
So you're looking to buy (or sell) an amplifier, and you're wondering what price would be acceptable. Having a good comprehension of the various amplifier types and their applications will help tremendously in understanding the wide variations in their price points.
How much do audio amplifiers cost? Audio amplifiers vary vastly in cost and design, with prices ranging from pennies to millions of dollars. Amplifiers range from tiny electrical components (low-end) to massive feats of engineering (extreme high-end). Spending over $1,000 should buy you a high-quality amplifier, regardless of type.
In this article, we'll discuss why Amplifiers cost as much as they do and take a closer look at real examples of amplifier pricing.
Throughout my research, I've cross-referenced Amazon, Sweetwater, B&H Photo/Video, Crutchfield, Thomann, and Vintage King.
Related My New Microphone articles:
• Top 10 Best Online Audio Gear/Equipment Retailers
• Why Is Vintage (And Modern) Audio Equipment So Expensive?
• Full List: Audio Amplifier Brands/Manufacturers (+ Examples)
Table Of Contents
- Typical Price Ranges Per Amplifier Type
- Price Factors Of Amplifiers
- Are Expensive Amplifiers Better?
- Price Ranges With Amplifier Examples
- The World's Most Expensive Amplifiers
- Related Questions
Typical Price Ranges Per Amplifier Type
There are thousands of different amplifier models on the market today. We have phono and microphone preamplifiers; mono, stereo and multi-channel power and integrated amplifiers; receivers, headphone amps, subwoofer amps, instruments amps, and even individual amplifier printed circuit boards.
To go through each and every amplifier to provide an MSRP (manufacturer specified retail price) would take ages and likely wouldn't provide as much practical value to you, the reader, as it sounds like it would in theory. It is also the case that amplifiers get discontinued or change price, so upkeeping such a list would take up too many resources.
So instead, I present to you a list of common amplifier types along with their typical price ranges.
In the following list, I am stating the lowest and highest retail prices I find online for each amplifier type. Expect the price points at the low end to represent the circuit board amplifiers and the prices at the high-end to represent the professional-quality/audiophile-grade amplifiers from highly reputable manufacturers.
I'll add the names of amp models that coincide with the price points if they are worth mentioning. Many of the amps at the low-end of the price spectrum are cheap, low-quality and overly plentiful (there's often no specific “cheapest option”).
Related article: Do Amplifiers Improve Sound Quality?
So without further ado, the price ranges of common amplifier types:
Amplifier Type | Price Point Low-End | Price Point High-End |
---|---|---|
Headphone Amplifier | ~$6 (PCB) | $68,000 Sennheiser Orpheus/HE 1 (with headphones) |
Power Amplifier | ~$6 (PCB) | $2,200,000 Pivetta Opera Only |
Microphone Preamplifier | ~$7 (PCB) | $12,500 Esoteric Audio Research 824 |
Phono Preamplifier | ~$11 (PCB) | $2,995 Parasound Halo JC 3+ |
Subwoofer Amplifier | ~$12 (PCB) | $1,899 Klipsch KA-1000-THX |
Receiver | $39 Pyle PDA29BU.5 | $8,500 Mark Levinson No.5805 |
Integrated Amplifier | $46 Nobsound Mini | $14,995 Pathos Inpol Heritage |
Guitar Amp Head | $79 Hotone Siva Boogie | $4,899 Diezel VHX 100-watt |
Bass Guitar Amp Head | $89 Hotone Thunder Bass | $2,495 Aguilar DB 751 |
Note, again, that these prices were found by quickly searching common online headphone retailers such as Amazon, Sweetwater, B&H Photo/Vidoe, Vintage King, and others.
Price Factors Of Amplifiers
Here is a list of the general factors that determine, to some extent, the selling price of an amplifier.
- Parts/type of amplifier: The specific parts and the number of individual parts of an amplifier are a big determining factor of cost. The individual components make up a large part of the cost of any given amplifier.
- Part materials: The cost of materials is a factor in amplifier price as well. The differences in price between the ideal material and less-than-ideal “good enough” material will vary from part to part.
- Labour/craftsmanship: Many reputable amplifier brands manufacture their amps in smaller batches or even one at a time. This allows for extreme attention to detail and expert craftsmanship to shine through in their amplifiers, which produce high-quality and consistent products. These manufacturing techniques cost much more time (and money) than cheaper assembly line types of manufacturing.
- Product testing: Perhaps another part of labour is the intense testing that high-end amplifiers of reputable companies go through before ever reaching the customer. This, of course, takes time and energy and warrants more money. Through thorough testing, the amplifiers can be assured to be performing at their full potential before their first use outside the manufacturing facility.
