When it comes to speaker amplification, most audiophiles will prefer pure Class A power but to get our hands on such an amplifier, it will surely going to cost us. Usually, Class A amplifiers will be out of the reach of many due to their very expensive price points especially those with high power outputs. Fortunately for us, there is Sugden A21SE, a sanely priced integrated amplifier that uses pure Class A single-ended voltage rail operation.
Sugden A21SE has decent power outputs but we still need to be careful when it comes to speaker pairing. To find the right speakers to match with the A21SE, we will need to get more information about this signature integrated amp from Sugden. Such as learning more about its sonic characteristics, strengths and including its limitations if there are any. This data will help us prepare a list of the best matching speakers to go for and partner them with the Sugden A21SE integrated amplifier.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Sugden A21SE
The Sugden A21SE has a clean and minimalistic visual design which does give off a premium feel. There are no digital or meter displays and may look a bit dull for some listeners. This does make it simpler to aesthetically match with most modern speakers and the low profile design also helps the A21SE to fit into most listening rooms’ decor without being too distracting. What’s more important will be its sonic prowess though, the Sugden A21SE has a power output of 30 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 40 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms which is really impressive for a Class A amplifier at this price point.
Its frequency response is even more remarkable at 12Hz-141kHz (+/-1dB). Based on these specs, we can tell the Sugden A21SE should feel more at home in driving loudspeakers which are not demanding. To make full use of the amplifier’s Class A sonic purity, it is recommended to go with very efficient loudspeakers with high speaker sensitivity. This Sugden signature amp does lack features when compared to other integrated amplifiers at the same price range but still, most of these modern amps do not have pure class A amplification. Looking at the bright side, the A21SE has a high-quality headphone output which is pretty neat though.
As expected, the musicality of the Sugden A21SE is incredible and we are immediately immersed in the music. It is really enjoyable to listen to this wonderful amplifier and we couldn’t help ourselves but keep playing our favorite music. The A21SE effortlessly brings out the emotions, making the music delivery sound involving and engaging. There are plenty of details been dug out as well and have such a high level of clarity. This is also partly due to how polished the background is, there is no audible noise we can hear and this allows us to fully focus on the music which is playing in front of us.
The soundstage projected by the Sugden A21SE is large and spacious, not to mention, it is 3-dimensional as well. Giving us a sense of realism and it feels as if the musicians are playing right inside our listening room. The holographic sonic performance of the A21SE signature amp is packed with subtle nuances and intricate details that breathe life into the performers. The bass performance is outstanding too, delivering powerful and deep low ends without ever losing control. It is taut, agile, and never misses a beat or overstays its welcome. It also adds weight to the overall sound reproduction and helps to create a nice musical presence.
Is so easy to enjoy listening to the sweet sound quality produced by this amazing Sugden A21SE amplifier. There is also a nice layer of warmth which is unobtrusive and not as warm when compared to tube amplifiers. At the price it is asking for, the Sugden A21SE is really well worth it and for those who have never listened to this brilliant amp before, it certainly deserves an audition with you. It is a musical-sounding amplifier and will work well with vinyl playbacks too. We have gathered enough data on this integrated amplifier and have prepared a list of the best speakers to go for which you can choose to match with your Sugden A21SE.
Sugden A21SE Specifications
- Power Output: 30 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 40 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Inputs: 5 Line inputs
- Outputs: Tape out, Pre-amp out, Headphone out
- Dimensions : 115mm x 430mm x 360mm | 4.5″ x 16.9″ x 14.2″
- Weight: 14kg (30.9lbs)
Best Speakers to match with Sugden A21SE
The Proac Tablette 10 is one of the best speakers to pair with the Sugden A21SE. It is a pair of mini-monitors with a long history of success and will be a worthy match for the illustrious Class A integrated amplifier. They are amazingly well-balanced and could produce bass that belies their size. The Proac Tablette 10 is the type of loudspeakers that is worth every penny invested into them and they are able to return you with a very enjoyable music listening experience. It is also a pair of revealing mini-monitors that will dig out plenty of music details and has slight warmish sonic characteristics.
The Klipsch Heresy III will be one of the best speakers to match with your Sugden A21SE integrated amplifier. This is a pair of loudspeakers with very high speaker sensitivity and is easy to drive as well. Enabling the A21SE amplifier to drive these Klipsch Heritage speakers with ease. Efficiency is just one of the Klipsch Heresy III main strengths, they are also lively loudspeakers and can deliver an energetic music performance with rock-solid bass deliveries. They can play very loud and still sound clean, not to mention, the Klipsch Heresy III has an astonishing level of clarity, giving us a clear sonic picture of the music.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Heresy III – Pair (Cherry)
The JBL L100 Classic will be another amazing modern loudspeaker with retro visual design and decades’ worth of legacy. An award-winning pair of speakers with impressive dynamics and will provide an even more entertaining music presentation when paired with the Sugden A21SE integrated amplifier. It is entertainingly powerful and can deliver very deep bass frequencies with authority. The higher frequencies are clearly reproduced and filled with insights. JBL L100 Classic speakers have the ability to deliver an energetic musical performance and works really well with the open soundstage projected by the Sugden A21SE.
Klipsch Cornwall IV is the higher-end model of the Klipsch Heritage series loudspeakers. It is a pair of highly efficient floor-standing speakers and has a whopping sensitivity of 102dB thus allowing them to make full use of the Class A power of the Sugden A21SE amplifier. The Klipsch Cornwall IV easily fills our listening room with immense sonic energy and builds up a beautiful music presence. Vocals and instruments are brought to life authentically and along with the sonic prowess of the A21SE amp, the music delivery is lively and holographic, hooking us into the immersive musical sound field.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Cornwall IV Floorstanding Speakers
Omega Speaker Systems Super 8 XRS is another pair of tower speakers which are very easy to drive. These floor-standers just require as little as 2W to start singing and they can fully tap on the sonic purity of the Sugden A21SE Class A integrated amplifier. Another notable feature of the Super 8 XRS will be the single speaker drive design which delivers a frequency response of 35Hz to 20kHz with cohesion. They have impeccable stereo imaging which will complement the Sugden A21SE amp really well. The overall sound reproduction is natural and balanced, even when played at very high volumes.
For listeners who have a limited budget, the Klipsch RP-8000F will be an ideal choice for you and your Sugden A21SE integrated amplifier. This is a pair of modestly priced floor-standing speakers with a high speaker sensitivity of 98dB. They are dynamic and accurate sounding loudspeakers with a high level of clarity. The RP-8000F is revealing too and could dig out music details including subtle ones, producing them in clear sound quality. These are lively tower speakers and the A21SE does help to ease off the rough edges a little so that it won’t sound overly bright. The Klipsch RP-8000F overall bass performance is tight and deep which is incredible for floor-standing speakers at this price point.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch RP-8000F Pair in Ebony
To Sum It Up
It is wise to pick one or more speakers from this list and arrange an audition to hear them out. They are all definitely worth your time and you might want to do a side-by-side comparison if possible. This does help to detect the difference in sound quality quite immediately. Using your favorite songs or music during the speakers auditioning will help a lot as well. If you want to see more highly efficient loudspeakers, we will suggest taking a further look into the Omega Speaker Systems and Klipsch speaker brands.
