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Designed to appeal to hi-fi newcomers and experienced audiophiles alike, Pioneer’s new A-40AE integrated amplifier (pictured with the N-50AE network audio player) has been tuned to deliver low distortion coupled with fine resolution and clarity. Boasting a claimed 2x 76W power output into 4ohm, analogue connections include five line-level inputs. Turntables are catered for thanks to a moving-magnet input, while digital options include optical and coaxial inputs. There are terminals for two independent pairs of speakers (for individual or parallel operation), capable of taking 4mm banana plugs. The built-in Wolfson DAC can handle music files up to 32-bit/384kHz, while a headphone amplification stage is also built in. A Power Amp Direct mode is onhand for bypassing the volume control, should you wish to hook up an external preamp and the A-40AE comes equipped with tone and balance controls. It’s available in a choice of black or silver finishes from August for £400 and you can find out more about it here. Read our full review in the September issue.