- Research and development: It’s no mystery that the high-end amplifier companies are the ones that tend to be industry leaders in innovation. Buying from high-end manufacturers helps them to continue to develop awesome high-quality amplifiers.
- Advertising: Whether you like it or not, advertising is an often necessary part of business. Few and far between are the amplifier manufacturing companies that do not spend money on advertising.
- Brand name/recognition: Though this may seem silly, brand names do count in the audio industry.
- Customer support: Many high-quality reputable amplifier manufacturers offer excellent customer support, warranties, and repair services. This, of course, also costs money, and sometimes this is made up in the original purchase costs of their amps.
- Company overhead: Like any brick-and-mortar product-based manufacturing business, they need to make a profit on their products in order to pay employees and keep the lights on at their facilities.
Are Expensive Amplifiers Better?
Before we dive deeper into the prices of amplifiers, the question of whether expensive amps are better is worth addressing.
Are expensive amplifiers better? In general, expensive amps perform “better” than inexpensive amps. Improved sonic accuracy, number of channels, channel isolation, additional power and longevity are all at least somewhat dependent on the price of manufacturing and, therefore, the cost of the amplifier.
Note that the performance of an amplifier is largely dependent on the audio it's amplifying and/or the transducers (headphones or speakers) it's driving. To learn more about amplifiers and speakers, check out the following My New Microphone articles:
• Why Do Speakers Need Amplifiers? (And How To Match Them)
• Which Is More Important, Speakers Or Amplifiers?
Fundamentally, though, the “sound quality” of an amplifier ought to be as transparent as possible. That being said, the “colour” or distortion of certain amps (particularly mic preamps) can be a key selling point. Design factors that would increase the price include the amount of clean/pre-distortion amplification (power/gain), the number of channels, and application.
Is a top-of-the-line power amplifier like the Pivetta Opera Only better than an inexpensive phono preamp like the Nobsound T1? Are they even worth comparing?
Well, if you're in your acoustically treated entertainment room listening to classical music (and you have high-end speakers and audio), the $2,200,000 (yes, 2.2 million for an amp) Pivetta Opera Only is the obvious better choice. However, if you're listening to an old vinyl record through inexpensive bookshelf speakers, the $29 Nobsound T1 MM / MC Turntable Phono Preamp should do you just fine.
Note that an audio/sound system is really only as strong as its weakest link. A million-dollar amp, for example, won't perform at its best amplifying streamed mp3s through cheap speakers.
So which amplifier is better? The Pivetta Opera Only certainly sounds marvellous, but far more people use the Nobsound T1. Of course, this is an extreme example, but it illustrates an important point: it all depends on the situation.
Many in the audio industry would argue that the prices of many high-end amplifiers are inflated. Though perhaps they are, refer back to the factors that would explain the high price of an amplifier.
That being said, it's often the case that a speaker that retails at a fraction of the cost of a high-end amp will yield similar results.
Though this is a vague answer to “are expensive amplifiers better?” it's the best answer I've got for you.
Price Ranges With Amplifier Examples
As mentioned, the price range of amplifiers is very wide (ranging from a few dollars to over a million dollars for a single unit).
So what kind of amplifiers can we expect at certain price points? I've placed various amp types in the following price ranges according to their manufacturer-specified retail prices (MSRPs).
Please note that the following prices are in USD. I will add links to online stores to provide pricing examples.
The Price Ranges
- Under $20
- $20 – $50
- $50 – $100
- $100 – $200
- $200 – $500
- $500 – $1,000
- $1,000 – $5,000
- $5,000 – $10,000
- Above $10,000
Amplifiers Under $20
At a price point below $20, we find some low-end amplifier circuit boards and some low-end no-name brands on Amazon.
Some headphone amplifiers and phono preamplifiers from more reputable brands can be purchased new in this price range but are generally considered to be of low quality.
Low-End Microphone Preamplifiers
Though we're unlikely to find any pre-built mic pres for under $20, we can find some cheap circuit boards that technically do the trick.

