Welsh manufacturer Leema Acoustics is preparing to introduce its new 100 Series at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, and if you’ve followed Leema over the years, you already know they tend to build around engineering fundamentals rather than trend cycles. This new lineup launches with four integrated amplifiers, available in black or silver, all proudly manufactured in Wales, and all rooted in the company’s established amplifier DNA.
The 100 Series begins with the i85, iD85, i150, and iD150. Two analogue-only variants and two with integrated digital conversion. Power output ranges from 85 watts per channel to 150 watts per channel in Class A/B topology, and the pricing starts at £1,710 for the i85 and climbs to £3,040 for the fully equipped iD150.
Built Around Current Delivery and Control
Leema has always emphasized control and low distortion, and the 100 Series continues that focus. Oversized heatsinks keep output devices operating well within safe margins, which supports long-term reliability rather than short-term spec sheet bragging rights. An oversized toroidal transformer with dual secondary windings feeds more than 27,200 μF of reservoir capacitance per channel, and both the i85 and i150 models use multiple pairs of 15 A Toshiba output transistors to maintain current headroom and a high damping factor.
That technical backbone translates directly into speaker control, particularly with more demanding loads. For listeners pairing these amplifiers with floorstanders or complex impedance curves, current delivery matters as much as raw wattage, and Leema appears to have engineered these models with that reality in mind.
On the analogue side, each amplifier includes four RCA inputs and a moving-magnet phono stage derived from the company’s award-winning Essentials Phono design. There are also preamplifier outputs, stereo subwoofer outputs, a record output, and a 12 V trigger for system integration. A programmable remote with assignable input shortcuts rounds out the usability features.
Digital Conversion and Modern Connectivity
The D variants, the iD85 and iD150, incorporate a DAC built around the ESS Sabre 9028Q2M chip. Digital connectivity includes two coaxial inputs, two optical inputs, and a USB connection powered by an XMOS XU208 receiver, supporting data conversion up to 32-bit/384 kHz. That spec places the 100 Series firmly in contemporary digital territory without forcing buyers into an all-digital ecosystem.
What I appreciate about this launch is that Leema has not repositioned itself as a lifestyle brand. The 100 Series feels grounded in performance priorities first, with clean industrial design as a secondary benefit. In a market where pricing often climbs faster than tangible improvements, this lineup reads as focused and deliberate.
The 100 Series will be formally introduced at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, with availability details to follow. For anyone building a serious two-channel system and looking for integrated amplification that balances analogue integrity with optional high-resolution digital support, the new Leema 100 Series deserves close attention.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
