Enjoy your music, your way.
Stream from your set top box, smart device or computer via S/PDIF or USB port.
Retro Stereo 50
Looking for a one-box unit with classic styling?
The Retro Stereo 50 is classic hi-fi quality fused with contemporary tech in a compact, retro package.
A timeless modern classic
The Retro Stereo 50 (and LS3.5 bamboo speakers!) create an old-school yet modern vibe for your living or office space.
Classic, compact and cutting-edge, it’s an integrated stereo tube (valve) amplifier with a hybrid output stage and an output of 25W per channel.
All mod cons
As well as analogue inputs including an excellent phono stage to connect a turntable, it incorporates a hi-res DAC with digital inputs to play music from computers and smart devices.
And there’s Bluetooth, too, for those who prefer to stream wirelessly from their smartphones and tablets.
Superior sonics
We’ve also added our signature sonic ‘optional extras’.
XBass+ cleans up and restores a richer deeper bass line.
3D+ helps to recreates the spaceness of a live stage performance.
Adjust bass and spatial performance with ease as all signals are processed in the analogue domain.
Pitch perfect
Listen via your favourite headphones.
Or add a pair of connected speakers. Our LS3.5 bookshelf speakers are designed specifically to go with the Retro 50.
Whatever you choose, you’ll be immersed in gloriously rich, pitch-perfect, expressive sound.
A class act refined. Every nuance defined. All-new Burr Brown Soundplus® J-FET type amplifier now beats at the heart of the Class A TubeState®.
This new circuit significantly reduces the loading seen by the main amplification circuit which improves the circuit inherent linearity while allowing it to drive even punishing 600 ohm studio inputs with impunity. The power supply filtering has been increased 5X in value.
More than ever, one can hear ‘into’ the recording itself with the blackest of backgrounds and every nuance, inflection is picked up by the system.
The 3DHolographic+® for speakers takes high end systems to another level.
It corrects spatial distortions and increases the width of the soundstage beyond that of the speaker placement.
XBass+® for speakers. No degradation in sound quality.
Provides adjustable levels of bass control to enhance listening enjoyment through speakers that have limited bass extension.
Hi-Res True Native® playback for all music formats from MP3 to DSD512, PCM768 and 2xDXD.
Support
Wireless Input
| Bluetooth (aptX) | 1 |
Digital Input
| USB (DSD512/768kHz/2xDXD) | 1 |
| Coaxial (192kHz) | 1 |
| Optical (192kHz) | 1 |
Analogue Input
| Phono(MM/MC Low/MC High/Line 3) | 1 |
| Line 1 | 1 |
| Line 2 | 1 |
| 3.5mm (share with Line 2) | 1 |
Outputs
| Loudspeaker Output | 1 |
| 3.5mm Headphone Output | 1 (Output impedance 3.5mm < 3 Ohm) |
| 6.3mm Headphone Output | 1 (Output impedance 6.3mm < 6 Ohm) |
Audio Section
| Power output (Music) | > 25W(majority Class A) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion(THD) | < 0.2% (@ 2.83V/1W) |
| Output bandwidth | 10Hz ~ 60kHz |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz ~ 80kHz |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | > Amplifier 101dB (@ max output) |
| > Phono MM: 90dB(A) | |
| > Phono MC: 80dB(A) | |
| DAC Dynamic Range | > 113dB(A) |
| Tone Control | Bass(100Hz) +/-8dB |
| Treble(10KHz) +/-8dB | |
| Analogue Signal Processing (ASP) | XBass, 3D Holographic |
| Phono Gain | 38, 50, 62dB |
| MM | 220pF//47k |
| MC | 200pF//330R |
| RIAA Accuracy | <0.5dB |
| Tubes | 2 x ECF82; 4 x EL84X |
Digital Section
| PCM | 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz |
| DSD 512/256/128/64 | 24.6/22.6/12.4/11.2/6.2/5.6/3.1/2.8MHz |
| DXD | 768/705.6/384/352.8kHz |
| Filters | Minimum Phase (PCM 192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz) |
| Bit Perfect (DXD/PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8) | |
| Analogue (DSD) |
General
| Power Supply | AC 100V-240V |
| Power consumption | 75W |
| ~0.1W (Standard mode) | |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 300 x 153 x 226mm |
| Weight | 5.8kg |
We’re working on it — check back soon!
