Gato Audio DIA-250S NPM

Here’s a compact amp with both digital and analogue inputs, plus a full Roon-ready network audio implementation, and radically lowered price – what’s not to like?

- Andrew Everard

A lot can happen in three years, and while the amplifier we have here is very much the smaller sibling of the DIA-400S [HFN Oct ’16], it’s also boosted by the inclusion of the Danish company’s NPM module, a complete network audio solution giving access to a wide range of streaming options.

There’s something else new here, too: until recently the price of the DIA-250S NPM was in the region of £4900, which is what you’d pay through UK distributor Elite Audio. However, in June this year, the Danish manufacturer instituted a direct selling policy, with a substantial 40% not so much shaved as lopped off the price across its range. Look online and you’ll see that the DIA-250S NPM is now just €2995.

The company describes the new policy thus: ‘when developing hi-fi equipment, it is all about shortest possible signal path. Now we are introducing a super lean distribution model without the traditional distributors, local inventory and marketing – the shortest possible path from factory to the consumer’.

SPEEDY DIALOGUE

Obviously this put its distributors in the invidious position of being undercut by the very manufacturer whose product they were supporting, so it’s clear some rapid talking went on behind the scenes to ensure the UK price remained aligned with that of the factory direct offering. So the latest £2995 ticket via Elite seems very fair – though who knows where the Euro/Sterling exchange rate will be when you read this!