Low-End Phono Preamplifiers
Low-end phono preamplifiers can be purchased for under $20. Though we shouldn't expect the best results, if the rest of the sound system isn't top-notch, these preamps shouldn't negatively affect the sonic results.

$14 Kinter PR400 (link to check the price on Amazon)

Low-End Headphone Amplifiers
For less than $20, we can find a few decent splitter-type headphone “amps”. We'll also find cheap no-name brands on Amazon that act as dedicated amplifiers/impedance converters for headphones.
$6 Mobile Spec Headphone Amplifier & Enhancer (link to check the price on Amazon)

$19 Portable Headphone Amplifier LiNKFOR (link to check the price on Amazon)

$19 Pyle Pro PHA40 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Low-End Power Amplifiers
Like the mic preamp mentioned earlier, there are cases where power amp circuit boards can be purchased for under $20. However, these are of inferior quality and should be avoided.
$6 Dong Yu Yuan TPA3110 PBTL Mono Digital Amplifier Board 30W (link to check the price on Amazon)

Related article: Are Audio Amplifiers Analog Or Digital Devices?
Low-End Subwoofer Amplifiers
Similarly, low-end subwoofer (power) amp boards can also be purchased for under $20. I'd recommend spending a bit more here as well for improved results.
$12 Aoshike 8-25V 100W TPA3116 (link to check the price on Amazon)

Amplifiers Between $20 – $50
Between $20 and $50, we have low-end mic and phono preamps, headphone and power amps, receivers and even integrated amps. Though some units are certainly better than others, most amplifiers (of all types) are subpar in this price range.
Low-End Microphone Preamplifiers
The microphone preamps available for under $50 are often single-channel “booster” type preamps.
$29 Klark Teknik MIC BOOSTER CM-1 (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Low-End Phono Preamplifiers
Plenty of phono preamps are available for under $50. These simple units do the trick but are generally of inferior quality to more expensive options.
$29 Nobsound T1 MM / MC Turntable Phono Preamp (link to check the price on Amazon)

Low-End Headphone Amplifiers
The headphone amplifiers under $50 aren't the greatest, but many will do the trick for increasing the volume of headphones. There are good options for splitter-type headphone amps, but the DAC-types generally leave something to be wanted.
$44 Electro-Harmonix HEADAMP Portable Headphone Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Electro-Harmonix is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Guitar/Bass Effects Pedal Brands To Know & Use.
Low-End Power Amplifiers
You won't find high-quality power amps in this price range, though you will find low-end no-name options.
$20 Yunseity AK-170 (link to check the price on Amazon)

Low-End Integrated Amplifiers
Like the power amps discussed above, integrated amps are technically available for under $50, but they, too, do not perform the greatest.

Low-End Receivers
Low-end receivers begin showing up on the market for under $50. Since receivers require so many technical details, it's unlikely a receiver in this price range will do any of its jobs particularly well.
$39 Pyle PDA29BU.5 (link to check the price on Amazon)

Amplifiers Between $50 – $100
At under $100, there are some decent options for phono preamplifiers. At this price, simple phono preamps can be mass-manufactured and sold while still creating profit for their companies.
For other amps, which often require more work, we're still looking at the more entry-level devices. Low-end guitar, bass and instrument amplifiers can also be found at this price range, which we haven't seen yet.
Low-End Microphone Preamplifiers
Dedicated mic preamps for under $100 don't scream professional recording studio. However, there are some options that offer good clean gain to mic level signals.
$99 ART Dual RP (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Related article: What Is Microphone Gain And How Does It Affect Mic Signals?
ART is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Phono Preamplifiers
If you're going to find a worthy amp for under $100, chances are it'll be a phono preamp. These units aren't complicated and can be produced relatively inexpensively. The savings in manufacturing make these units relatively affordable.
$79 Pro-Ject Phono Box MM (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Low-End Headphone Amplifiers
Below $100, there are a good number of dedicated headphone amplifiers. They may not be of the highest quality, but for musicians and audio hobbyists/professionals on a budget, they can certainly improve the performance of headphones that require dedicated amps.
$99 Bellari HA543 Stereo Headphone Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Related article: What Is A Headphone Amplifier & Are Headphone Amps Worth It?
Low-End Receivers
You're unlikely to find a high-quality receiver for under $100, though there are options at this price point. Again, there's often too much going on in the design of a receiver for a company to deliver a high-quality unit at such a price.
$99 Technical Pro RX45BT 5.2-Channel Receiver (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Related article: What Are The Differences Between An Amplifier & A Receiver?
Low-End Guitar Amp Heads
The low-end of the instrument amplifier market starts at just under $100. For beginner guitarists or those on a budget, guitar amp heads can be purchased at this price point.
$79 Hotone Siva Boogie (link to check the price on Amazon)

