It gave up half its width and nothing else.

Full-Size British Hi-Fi. Half the Shelf Space.

Meet the Exposure XM5 — a half-width integrated amplifier that packs a genuine audiophile amplifier, a high-resolution DAC, and a moving-magnet phono stage into a single compact chassis. Hand-built in Britain by Exposure Electronics, a company that has been perfecting real hi-fi for real music lovers since 1974, the XM5 was designed for listeners who want serious sound without a rack full of boxes.

One Box, Three Audiophile Components

Most compact amplifiers make you choose between convenience and pedigree. The XM5 refuses. Its 60-watt-per-channel Class AB output stage uses Toshiba bipolar transistors and Exposure's trademark cascode circuitry — the same design philosophy behind their legendary full-size separates — fed by a custom-wound 200VA toroidal power transformer. Volume is handled by a proper motorized potentiometer, not a chip, preserving the pristine signal path purists demand.

Around back, the XM5 covers virtually every source you own: a moving-magnet phono input for your turntable, a line-level analogue input, a fixed-level AV input for home-theatre integration, and a full digital section with two BNC coaxial inputs, two optical inputs, and an asynchronous USB input supporting hi-res PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit and DSD64. A preamp output even lets you add a power amplifier down the road.

What the Reviewers Are Saying

AVForums awarded the XM5 its Highly Recommended badge, concluding it delivered "a more engaging performance than any amp I have encountered under £1,500."

Stereophile published a full-length review of the XM5, praising its spatially present, tonally convincing character and noting its circuit lineage traces back to Exposure's acclaimed 2010S2 separates.

Hi-Fi Choice summed it up memorably: "The XM5 is all about power, punch, rhythm and richness."

Why You'll Love the Exposure XM5

• Amp + DAC + phono in one — a complete analogue and digital hub in a single half-width box
• Real amplifier engineering — 60W Class AB with Toshiba bipolar transistors and cascode circuitry
• Vinyl-ready — built-in moving-magnet phono stage for your turntable
• Hi-res digital — USB and S/PDIF inputs up to 192kHz/24-bit plus DSD64 (DoP)
• Serious power supply — custom 200VA toroidal transformer with high-quality reservoir capacitors
• Expandable — preamp output for adding a power amp or bi-amping later
• Built in Britain — hand-assembled by Exposure's engineering team, as it has been since 1974

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Exposure XM5 have a built-in DAC?

Yes. The XM5 includes a high-resolution digital section with two BNC coaxial inputs, two optical inputs (32–192kHz at 16–24 bits), and an asynchronous USB input supporting PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit and DSD64 via DoP.

Can I connect a turntable to the XM5?

Yes. The Aux/Ph input is a moving-magnet phono stage, suitable for MM and high-output moving-coil cartridges — no external phono preamp required.

What speakers work well with 60 watts per channel?

The XM5's 60W into 8 ohms comfortably drives most bookshelf and moderately sensitive floorstanding speakers in small to medium rooms. It pairs beautifully with speakers from Acoustic Energy, Neat, Guru, and Ophidian in our range.

What is the AV input for?

The fixed-level AV input bypasses the volume control and feeds the power amplifier directly, letting you integrate the XM5 into a home-theatre system where an AV processor handles volume. Only connect sources with their own volume control to this input.

Exposure XM5 Technical Specifications