Video: Leak - Stereo 230 Review
Client Name
Living Entertainment
Date
October 2025
Category
Video
It’s been quite a few years since the Leak Stereo 130 hit the shelves. While it wasn’t an instant hit, it gradually picked up momentum, especially once people started pairing it with the Wharfedale Lintons.
Today, there’s no shortage of vintage-looking modern hi-fi components on the market, and it all kind of started with the Leak Stereo 130. Most of us who heard the Dentons or the Lintons paired with the Stereo 130 really enjoyed that sound. But we also knew that neither the Dentons nor the Lintons were performing at their full potential with that pairing, and that was largely due to the Stereo 130’s 45-watt output.
So here we are, a few years later, with the Leak Stereo 230—bringing more power and far superior bass control.
Since the launch of the Leak Stereo 230, we’ve also seen the release of the Wharfedale Super Dentons, which are the speakers I used for most of my testing with the 230. They’re the most appropriate for my room. But rest assured—whatever Wharfedale Heritage speaker you go with, be it the Dentons, Lintons, or Super Dentons, if you get the walnut veneer, you’re going to have a beautiful, matchy-matchy system that’s quite arresting to look at, especially if you love that vintage hi-fi aesthetic.
Speaking of the walnut casing: this is real walnut veneer, and in person, it looks and feels fantastic. It’s not a glossy finish, it’s more in line with a modern matte finish. Or, for those of you who are old enough to remember, more like a classic wax finish from back in the day.
This integrated amplifier comes equipped with an ESS 9038 DAC chip, which is a very detailed DAC in its own right. But as we know, it’s not just about the chip, it’s about how it’s integrated into the circuitry. And I can confidently say, based on how it sounds, that this is a fantastic implementation.
Of course, it includes all your standard digital inputs, optical, coaxial, etc. But what’s a little unusual for something with such a classic aesthetic, and something I’m very glad is included, is the HDMI ARC input.
Now, I get it ,it feels a bit weird plugging your TV into something that looks this old. But for those of us whose integrated amps have to pull double duty in the living room, this is a fantastic inclusion. I know I’m not alone in that.
It also includes the usual suspects:
A moving magnet phono stage
Bluetooth connectivity
And a 12V trigger, so if you have the matching Leak CDT (CD transport), you can set them up to power on together. Very convenient.
But let’s get back to what I was talking about earlier, the real jump from the Stereo 130, and that is, of course, the power.
We’re talking 75 watts into 8 ohms and 115 watts into 4 ohms. That’s a huge leap from the Stereo 130’s 45 watts into 8 ohms and 65 into 4 ohms.
In particular, with the Lintons, a common critique was that, even though they sounded good, depending on what you were listening to, they could sound a bit skeletal. That is no longer a problem.
This is a difference you don’t just hear, you feel. The Stereo 230 is significantly heavier and larger than the 130. It’s had a massive upgrade to its toroidal transformers. The result is an amplifier that is substantially deeper, and that’s really evident when you sit it next to the Leak CDT. The CDT and the 130 were designed to match in chassis size, so you can clearly see how much bigger the 230 is.
These upgraded transformers make a real sonic difference, something the Wharfedale Super Dentons really show off. The 230 delivers much tighter bass control, with more authority and grip than the Stereo 130, or even the Audiolab 6000A Play, which I also tested with the Super Dentons.
Overall, you get a bigger, more controlled sound across the board. That’s something that stood out especially when listening to Viagra Boys’ Cave World LP.
This leads me to another big improvement over the 130. In the past, you kind of had to crank the 130 to around 12 o'clock, about halfway, before the Lintons really came alive. But with the Stereo 230, that’s just not the case. Even at low volumes, the system sounds lively and controlled.
Despite its vintage looks, the Leak Stereo 230 has a surprisingly modern sound. That’s not the case with the Lintons and Dentons themselves, which lean more vintage in voicing. But that’s the smart thing the IAG group has done here: they’ve kept the electronics modern, so users can then color the sound with their speaker choice. You’re not getting a warm amp paired with warm speakers and ending up with a woolly sound. The 230 is modern and detailed, which lets you shape the tone with your choice of speaker.
So, what do I mean by modern sound?
I’d describe the Leak Stereo 230 as having a neutral character, but with a touch of sparkle and detail in the top end, more so than other IAG amps like the Audiolab 6000 and 7000 series.
That sparkle is really apparent on albums like Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, where the acoustic cuts sound incredibly spacious and light.
The 230’s attention to detail is also clear when listening to the soundtrack to Morning of the Earth. The recordings on that album are... well, let’s say generously described as “average.” But the 230 gives them a smooth top layer that keeps the imperfections from becoming distractions, while still retaining all the detail. And that’s important, especially if you enjoy older recordings that weren’t exactly captured with state-of-the-art gear.
Now, that’s not to say this is a cold or sterile-sounding amp, it isn’t. But I do think it pairs better with Wharfedale’s Heritage line than with something like the KEF LS50 Meta, at least to my ears.
Its mid-range performance is worth highlighting too, both in terms of feel and detail. This really comes through on the 2022 Beatles Revolver reissue, especially on “Eleanor Rigby”, where the strings sound incredibly rich and lush.
Meanwhile, James Guthrie’s 2018 rework of Pink Floyd’s Animals does a great job of showcasing the 230’s capabilities in imaging, soundstage depth, and spatial presentation. It’s not razor-sharp or analytical, but when you close your eyes, the sound solidifies in front of you. There’s no vagueness or haze, it’s just precise and engaging.
Final Thoughts
If you’re someone who loves that vintage aesthetic but prefers a modern sound, the Leak Stereo 230 might be exactly what you’re looking for.
If you’re into physical media, and if you like vintage-looking hi-fi gear, you probably are, there are plenty of Pro-Ject turntables with walnut finishes that pair beautifully with the Leak Stereo 230. And if you collect CDs, the Leak CDT is a perfect visual match.
Pair the 230 with Wharfedale’s Heritage speakers, and I think the combination speaks for itself, both visually and sonically.
My only gripe? There’s no Leak streamer that matches this aesthetic... yet. Hopefully that’s something we’ll see down the road to really complete the package.
If you’re looking for an integrated amplifier that offers vintage looks with modern features and sound, the Leak Stereo 230 should absolutely be on your shortlist.