Low-End Bass Guitar Amp Heads
Like the guitar amp counterparts, entry-level bass guitar amps are also available for under $100 USD.
$89 Hotone Thunder Bass (link to check the price on Amazon)

Amplifiers Between $100 – $200
We begin seeing more involved headphone amplifiers and audio receivers within the price range of $100 to $200, though they're still generally considered in the “low-end”.
Mic preamps are generally of good quality but are relatively simple in design, often with a single input. Mid-range phono preamps are plentiful in this price range, as are entry-level guitar amplifiers. You can also find some pretty decent monoblock and subwoofer power amps in this range.
Related article: What Is A Monoblock Amplifier? (Monoblock Vs. Stereo Amps).
You'll find that many reputable brands have amplifiers in this price range, though typically at the lower end of their offerings.
Mid-Range Microphone Preamplifiers
In the sub-200 dollar range, we begin seeing higher-quality single-channel microphone preamplifiers. Multi-channel mic preamps are also available, but often lack the sonic quality of more expensive options.
$179 Royer dBooster In-Line Signal Booster (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Related article: What Is A Microphone Preamplifier & Why Does A Mic Need One?
Royer is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Microphone Brands You Should Know And Use.
Mid-Range Phono Preamplifiers
The $100 – $200 range has plenty of great options when it comes to phono preamps.
$189 NAD PP 2e (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

NAD Electronics is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Headphone Amplifiers
For under $200, we can find plenty of splitter/utility headphone amps, but there aren't many single-channel “audiophile-type” amps.
$199 Samson S-phone – 4 Channel Headphone Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Mid-Range Power Amplifiers
There are plenty of quality low-power single or dual-channel power amplifiers for under $200. Higher wattage and channel numbers are generally reserved for more expensive models.
$179 AudioSource AD1002 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Mid-Range Receivers
At under $200, there are plenty of AV receivers for reputable brands. These options may not give the best audio quality, but they perform well as receivers, offering a decent amount of functionality.
$179 Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Sony is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Low-End Guitar Amp Heads
There are a good number of excellent entry-level guitar amp heads in the sub-200 dollar range.
$189 Orange Micro Dark 20-watt Hybrid Head (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Orange is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Low-End Bass Guitar Amp Heads
Similarly, there are a good number of excellent entry-level bass guitar amp heads in the sub-200 dollar range.
$149 TC Electronic BAM200 (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

