Gato Audio DIA-250S NPM Streaming Amplifier, Black High Gloss

The Gato Audio DIA-250S NPM is a streaming integrated amplifier that combines a network player, D/A converter and a 2× 250-watt power amp in a single housing.

NPM stands for Network Player Module – the streaming module that Gato Audio builds into the DIA-250S at the factory in Copenhagen. It turns the amplifier into a full-fledged network player with Roon Ready certification, without a second unit taking up space on the shelf. Connect the speakers, plug in the network cable, and the system is ready. This version has a high-gloss black lid.

Why the Gato Audio DIA-250S NPM?

Because it replaces an entire chain without cutting corners. The Class-D power stage delivers 2× 250 W at 8 Ω and doubles to 2× 500 W at 4 Ω – reserves that keep even demanding floorstanders well fed. On the digital side, a Burr-Brown PCM1794 upsamples every digital source to 24-bit/192 kHz. The Network Player Module brings Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, DLNA/UPnP and Roon along with it; it's controlled via the mconnect Control app, through Roon or with the supplied remote. And yes, the unit looks as though a furniture designer drew it. In a sense that's even true – Gato designs and builds in Copenhagen.

What you hear

Control. The bass stays dry and taut, voices sit calmly in the centre, and there's a pleasant hush between the notes – a signal-to-noise ratio above 110 dB isn't just a number on a spec sheet. Whether the signal comes from the network, via USB from a computer, or as analog over XLR, the character stays the same: powerful, but never pushy. Streaming here is an option, not a requirement – internet radio and your own NAS music collection run entirely without a subscription.

Who is the DIA-250S NPM suited to – and who isn't it for?

Straight talk: the DIA-250S NPM is for you if you want a serious system without a tower of components. Amplifier, converter and streamer in one housing, one power cable, done. It's not for you if you already own a high-quality external DAC or streamer – then you'd be paying for technology twice, and you're better off with a purely analog integrated amplifier. If you want to connect a turntable directly, you'll need a separate phono preamp too: the DIA-250S has no phono stage. And if your listening room is more gymnasium than living room, take a look at the larger DIA-400S NPM instead.

Our verdict

A complete system hub in Danish understatement – powerful, versatile and refreshingly uncomplicated in everyday use. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil we set up network, streaming services and speakers together with you, so the amplifier does exactly what you bought it for from day one.

"This is a remarkably well-sorted and extremely flexible amplifier, with a sound treading a confident path between power and poise, drama and delicacy." – Hi-Fi News, 2019 (Sound Quality 88%)

Technical data

• Type: streaming integrated amplifier with DAC and network player (NPM = Network Player Module)
• Output power: 2× 250 W at 8 Ω / 2× 500 W at 4 Ω
• Power stage: Class D
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.5 dB)
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 0.01% at rated power
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 110 dB
• D/A converter: Burr-Brown PCM1794, upsampling to 24-bit/192 kHz
• Network player (NPM): Roon Ready, DLNA/UPnP, Tidal, Qobuz and Deezer built in; controlled via the mconnect Control app (iOS/Android)
• Network: Ethernet (RJ45) or Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
• Audio formats: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless, AAC, MP3, WMA, OGG, Monkey's Audio, MQA (via Roon) – up to 24-bit/192 kHz, including gapless playback
• Digital inputs: 1× USB Type B (asynchronous, up to 24-bit/192 kHz), 1× coaxial RCA, 1× optical Toslink (up to 24-bit/96 kHz)
• Bluetooth: 4.2 with aptX HD (up to 24-bit/48 kHz)
• Analog inputs: 2× unbalanced RCA (20 kΩ), 1× balanced XLR (40 kΩ)
• Output level: line outputs 1× XLR and 1× RCA (75 Ω), volume-controlled; input 1 switchable to fixed level via Direct/HT mode
• Headphone output: none – connect a headphone amplifier to the line outputs
• Speaker connections: 2 pairs of gold-plated binding posts (banana-compatible)
• Power consumption: < 1 W standby / 23 W idle / max. 1000 W
• Housing: non-magnetic aluminium housing, high-gloss lid
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 32.5 × 10.5 × 42 cm
• Weight: 10 kg
• Finish: Black high gloss
• Origin: designed and built in Copenhagen, Denmark
• What's included: amplifier, power cable, RC-5 remote control with CR2032 battery, Bluetooth antenna, user manual

Frequently asked questions

What does NPM stand for on the Gato Audio DIA-250S?

NPM stands for Network Player Module. That's the streaming module Gato Audio builds into the DIA-250S. It brings Ethernet and Wi-Fi, Roon Ready, DLNA/UPnP as well as Tidal, Qobuz and Deezer to the unit. Without NPM, the DIA-250S remains an integrated amplifier with a DAC, but without a network connection.

What's the difference between the DIA-250S NPM and the DIA-400S NPM?

Mainly the power. The DIA-250S delivers 2× 250 W at 8 Ω, the DIA-400S 2× 400 W. The network module, converter and connections are identical. For normal to large living rooms the 250S has plenty of reserve; the 400S is meant for very large rooms or especially power-hungry speakers.

Can I connect headphones to the DIA-250S NPM?

Not directly: the DIA-250S NPM has no headphone output. You connect a headphone amplifier to the line outputs, either balanced via XLR or unbalanced via RCA. Both follow the volume control. The speaker outputs can be muted with a long press on the standby button, so only the headphones play.

What finishes is the DIA-250S NPM available in?

Gato Audio offers the DIA-250S NPM with a high-gloss lid in black, in white, or in genuine walnut veneer. There's also a custom colour option, an individual high-gloss finish to your specification. This page shows the black version. All four variants are technically identical – the colour changes nothing about power, converter or connections.

Why buy the Gato Audio DIA-250S NPM at HD Zürisee?

Because a streaming amplifier only becomes a joy once the network, app and speakers work together. We're an authorised dealer, know the quirks of Roon and Wi-Fi from daily practice, and have Mauri, our own technician, for installation and service. Call us, write to us or ask via WhatsApp.

Goes well with

You'll find matching partners for 2× 250 watts among the floorstanding speakers and the bookshelf speakers. If you listen to vinyl, add a phono preamp, and decent cables get out of the chain what's actually in it.