12.2020 - Audio Emporium

Leak Audio

Leak is an iconic British brand of audio gear, founded 1934. Leak has introduced a short line of modern gear, in vintage clothing.

You can use Leak with its lovely real walnut cabinet. Or, remove the cabinet for a classic STEEL look. Either way, you’re back in the 70s with contemporary performance!

We get calls every week looking for vintage gear. The problem, dear reader, is the vast majority of old gear wasn’t that great to begin with and flat out doesn’t work 40-50 years later. Please consider Leak. It will give you the iconic look you’ll love, with strong reliability and modern accouterments.

Stereo 130 Integrated Amp: $1195: 45×2

(45×2, 8 ohms, 20-20k: 5.7h, 12.8w, 11.1d, 16 lbs)

The amp section is 45×2 of classic AB design. THD is .005%, 20-20k. While not a behemoth of an amp, Stereo 130 is a solid, punchy amplifier. It will drive some pretty substantial speakers without complaint. How about the Wharfedale line with matching walnut finish? In particular, Stereo 130 is a wonderful companion for Wharfedale’s Lintons and Denton 85s. Both are finished beautifully in real walnut and perfect mates with Leak!

Stereo 130 has a superdooper volume control. It is weighted “perfectly.” As you turn up the volume, there is a touch/hear quotient that is one with the universe. I’ve always been ticked when high end companies put a flimsy feeling volume control on their preamps. Where’s the beef? Come on guys. Part of the enjoyment of operating a preamp or integrated is to FEEL that when you throttle up, you’re nearing lift off!

Stereo 130 features a 32b Sabre DAC to shake hands with Leak’s CDT or your digital sources. It has Bluetooth for your phone as well.

Stereo 130 has bass, treble and balance controls. It also has a DIRECT switch to bypass them. It has a fine headphone amp on board as well. The headphone jack is ¼ inch.

Analog inputs:

MM Phono

Two RCA analog inputs

Analog outputs:

Pre out. Yes!!

Digital inputs:

USB-B

Coax

Two OPTs

Digital outputs:

Coax

CDT CD Transport $899

CDT is a solidly built, slot loading transport (no DAC on board) to mate with Stereo 130. It is the same size as Stereo 130 and the ideal partner for playing your silver discs. Outputs are coax and optical. Running CDT into Stereo 130 will sound cleaner than using some CD player into it!

Being a transport instead of a CD player, CDT isolates its laser electromagnetically with its own power supply. It features a crystal oscillator to reduce jitter. It has read-ahead buffering so it will play all but the most damaged CDs. In short, CDT was made to be a serious quality player of compact discs, instead of generic throw in.