TC Electronic is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Subwoofer Amplifiers
$200 will get you a decent subwoofer amplifier for vehicle and home applications.
$199 Rockford Fosgate R2-250X1 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Amplifiers Between $200 – $500
The $200 – $500 range is home to a large number of “mid-range” amplifiers, from mic and phono preamps to headphone and instrument amps to power amplifiers and receivers; there are plenty of great options. With a budget of $500 USD, there will be an option to suit most of your amplification needs at home, in the studio, or for your electric instruments.
Mid-Range Microphone Preamplifiers
The $200 – $500 range hosts plenty of single and multi-channel mid-range preamplifiers. Reputable manufacturers like Warm Audio, Black Lion Audio, ART and Cloud have awesome preamps in this range, which are superb options for lower-budget pro studios and project studios alike.
$449 Black Lion Audio B173MK2 (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Black Lion Audio is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Phono Preamplifiers
Phono preamps in the $200 – $500 range tend to offer superb gain and additional functionality such as built-in headphone amps/outputs. The options in this price range are fantastic for most phonograph/vinyl players.
$449 Music Hall PA2.2 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Mid-Range Headphone Amplifiers
Utility headphone amps and desktop studio-grade are plentiful at under $500. The emergence of audiophile amps has begun, though there are certainly more expensive HiFi options on the market.
$499 Rupert Neve Designs RNHP Precision Headphone Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Rupert Neve Designs is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Power Amplifiers
There are plenty of great mid-range power amps below $500. They tend to approach up to 1,000 watts per channel power rating and even exceed this rating in some cases. The high-quality options in this range tend to have wattage rating below 400-500 W.
$499 Avantone Pro CLA100 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Mid-Range Integrated Amplifiers
There aren't really any “low-end” integrated amplifiers. If a reputable company is to produce an integrated amp, it's generally good quality. This is exemplified in the $200-500 range, which has affordable, yet excellent integrated amps.
$449 Denon PMA-600NE (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Denon is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Receivers
Though it's difficult to say that AV receivers are anything but “consumer-grade”, some of the receivers found in the $200-$500 range offer pro-level audio quality along with the added functionality of receivers.
$495 Parasound ZoneMaster 2 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Parasound is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Power Amplifier Brands In The World.
Mid-Range Guitar Amp Heads
For most guitarists, a $500 amp head will do the trick. Many of these models sound great and offer plenty of power.
$479 Blackstar HT5RH MKII (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Blackstar is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Bass Guitar Amp Heads
For most bassist, a $500 amp head will do the trick. Many of these models sound great and offer plenty of power.
$449 Ampeg PF-500 500-watt Portaflex Bass Head (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Ampeg is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Bass Guitar Amplifier Brands In The World.
Mid-Range Subwoofer Amplifiers
Subwoofer amplifiers in the $200 – $500 price range are middle-of-the-pack and tend to be geared toward vehicle and home applications.
$499 Alpine R-A75M (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Alpine is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Subwoofer Brands (Car, PA, Home & Studio).
Amplifiers Between $500 – $1,000
In the $500 – $1,000 range, we have plenty of excellent amplifier options. Many of these amps are perfect for advanced hobbyists and professionals alike.
Whether you're looking for a mic preamp, phono preamp, power amps, or instrument amps, you'll find quality units in this price range.
Mid-Range Microphone Preamplifiers
Professional studio-quality preamplifiers are plentiful in the $500 – $1,000 range but are still arguably considered “mid-range”. We'll find high-end single-channel and mid-range multi-channel options in this range from notable brands like Focusrite, A Designs, Universal Audio, Audient, Daking, etc.
$949 Focusrite ISA Two (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Focusrite is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Phono Preamplifiers
The $1,000 cap brings us high-quality phono preamplifiers. Many of these units are “HiFi/audiophile quality”, offering incredibly transparent results.
$999 iFi iPhono3 Black Label (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Mid-Range Headphone Amplifiers
Many professional-quality headphone amps are available for under $1,000. There are also countless options for splitter-style utility amps for broadcast, studio and other applications.
$999 Shure SHA900 – Portable Listening Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Shure is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Power Amplifiers
The sub-1,000 dollar price range is home to a wide variety of power amplifiers. Reputable brands like WSC, Yamaha, RCF, Dynacord, Crown, Electro-Voice and many more offer multi-channel options with relatively high wattage ratings and clean gain.
$960 QSC SPA4-100 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

QSC is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Integrated Amplifiers
Integrated amplifiers in the $500 – $1,000 range are a mixed bag of “mid-range” and HiFi/audiophile quality.
$999 Cambridge Audio CXA61 Stereo 60W Integrated Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Cambridge Audio is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Receivers
Receivers in this price range sound great and make for flexible centrepieces of advanced home sound systems.
$999 Rotel A12 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Mid-Range Guitar Amp Heads
Professional gigging and studio guitarists may prefer higher-end amps toward the $1,000 point. At these prices, there are plenty of superb “mid-range” options and a few stellar choices. Guitarists can typically find what they're looking for, tone-wise, in this range.
$999 Fender Super-Sonic 22 (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Fender is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Mid-Range Bass Guitar Amp Heads
Professional gigging and studio bassists might enjoy the added power and tone shaping that often comes from bass amps near the $1,000 point. Musicians can typically find what they're looking for, tone-wise, in this range.

