The Gen-300B is an integrated amplifier by Layer Audio Design that delivers 10 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, single-ended pure Class A. Layer publishes no THD figure alongside it.. It was released in September 2026. It is a 2-channel design using a Class A output stage. The Gen-300B is an all-valve design, running 2x 300B output, 2x 6N8P input. Speakers connect via binding posts. Its output transformer offers 4 / 8 ohm taps, and matching the tap to your speaker's impedance matters more here than a minimum-load figure would on a solid-state amplifier. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has an MSRP of $1,499.
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B is rated at 10 watts RMS into 8-ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 10 watts into 8-ohms
- 4 / 8 ohm output transformer taps - match the tap to your speaker's impedance
How loud will 10 watts actually play in your room? →
Which speakers suit the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B?
10 W into 8 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B is rated at 10 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our Up to 60 watts band. The next band up is 61 to 90 watts, which is worth about 3.9dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room.
When pairing the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | No way |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has total of 2 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- Yes Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B doesn't have a phono input so in order to play your vinyl albums, Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has to be paired with a Phono Preamp that is MM (Moving Magnet) or/and MC (Moving COil) depending on your cartridge type.
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓A valve design running 2x 300B, which is the point of buying one.
- ✓Class A operation, the topology most often chosen where distortion at low levels matters more than efficiency.
- ✓Bluetooth for playing straight from a phone.
- ✓Headphone output.
- ✗At 10 watts per channel it wants sensitive speakers; below about 87dB sensitivity you may run out of headroom in a large room.
- ✗Valves are consumables: they need replacing periodically, and often biasing, which a solid-state amplifier never asks of you.
- ✗Class A runs hot and draws mains power whether or not it is playing; it needs room to breathe.
- ✗Analogue inputs only - a TV, computer or CD transport needs an external DAC.
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B External Dimensions and Weight
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 8-1/4 x 13-3/16 x 10-7/16 inch (210.0 x 335.0 x 265.0 mm ). The unit weighs
16 kg (36 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B is approximately 887.8cm2 / 137.6inch2.
- Width: 335.0mm (13-3/16")
- Height: 210.0mm (8-1/4")
- Depth: 265.0mm (10-7/16")
- Weight: 16 kg (36 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~887.8cm2 / 137.6inch2
- Volume: ~18.6 liter / 4.9 gallon
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B Integrated Amplifier can be found below:
Official Product Page for Layer Audio Design Gen-300B
| General |
| Brand |
Layer Audio Design |
| Full Model Name |
Layer Audio Design Gen-300B |
| Release Date |
September 2026 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class A |
| Amplifier Technology |
Tube |
| Tubes |
| Output Tubes | 2x 300B |
| Input and Driver Tubes | 2x 6N8P |
| Total Tube Count | 5 |
| Topology | Single-ended |
| Operating Mode | Triode |
| Output Transformer Taps | 4 / 8 ohm |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
10 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
|
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
No |
| Bluetooth |
Optional |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
2 |
| Phono Input |
No |
| Headphone Output |
Yes |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
210.0mm (8-1/4") |
| Width |
335.0mm (13-3/16") |
| Depth |
265.0mm (10-7/16") |
| Weight |
16 kg (36 lbs) |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
How much power does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B have?
The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B delivers 10 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, single-ended pure Class A. Layer publishes no THD figure alongside it..
Does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B use vacuum tubes?
Yes. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B is an all-valve amplifier: vacuum tubes do the amplifying from input to output. It runs 2x 300B output, 2x 6N8P input.
How long do the tubes in the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B last?
Output valves are a consumable. In normal domestic use a set lasts somewhere between about 2,000 and 5,000 hours - a few years for most people - and they degrade gradually rather than failing outright. Input and driver valves last far longer, often the life of the amplifier. Check the warranty card before you buy: valves are almost never covered by the amplifier's own parts warranty, and are usually warranted separately for 90 days to a year.
What speakers suit the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B?
A valve amplifier is judged on the speaker's sensitivity, not just on watts. At 10 watts, the safe rule of thumb is a speaker of 93 dB or better - an insensitive speaker will run out of headroom long before the amplifier sounds bad. It also has 4 / 8 ohm output transformer taps. A valve amplifier has no minimum impedance the way a transistor amplifier does; you match the tap to the speaker, and a speaker whose impedance swings a long way will shift the tonal balance slightly because a valve amplifier follows that curve.
What amplifier class is the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B?
The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B uses a Class A amplifier design. Class A keeps its output devices conducting at all times for the lowest possible distortion, at the cost of considerable heat and low efficiency.
Does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B have a built-in DAC?
No. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has no built-in DAC, so a digital source such as a streamer or CD transport needs its own converter, or you connect it over analogue.
Can I connect a turntable to the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B?
No. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has no phono input, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp (or a deck with one built in) before it can be connected.
Does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B have Bluetooth?
Yes. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B supports Bluetooth, so you can stream straight from a phone, tablet or laptop.
Does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B have a headphone output?
Yes. The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has a Yes-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the Layer Audio Design Gen-300B cost?
The Layer Audio Design Gen-300B has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $1,499.
Was this amplifier review useful?
Tell us what is missing or wrong and we will fix it.