Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Sugden A21 SE
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
above typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is above typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
What it is
Sugden A21 SE — Special Edition Class A, single-ended topology. 30W/8Ω, 40W/4Ω. Cascode input stage, current feedback, in-phase output. Current shunt power supplies on left and right line stages, separate transformer windings.
No balanced XLR input on standard A21SE (despite earlier note); balanced XLR was a feature of older A21 Series 2 only.
Competition record
Assessed against 13 rivals across the sixty systems: 2 head-to-heads won, 18 lost.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- low-level clarity ×2
- timing and drive ×2
- bass control ×1
Who it comes up against
EAR Yoshino V12
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot clearly.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
2 lost · Characterful
Against the Characterful brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
NVA S80 Stereo
2 lost · Characterful, Intimate
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Audiolab 9000P
1 lost · Characterful
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden A21 Signature
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Leema Hydra II
1 lost · Characterful
Against the Characterful brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
Audio Note P1 SE
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden ANV 50
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot clearly.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
Leak Stereo 230
0 lost· 1 won · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Sugden A21 SE takes the slot clearly.
With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gains most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the weaker integrated amplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Cyrus Classic PHONO gains tonal body under the Vocals-First weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
intimacy and fluid, natural qualityDagogo 2006 (A21SE)
Creek 4040A
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 SE takes the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quiet-hours detail.
With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gains most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Sugden A21 SE is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
layers of decayAudio Beatnik 2019 (A21SE Sig)
What the reviewers said
Sugden A21 Series SE 30W Class A Sugden A21SE + Tone Publications· Harmonic texture
natural and liquid Dagogo 2006 (A21SE)· Harmonic texture
intimacy and fluid, natural quality Dagogo 2006 (A21SE)· Tonal body
layers of decay Audio Beatnik 2019 (A21SE Sig)· Micro-dynamic resolution
How it scores
Clarity
- Electrical noise floor 80 from specification
Voice
- Tonal body 74 from listening evidence
- Harmonic texture 80 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 63 from specification
- Physical impact 59 from specification
- Bass extension 59 from specification
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 80 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 74 from listening evidence
- Tonal consistency 76 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 30.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 40.0 |
| power class | A |
| damping factor | 30.0 |
| line inputs | 5 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 110.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 50.0 |
| has phono | False |
| pre out | True |
| pre power separable | pre_out_parallel |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | True |
| frequency response hz | 12/141000 |
| snr db | 90.0 |
| dimensions mm | 430/115/360 |
| weight kg | 14.0 |
| notes |