Mesa/Boogie is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Subwoofer Amplifiers
For under $1,000, we can expect to be able to purchase a high-quality subwoofer amp for our vehicles, home entertainment sound system and even our professional music studios. There are also higher power models that will perform well in venues.
$999 Memphis Audio VIV2200.1V2 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Amplifiers Between $1,000 – $5,000
Amplifier designs in the $1-5k range are practically all professional quality. Though there are certainly more expensive options on the market, you'll likely be able to find the perfect amp in this price range.
High-End Microphone Preamplifiers
If you're looking for a professional microphone preamplifier, you'll find it in this price range. For under $5,000, there are countless pro-level mic pre options.
$4,295 Neve 1073OPX (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

AMS Neve is featured in top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Phono Preamplifiers
Yes, there are numerous phono preamplifiers for above $1,000. These “HiFi/audiophile quality” units are generally uber-transparent, low-noise and look beautiful.
$2,995 Parasound Halo JC 3+ (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

High-End Headphone Amplifiers
Audiophiles rejoice at spending this much money on headphone amps. HiFi options are top-notch at this price point. Of course, pro audio options are also prevalent. However, utility headphone amps typically don't demand such a high price point.
$3,299 Benchmark HPA4 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Benchmark Media is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Headphone Amplifier Brands In The World.
Mid-Range Power Amplifiers
The power amplifiers in this range generally offer lots of gain and output power. They're also typically built with very flexible I/O and high channel counts.
$4,508 Crown Audio DCi 41250 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Crown Audio is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Power Amplifier Brands In The World.
High-End Integrated Amplifiers
If you're willing to invest a good chunk of money in home entertainment with HiFi audio, then an integrated amplifier in the $1,000 – $5,000 range will likely be a perfect fit.
$3,999 Yamaha A-S2200 Stereo 180W Integrated Amplifier (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Yamaha is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Receivers
High-end receivers in the $1-5k range are generally reserved for audiophiles truly dedicated to HiFi sound, though many of these folks opt for integrated amplifiers instead.
We can expect these units to offer superior I/O flexibility, clean power amplification, and a classy aesthetic along with the high price tag.
$4,990 Naim Uniti Star (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

High-End Guitar Amp Heads
The $1,000 to $5,000 range hosts a multitude of amazing guitar amps. Tone, power, aesthetic and flexibility are generally all top-notch in these amps. This price range is also home to many highly sought-after vintage guitar amplifiers.
$4,899 Diezel VHX 100-watt (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

High-End Bass Guitar Amp Heads
This is the high-end of bass guitar amps. The models in this range tend to offer superior power, tone and overall flexibility.
$2,495 Aguilar DB 751 750-watt Hybrid Bass Head (link to check the price at Sweetwater)

Aguilar is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Bass Guitar Amplifier Brands In The World.
High-End Subwoofer Amplifiers
Along with high-power live sound subwoofer amplifiers, the $1-5k range is also home to superb, often THX-rated, HiFi and pro audio subwoofer amplifiers. These units are typically closer to the 1k end of the spectrum than the 5k.
$1,899 Klipsch KA-1000-THX (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Klipsch is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
Amplifiers Between $5,000 – $10,000
Welcome to the big leagues. It's usually unnecessary to spend this much on an amplifier, though there are professional situations that may call for the technology of such amps.
Whether you're after a super-clean preamp or a super-powerful power amp, you'll get what you're after if you're willing to pay the price.
Audiophiles with money to spend will likely find a superb piece in this price range.
At this price range, you're really paying for a few things. The vast majority of amplifiers priced above $5,000 are done so for many reasons:
- Continued research and development, allowing for excellent innovation in amplifier technology.
- Production methods that create one amp at a time or amplifiers in small batches with precision and tedious attention to detail.
- Rigorous testing and tweaking before the amplifier is ever sent to market. This ensures a high standard of quality and consistency across all amplifiers of a specific model.
- Outstanding customer support and warranty.
- Brand name recognition, to some extent.
High-End Microphone Preamplifiers
There are super high-end mic preamps at this price range. They often offer much more than mere multi-channel preamplification of mic level signals. Other times, they are highly sought-after vintage preamps on the used market.
$6,499 SPL Crescendo 8-Channel (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

