RATING
PERFORMANCE
FEATURES
ERGONOMICS
VALUE
AUDIO AMPLIFIERS have but one task: take an electrical signal and make it more powerful without changing its character. A good amplifier is as transparent as possible, neither adding nor subtracting anything from what you hear. The OSD Nero XA7180 promises all that plus high efficiency at a very attractive price.
Before attending CEDIA 2022 in Dallas TX, I was not familiar with OSD, a company specializing in high-performance, cost-effective gear—my preferred type. A bit of Googling revealed the company has a good reputation in online forums, so I took the plunge on doing a full review. This proved timely, as 2023 brought numerous premium AVRs with preamp outputs compatible with the XA7180.
In this competitive arena of solid-state home theater amps, companies like ATI, Monoprice, Emotiva, and Outlaw offer similar power per dollar. However, OSD stands out for its combination of price and features, making it the most affordable seven-channel amplifier has tested. Despite the low cost, it boasts a sturdy build, including both RCA and XLR inputs, and individual status
