Do you know something better that fits the bill?