Hot Property: Why Sugden's Class A A21SE is One of the Best Integrated Amplifiers On Sale!

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2024-07-03に共有

In this episode, Mike and David are joined by Hi-Fi Riff's 'tame speaker designer' Jes Kerr, to review a classic Sugden integrated that has its roots in the original A21 from 1968! The guys agree that there's something rather lovely about the way it sounds – and it's a useful step up from the basic model, with more power and detail. They reckon that it's very hard not to love, providing you don't look at your electricity bills too closely! Also in this episode, Jes and David have a beer without Mike...

Every episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.

So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing – and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!

The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.

Follow Hi-Fi Riff on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hifiriff/

コメント (21)

@analoglooney 14日前

They are an amazing company Sugden. They seem to brush off fashion trends and just chug along making superb sounding and superbly made products. Good riff chaps. 🙂
@melchior-chr.v.brincken8006 14日前

I have the Sugden A21SE (Orange) - and the DAC-4. Gorgeous combination - with vintage LEAK 250 Sandwich speakers.
@paulwhite1109 14日前

Love a bit of Mike and Dave and Jes's Hi Fi Riff 😂. But seriously, good to see Jes on again.
@peterrichardson9248 14日前

I have an IA4 bought a few months back and it is simply brilliant.
@richcarless7740 14日前

I have this amp, my days it's glorious. Instruments sound like instruments, the decay structure of bells, acoustics, and cymbals is beguiling. But it’s main strength is vocals, it places them front and centre of the performance. I have it paired with a set of ProAcs D20Rs and a R26 ladder dac and I love the combination. I will disagree with you slightly, the Sugden sounds good as soon as you turn it on, but you can hear it getting better as it warms up. I think it really gets into its stride after about an hour. Glad you all liked it though, great riff.
@kjbiz 2日前

Thanks guys. I loved hearing about this amp as I have this on my radar or some sort of Sugden amp in the future.
@RudeJags 14日前

Awesome review and banter!
@nigesavage5548 14日前

"If you like death metal and enjoy tinnitus".... I feel observed! :)
@kesm66 昨日

I have this amp. I’ve owned Kenwood>Sony>Krell>Hegel>Schiit Aegir>SPL>Musical FidelityA1. The Sugden A21SE is my all time fave of what I’ve owned. It is a wonderfully euphoric sounding amp.
@yippie6862 14日前

Mike and David brought along their Son today. 😉 Seriously though, Jes Kerr seems like a cool guy. I really like the Sugden brand. Owned the standard, non SE, 21 Signature for a few years. Within its power limits it is an awesome amplifier.
@alaincollin7513 14日前

Thanks for the Al Jarreau tip. Beautiful album!
@cod88188 14日前

Nice / fun "riff" ... which as a Sugden fan, I am happy to see, again (reference their DAC-4 riff) Though as an A21 Signature (the "baby sister") owner, I do take umbrage with their characterization the SE is where Sugden "gets serious" and their slight of the preamp section of the A21 Signature ... While the A21 Signature and the A21SE Signature do in fact share the same output amplification modules, with differences in the power supplies and preamp section (though not necessarily "better"), there of those of us which prefer the "baby sister" over the bigger brothers and sisters in the entire Sugden family ... That's not to cast shade on the rest of the family ... rather, simply to say / agree, I would choose any Sugden model over most of a price peer competitor ... I personally have chosen the A21 Signature over the SE and bigger siblings based on the sound / performance of the "baby" ... Again, nice / fun review and am always happy to see a review of a Sugden model ... just, don't cast shade on a sibling, they are all wonderful and have their own "take on" / "approach to" reproducing sound, even with all (but the ANV-50) being Class A ... And for the record, my A21 Signature replaced a significantly higher powered and priced (4x) integrated amplifier, which the A21SE Signature would have been more a peer of "macro dynamically", but there is just a bit more of the "continuous-ness" of a live, un / minimally amplified, acoustic instrument's sound with the baby's reproduction ... though most would not place the A21 Signature in a signal chain with sources (TT & CD) and speakers each being 3 - 4x its retail ... Though, again, the A21SE Signature certainly has more macro dynamic swing and slam ... It all comes down to one's system, musical preferences and ear (what one focuses on in reproduced sound) ... keep up the good work HF R gang and happy listening all
@MrThomaspontillo 14日前

I own a Sugden a21se signature and even death metal sounds fantastic 😊
@dougg1075 14日前

Love the red
@christopherfox735 14日前

Brilliant Riff guys. The Sugden Appreciation Society will be pleased. It’s a great amplifier but if you need more power there’s the ANV-50 50w in to 8ohms/100w in to 4ohms £4,790 or the IA4 33w in to 8ohms at £6,649 all available as a custom colour for additional £135.00. It’ll last you a lifetime. My Sugden A48B is over 30yrs old & it plays rock really well as well as prog!
@roryyoung6192 14日前

Best riff in 2024 so far! After my old A1 i've always wanted a larger 'class A' so really interesting. As always, love the music choices and references to 2 stroke bikes!
@amok281 14日前

Mike, my original 1972 Sugden A21 surprisingly drove my 1982 Linn Saras very well. Yes the bass was just a little soft but the combination was so musical!
@Ricky-cl5bu 14日前

I always wanted to hear a class A sugden
@hailtothevictorz 14日前

Great video guys. I got my Sugden A21se about two years ago and use it with the Volti Audio Razz LE (claimed sensitivity of 97db). System has pretty great synergy, sometimes I wish I had ordered the base model that some people claim has a near tube-like quality. Always enjoy your vids... keep it up!
@2023C8HTC 2日前

Thx!Larry,Curly & Moe.Great video and I am looking to pick a A21SE up this week to match with my Klipsch Cornwall IV's.