SPL is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Headphone Amplifiers
There aren't too many headphone amplifiers that command a $5k+ price tag. Those that do tend to offer incredible sonic performance, flexibility and I/O.
Alternatively, high-end electrostatic headphone amps may get into this price range.
$5,999 Audio-Technica Consumer AT-HA5050H (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Audio-Technica is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
High-End Power Amplifiers
The power amplifiers in this range generally offer lots of gain and output power. They're also typically built with very flexible I/O and high channel counts. Power amps at this price point are often relied upon in large concerts where a great deal of power is required to drive many loudspeakers.
$7,900 Lab.Gruppen D Series 120:4 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Related article: Why Do Speakers Need Amplifiers? (And How To Match Them).
High-End Integrated Amplifiers
For top-of-the-line audio in a home sound system, it's hard to go wrong with any of the appropriately-price integrated amp options in this price range.
$7,999 Marantz PM-10 (link to check the price at B&H Photo/Video)

Marantz is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best AV Receiver Brands In The World.
High-End Receivers
Like the 1-5k options, the 5-10k receivers generally offer superior I/O flexibility, clean multi-channel power amplification, and a beautiful aesthetic.
$8,500 Mark Levinson No.5805 (link to check the price at Crutchfield)

Amplifiers Above $10,000
There are plenty of amplifier options above the $10,000 point. Typically, we'll find super-powerful power amps, top-of-the-line professional mic preamps, HiFi integrated amps and audiophile-grade headphones amps. Let's go through a few examples of readily available $10k+ options before jumping to the most expensive amplifiers in the world.
High-End Microphone Preamplifiers
If spending over $10k on a mic preamp is something you're interested in, there are a few options. However, for solely mic preamplification, there are plenty of excellent options for much cheaper.
$12,500 Esoteric Audio Research 824 Tube Microphone Preamp (link to check the price at Vintage King)

High-End Integrated Amplifiers
Audiophile-grade, HiFi-capable integrated amps may run over $10k. These options generally offer gorgeous aesthetics and are produced with the finest components available.
$14,995 Pathos Inpol Heritage Tube Hybrid Integrated Amplifier (link to check the price at Upscale Audio)

Pathos Acoustics is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Headphone Amplifier Brands In The World.
High-End Electrostatic Headphone Amplifiers
Super high-end electrostatic headphones require dedicated electrostatic headphone amps. Some of these models go for over $10k on the market.
$68,000 (with headphones) Sennheiser Orpheus/HE 1 (link to check the price at Sennheiser)