Reviews
iFi Audio Retro Stereo 50 Review
“…the Retro Stereo 50 is one of the most beautiful integrated tube amplifiers on the market.”
“you can see how much iFi Audio care about every detail simply by opening the Retro Stereo 50”
“Not only does the Retro Stereo 50 offer a lot of input options, but it also has many built-in features including a phono pre-amp for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a headphone amp.”
“The mid-range is upfront and present which adds a beautiful clarity and enhances the sound stage. The highs are a little bright, especially with the LS3.5 or other bookshelf speakers, however, with the tone control, you have the ability to dial this back if necessary. Overall, the Retro Stereo 50 is extremely well-balanced and will be great for listening to your favorite vinyl, digital audio, or even Bluetooth playback.”
(Click name to read original review)
Liam from Ireland enjoying the Retro 50
Got mine recently as Livingroom system. Very happy indeed. Playing Qobuz mainly via a Kokkia Apt-X Bluetooth adapter from my IPad 2. Very musical. No listening fatigue. No gripes at all in fact.
Liam
(Click name to read original review)
Stereo50 brings out the beauty of the music being played
I could immediately hear Dee-dee of Dexter Laboratory say her catch-phrase “Oooooooh, what does this button do?”. So many buttons and switches. Cool! The overall finish is excellent. The cover gives you a peek at the tubes. My first tube amplifier…..The iFi website mentions a study done on the effects of adding tubes to your hifi system. With the Stereo50 I feel I was part of the study and belong to the group where the music invites you to listen longer and influenced your movements such as tapping your feet. I am enjoying my music independent if it is coming from a LP, CD or radio. The amplifier is my introduction to tubes…..somehow it attracts your attention, because the music it makes sounds beautiful. There is definitely a sweetness in the sound…..The amp is very well balanced. You notice this with everything. It is a well thought out all-in-one concept. Everything is not just added and put on top of each other, which maybe would have doubled its price. It is integrated in the real sense of the word. The end result is a very beautiful, sweet pure natural sounding amplifier that successfully combines old and new technologies and offers an extravaganza of music sources to listen to.”
Pros: Sweet pure natural sounding amplifier that successfully combines old and new technologies and offers an extravaganza of music sources to listen to
Cons: it’s hard to think of cons with this kind of performance and high value for money
(Click name to read original review)
Solid-state 'v' Tubes
A solid-state amplifier uses electronics such as diodes and transistors to amplify the music signal. A tube amp uses valves/vacuum tubes to do the same job.
There is a noticeable sound difference between the two methods. Some feel that tube amps create a warmer, more musical tone. Some companies choose to build ‘hybrid’ models that combine the two methods.
What is a phono-stage?
A phono stage (also known as a phono pre-amp) provides the connection between the record player and an amplifier.
When vinyl was the defacto standard for audio recording, the phono stage was built-in to receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable.
It will improve the depth and quality of music.
DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter)
DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones.
Every device that’s a source of digital sound has a built-in DAC (TVs, games consoles, CD players, phones, portable music players etc). Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones.
DSP (Digital Signal Processing)
Digital signal processing (DSP) is the use of digital processing, such as by computers or more specialized digital signal processors, to perform a wide variety of signal processing operations. When it comes to audio the overuse of DSP can result in an over-compressed, unnatural sound.
File formats
MP3 – this is the most popular format, every device in the world can use it.
DSD – Direct Stream Digital is a very high-quality audio format, better than CD quality. The higher the number (sample rate), the better the recording – DSD64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024.
PCM – Pulse Code Modulation is the most common format for CDs and DVDs.
DXD – Digital eXtreme Definition is a very high-quality PCM format. It was developed to edit hi-res (high quality) recordings recorded in DSD.
