LEAK Stereo 230 vs Arcam SA20 Detailed Comparison

LEAK Stereo 230 vs Arcam SA20

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LEAK Stereo 230

Integrated Amplifier | 75 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Arcam SA20

Integrated Amplifier | 90 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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LEAK Stereo 230

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Arcam SA20

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LEAK Stereo 230

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Arcam SA20

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LEAK Stereo 230 vs Arcam SA20 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Stereo 230 and SA20, two Integrated Amplifiers from LEAK and Arcam. Let's have a brief look at the main features of LEAK Stereo 230 and Arcam SA20 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

LEAK Stereo 230 Key Specs

75 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Built-in DAC

Phono Input

USB Input

Bluetooth v4.0

HDMI Input (ARC)

Weight: 28.00 lbs / 12.73 kg

Dimensions (H x W x D):5-3/4inch x 12-15/16inch x 17-3/8inch

Arcam SA20 Key Specs

90 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Built-in DAC

Phono Input

Weight: 20.20 lbs / 9.18 kg

Dimensions (H x W x D):3-7/16inch x 17-1/16inch x 14-5/16inch

What size room are the LEAK Stereo 230 and Arcam SA20 Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	LEAK Stereo 230	Arcam SA20
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
Very Large Room	Poor	Poor

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to understand how LEAK Stereo 230 and Arcam SA20 compares and end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these amplifiers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose LEAK Stereo 230 over Arcam SA20

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.003% vs 0.5%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Signal to Noise Ratio	109 dB vs 106 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Stream music via Bluetooth devices
USB Input	Yes vs No	Connect Sources via USB
Max Bit Depth	32-bit vs 24-bit	Play higher resolution range media
Max Sample Rate	768kHz vs 192kHz	Play higher resolution media
Base Surface Area	1454.2cm²/ 225.4inch² vs 1579.8cm²/ 244.9inch²	takes less space in your room

Reasons to choose Arcam SA20 over LEAK Stereo 230

MSRP Price(*)	1,249USD vs 1,695USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Watts into 8-ohms	90 watts vs 75 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	150 watts vs 115 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Total Analog Inputs	4 vs 2	More options for connecting Analog sources
Coaxial Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
Height	88mm vs 147mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the LEAK Stereo 230 and Arcam SA20 differs from each other.

LEAK Stereo 230 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
1 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-B (Connects to your Windows or Mac PC)
- USB-A (Update only)
HDMI ARC

Arcam SA20 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input

LEAK Stereo 230 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
3.5mm Headphone Output

Arcam SA20 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Arcam SA20?

Here are the items that come with the SA20:

Integrated Amplifier

6.5-feet AC power cord

Remote control

2 AAA batteries

Handbook Manual

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