Related articles:
• Complete Guide To Electrostatic Headphones (With Examples)
• Top 5 Best Electrostatic Headphones
Sennheiser is featured in other top brand articles at My New Microphone. Check out these articles here!
The World's Most Expensive Amplifiers
Note that each of the world's most expensive amplifiers is a power amplifier.
- Pivetta Opera Only – $2,200,000
- Pivetta Opera One – $650,000
- Ultrasound Otello – $600,000
- Rike Audio Edzard – $490,000
- Etheraudio Abbssolute Intuition – $406,000
- Ultrasound Parsec – $400,000
- Goldmund Telos 5000 – $375,000
- Wavac SH-833 $350,000
- Goldmund Telos 3500+ – $302,500
- Audio Note Japan Ongaku – $250,000
How Much Do Microphone Preamplifiers Cost?
How much do microphone preamplifiers cost? The price of microphone preamplifiers ranges from $7 USD at the low-end and up to $12,500 USD at the high-end. Mid-range mic preamps typically cost between $150 – $1,500. High-quality (or overpriced) mic preamplifiers generally cost over $1,500.
How Much Do Phono Preamplifiers Cost?
How much do phono preamplifiers cost? The price of phono preamplifiers ranges from $11 USD at the low-end and up to $2,995 USD at the high-end. Mid-range phono preamplifiers typically cost between $100 – $500. High-quality (or overpriced) phono preamps generally cost over $500.
How Much Do Headphone Amplifiers Cost?
How much do headphone amplifiers cost? The price of headphone amplifiers ranges from $6 USD at the low-end and up to $68,000 USD (Sennheiser Orpheus/HE 1 with headphones) at the high-end. Mid-range headphone amplifiers typically cost between $250 – $1,000. High-quality (or overpriced) amplifiers generally cost over $1,000.
How Much Do Power Amplifiers Cost?
How much do power amplifiers cost? The price of power amplifiers ranges from $6 USD at the low-end and up to $2,200,000 USD (Pivetta Opera Only) at the high-end. Mid-range power amplifiers typically cost between $150 – $5,000. High-quality (or overpriced) power amps generally cost over $5,000.
How Much Do Integrated Amplifiers Cost?
How much do integrated amplifiers cost? The price of integrated amplifiers ranges from $46 USD at the low-end and up to $14,995 USD at the high-end. Mid-range integreated amplifiers typically cost between $500 – $4,000. High-quality (or overpriced) integrated amps generally cost over $4,000.
How Much Do Audio Receivers Cost?
How much do audio receivers cost? The price of audio receivers ranges from $39 USD at the low-end and up to $8,500 USD at the high-end. Mid-range receivers typically cost between $400 – $1,000. High-quality (or overpriced) receivers generally cost over $1,000.
How Much Do Guitar Amplifier Heads Cost?
How much do guitar amplifier heads cost? The price of guitar amp heads ranges from $79 USD at the low-end and up to $4,899 USD at the high-end. Mid-range guitar amplifier heads typically cost between $400 – $1,000. High-quality (or overpriced) guitar amps generally cost over $1,000.
How Much Do Bass Guitar Amplifier Heads Cost?
How much do bass guitar amplifier heads cost? The price of bass guitar amp heads ranges from $89 USD at the low-end and up to $2,495 USD at the high-end. Mid-range bass guitar amplifier heads typically cost between $400 – $1,000. High-quality (or overpriced) bass guitar amps generally cost over $1,000.
How Much Do Subwoofer Amplifiers Cost?
How much do subwoofer amplifiers cost? The price of subwoofer amplifiers ranges from $12 USD at the low-end and up to $1,899 USD at the high-end. Mid-range subwoofer amplifiers typically cost between $150 – $500. High-quality (or overpriced) subwoofer amps generally cost over $500.
Related Questions
What are the best microphone preamplifier brands in the world? The best mic preamp brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- API
- Solid State Logic
- True Systems
- Universal Audio
- Great River Electronics
- Avalon Design
- AMSNeve
- Grace Design
- dbx
- Focusrite
- ART
- FMR Audio
- Black Lion Audio
Read more here: Top 13 Best Microphone Preamplifier Brands In The World
What are the best headphone amplifier brands in the world? The best headphone amp brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Woo Audio
- Burson Audio
- Schiit
- FiiO
- Chord Electronics
- Benchmark Media
- Linear Tube Audio
- Cambridge Audio
- Auris Audio
- Pathos Acoustics
- Feliks Audio
Read more here: Top 11 Best Headphone Amplifier Brands In The World
What are the best power amplifier brands in the world? The best power amp brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Crown Audio
- Niles
- McIntosh
- NAD Electronics
- Anthem
- Cambridge Audio
- Rega Research
- Parasound
- Schiit
- Pass Labs
- Linear Tube Audio
Read more here: Top 11 Best Power Amplifier Brands In The World
What are the best AV receiver brands in the world? The best AV receiver brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Denon
- Onkyo
- Sony
- Marantz
- Anthem
- Yamaha
- Integra
- AudioControl
- Pioneer
- Arcam
- Outlaw Audio
Read more here: Top 11 Best AV Receiver Brands In The World
What are the best guitar amplifier brands in the world? The best guitar amp brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Fender
- Orange
- Vox
- Victory
- Blackstar
- Mesa/Boogie
- Friedman
- Laney
- Hughes & Kettner
- Boss
- Marshall
Read more here: Top 11 Best Guitar Amplifier Brands In The World
What are the best bass guitar amplifier brands in the world? The best bass guitar amp brands in the world, in my opinion, are as follows:
- Aguilar
- Ampeg
- Orange
- Fender
- Mesa/Boogie
- Blackstar
- Darkglass Electronics
- Eich
- Markbass
- Gallien-Krueger
- Hartke
Read more here: Top 11 Best Bass Guitar Amplifier Brands In The World
Choosing the best mic preamp(s) for your applications can be a challenging task. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive Microphone Preamplifier Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help choosing the best mic preamps for your applications.
Choosing the best power amplifier for your car, home sound system, or pro audio application can be a complicated assignment. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive Power Amplifier Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help choosing the best power amp for your applications.
Choosing the best AV receiver for your AV setup can be a daunting task. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive AV Receiver Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help choosing the centrepiece of your entertainment system.
This article has been approved in accordance with the My New Microphone Editorial Policy.
