The Leak Audio Stereo 230 integrated amplifier was released a few months ago, and I finally got my hands on a unit. I also got a Leak Audio CDT CD Transport, and we’ll talk about that in this article.
Leak Audio was founded in 1934, and at that time, it was called H.J. Leak & CO. It was based in London, and it quickly became popular for making high-quality, affordable amplifiers and loudspeakers. When the founder, Harold Joseph Leak, passed away in 1979, Leak & Co. closed down, and their main factory was demolished.
In 2020, on Harold Joseph Leak’s 113th birthday anniversary, the IAG (International Audio Group) brought back Leak Audio, bringing the vintage Leak & Co look back to HiFi. In 2025, Leak Audio is one of the best brands to get an amplifier, loudspeaker, or turntable from, and their products are a good addition to any speaker system. In this article, we will review the Leak Audio Stereo 230 integrated amplifier and the Leak Audio CDT CD Transport, and see if they are worth integrating into your speaker system.
Leak Audio Stereo 230 Review
The Leak Audio Stereo 230 is an integrated amplifier, and it comes wrapped in a nice walnut chassis, which gives off a vintage look. On the front panel, there are a few basic controls. There is a volume control knob, an input selector, and three knobs for bass, treble, and bass. There is also a direct button that bypasses the tone controls.
The Leak Stereo 230 also has a headphone jack, with a dedicated amplifier circuit for the headphone output. You can get the same performance out of the Stereo 230, which you would get with a standalone headphone amplifier, but the Leak 230 is cheaper and it has more functionality. For wireless streaming, the Leak Stereo 230 Bluetooth with A2DC, SBC, and AptX codecs.
On the back panel, the Stereo 230 has a moving magnet phono preamp for connecting your turntable, two RCA inputs, a preamp output, and binding posts. There are Coaxial and TOSLINK inputs, along with HDMI ARC to connect your TV. There is a USB port to connect your computer, and a port for firmware updates.
The Leak Audio Stereo 230 has a Class A/B amplifier design. It offers 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 115 watts per channel at 4 ohms, which is enough power for almost any speaker you can get. The distortion is rated at 0.003%, and the Stereo 230 uses ESS’s ES9038Q2M DAC chips. If you want specifics, the Leak Stereo 230’s sample rate is up to 768kHz (PCM) and DSD512.
IAG, the owner of Leak Audio, also owns Wharfedale. So I thought a good fit for the Leak Stereo 230 would be the Wharfedale Super Denton bookshelf speakers. The Stereo 230 is a very neutral amplifier, and the low end was perfect with the Super Dentons. To test the DAC, I used the Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer to play digital music, and the sound was warm and natural. The bass was deep and punchy, and the midrange and treble were well balanced.
Let’s talk about the Leak Audio CDT CD Transport. It looks very similar to the Stereo 230 and the Stereo 130, and it comes in two finishes, Walnut and Silver. This was made specifically for the Stereo 230, and this product is for those who love their CDs. It will give you the best sound possible, and it will easily connect with your speaker system.
Verdict
The Leak Audio Stereo 230 is the perfect integrated amplifier for those who are just starting on their HiFi journey and are looking for a good budget amplifier. For US$1795, the Stereo 230 is the perfect amplifier with a DAC and digital capabilities. With the addition of the Leak CDT CD Transport, you will be set for CD playback.