With its effortless dynamics, sense of realism, drama and control, I can think of few amps I’ve enjoyed listening to as much as the Caspian 4G of late, and all with price tags well north of the Roksan, showing how great value it is. ‘Affordable reference’ is perhaps the best way to sum up what Roksan has achieved with the Caspian 4G, and for that it should be celebrated.

Roksan's latest Caspian Series 4G Streaming Amplifier is an excellent choice for those with a passion for hi-res streaming, offering superb sound without the need for multiple boxes. All you need is a pair of quality loudspeakers, such as those produced by Roksan's parent company, Monitor Audio, for example. Audiophiles who don't limit their music consumption to streaming can make use of the Caspian's classy-sounding analogue and digital inputs, not forgetting its fine phono stage for vinyl replay. All of this comes in a very well-built and elegant package. Even though there's no shortage of highly accomplished integrated amplifiers at its price, this new design still stands out – and, as such, is well worth auditioning.

First and foremost, it is sonically exceptional. There is never space within the confines of a short review to cover everything but I can assure you that this amplifier is totally genre agnostic. From a delicate soprano voice to a rock band in full flow, the Caspian 4G delivers exactly what is required.