| AudioREVIEW's Forum Archives - Amplifier-Preamplifier |
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|   budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | psonic
Nov 10, 2003 6:13 PM | | I'm looking to switch out the home theater receiver, sell it & the center & rear speakers, so I am shopping 2ch amplifiers on Ebay, Audiogone to add to my denon dvd player and boston speakers. I am aware of the affordable names like rotel b&k nad sansui, but would like to know what some of the best budget models are ~$300 used...integrated or separates are fine, i want something good enough to carry me for a few years into better speakers. I have read good things about the amp below, but any suggestions on that or others are well appreciated..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3056577112&category=39783 |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | RGA
Nov 10, 2003 8:30 PM | | There are many names. I recommend Sugden becasue they are unasuming in the looks department don't have tons of features and are not a houshold name(because they don't advertise very much). Nevertheless they consistently sound as good or better than anything else available in their price range...which is pretty expensive actually...you can find them used occasionally for quite a bargain. I recommend my own A48b but others are the Optimus 40, A21a(their best affordable amp new $1500.00US), A28b, 125b.
If you can find their A51, or Au series then you are getting premium high end gear. These were used as reference componants by UHF magazine. Their new Masterclass range will set you back over $15k. http://www.jesugden.co.uk/
You can also look at used Arcam, Creek, and Naim gear. |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | Mr Peabody
Nov 10, 2003 9:29 PM | | Also take a look at www.spearitsound.com click on the link "used/demos & close outs". They had some NAD, Creek & Cambridge that is in your price range. British integrated amps like Creek and Arcam are very good. I'm not a fan of NAD and not familiar with Cambridge. The website also provides an email address for questions. You mentioned Sansui, them and other simular brands like Pioneer, Yamaha etc. aren't going to be much better than you receiver. The British integrateds will provide much more musical performance. |
| P.S. the B&K | Mr Peabody
Nov 10, 2003 10:05 PM | | B&K is a good amp. If I understand you correctly, you won't have your receiver, do you have a preamp or your DVD have a variable output? If your answer is no, then you cannot use the B&K, nor any other power amp, you will need an integrated. You need some way to regulate the volume. You can imagine what would happen if you plug a signal into a 105 wpc amp with no way to turn it down. |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | topspeed
Nov 10, 2003 11:49 PM | | I just sold a ST140 just like that a few months ago...wait a minute...that's IT!!! Just kidding...
Seriously, I ran my ST140 for 15 years yet only turned it off when I moved. It is a terrific amp and the original "giant killer" as it was quite comparable to amps costing many times its original price of $499. I preferred it to Counterpoint, PS Audio, and Adcom at the time and loved it. Many, including Stereophile, categorized it as "tube like," and that's a complement. It is a warm, somewhat euphonic sounding amp and mates very well with a tube pre. It isn't that last word in detail tho and does have a tendency to somewhat roll off the highs (not unlike tubes). The B&K is very durable and the only problem I experienced was the bulb in the power switch burning out. You should also know that I used it to drive 4ohm Mission Argonauts all those years and it never once showed signs of strain. If you Denon doesn't have a variable output as noted by Mr. Peabody, you could get a used pre for $200 and be VERY happy for a long time.
If you go for the B&K I would note a couple of things. First, I sold mine for very close to the current bid so it's right about market value now. Also, either send it in for a tune-up at B&K like I did (their customer service is quite good) OR even better there are a number of companies that specialize in tweaking the ST140 into a monster. New caps, power supply, etc. Do a web search and they'll pop up. In the end, you could end up with an amp that would be very tough to beat even by modern standards.
I don't think you could go wrong with B&K for the cornerstone of a two channel system. It would be a great place to start!
Good luck! |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | psonic
Nov 11, 2003 12:41 AM | | thanks for the ideas, and keep them coming if anyone else has had good experience with a budget amp
yes i am aware that a preamp will be needed, i plan to use the receiver's while i look for one
also, in case you are unaware, i was referring to vintage sansui gear like below which is an example of one of the best amps ever from Japan according to what i read, including on this site..many owners say newer amps under 1k do not compete..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3057169162&category=3280 |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | Paul L
Nov 11, 2003 1:14 PM | | I suggest adding Creek to the list.
Paul Lam
P.L.C.Lam Consulting Inc. |
| re: budget amp choices under $300 used, need help | psonic
Nov 11, 2003 5:52 PM | | thanks, but like i said you need to give me specific models as i am hunting the used marketplace...also don't know if you are referring to integrated or separate.. |
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