Agree with those who say "integrated" and add a further wrinkle:
The more efficient and sensitive your speakers are, the better a cheap amp is going to sound. People with K-horns report great results from TPA3116 chip amp boards (which have volume controls); I've paired one with some 91db/1watt Dahlquist DQM 9s and while the sound could obviously be improved on, the results are super suggestive of what could be achieved in this manner.
You stereo is a system; build it like one.
The more efficient and sensitive your speakers are, the better a cheap amp is going to sound. People with K-horns report great results from TPA3116 chip amp boards (which have volume controls); I've paired one with some 91db/1watt Dahlquist DQM 9s and while the sound could obviously be improved on, the results are super suggestive of what could be achieved in this manner.
You stereo is a system; build it like one.