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This Affordable Desktop Amp Will Revive Your Old Bookshelf Speakers

Don’t let its compact size (or affordable price tag) fool you. This amp is a little powerhouse.

Black dodeaudo audio amplifier with bass, treble, and volume knobs on a wooden shelf between two cream speakers.Fiio
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By Tucker Bowe

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Fiio is a fast-growing audio manufacturer that has become pretty well known for its desktop and portable hi-fi components.

Now, launching under its affordable sub-brand, Jade Audio, the company has introduced an extremely affordable desktop amplifier, specifically designed to power a pair of passive bookshelf speakers.

Fiio Jade Audio Level 1

Pair of black Yamaha bookshelf speakers with silver cones and a small black audio amplifier on a beige cabinet with books and abstract art.
The integrated amplifier can work in traditional stereo or wireless hi-fi setups.
Fiio

300 watts per channel

The Level 1 is an integrated amplifier that combines a power amplifier, preamplifier and DAC, as well as both wired and wireless connections, into one compact box that weighs just 1.49 pounds and is roughly twice the size of an Apple TV.

But don’t let its size fool you. The amplifier can deliver up to 300 watts per channel (at 4 ohms), which should be more than enough to handle most bookshelf speakers and desktop monitors (and even less demanding floorstanding speakers). 

Silver audio amplifier with wooden side panels and knobs for power, input, bass, treble, and volume.
The chassis combines aluminum alloy with wood accents.
Fiio
Black dodeaudo audio amplifier with bass, treble, and volume knobs on a wooden shelf.
Tactile controls for switching inputs and adjusting audio. No digital screen required.
Fiio

Wired and wireless playback

The Level 1 is being positioned as a desktop amplifier, mostly because of its compact footprint, but it’s actually significantly more versatile than that. It features USB-C, RCA and coaxial inputs, so you can hook it up to your laptop or desktop, as well as traditional hi-fi sources.

When connected via USB-C, it supports high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz PCM.

On the streaming side, the Level 1 has Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity with LDAC support, so you can stream pretty high-res audio (up to 990 kbps). This effectively turns your bookshelf speakers into a modern wireless system.

Two compact audio amplifiers with wood-finish sides, one silver with control knobs and one dark wood with rear input connectors.
The Level 1 comes in two finishes: silver with natural wood or black with walnut.
Fiio
Black audio amplifier with bass, treble, and volume adjustment knobs on a wooden desk near a laptop.
The Level 1 can be the hub of your desktop hi-fi system.
Fiio

Strong retro vibes

Additionally, the Level 1 has a beautiful yet vintage vibe. The chassis combines aluminum alloy with real wood panels. According to the brand, this gives it “a grounded, tactile presence on a desk or shelf.”

It also features a handful of physical controls. There’s a clicky on/off switch, a button for toggling through inputs, EQ knobs for tweaking bass and treble and a large dial for adjusting volume. No need to download an app or dig through digital menus.

White subwoofer and speaker with black drivers next to a wooden and metal audio amplifier on a marble surface.
The Level 1 has a subwoofer output, so you can built out into a 2.1-channel system.
Fiio

Availability and pricing

The Fiio Jade Audio Level 1 desktop amplifier comes in two different finishes: silver with natural wood or black with walnut.

It costs $140 and is available now.

Black audio amplifier with wooden side panels and knobs for bass, treble, and volume controls.Fiio

Fiio Level 1

Fiio’s Level 1 is an integrated amplifier that combines a power amplifier, preamplifier and DAC, as well as both wired and wireless connections, into one compact box that weighs just 1.49 pounds. The amplifier can deliver up to 300 watts per channel (at 4 ohms), which should be more than enough to handle most bookshelf speakers and desktop monitors (and even less demanding floorstanding speakers). And it boasts numerous wired and wireless connections, so you can hook it up to a laptop or desktop, as well as traditional hi-fi sources.
About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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