Author Topic: Recommend a good used integrated amp (Read 2422 times)

Monkeyleg · « **on:** December 07, 2012, 07:18:03 PM »

My wife is taking the stereo system, such as it is, along with her when she leaves.

Back in the 80's I'd bought good quality equipment, but all I have left are my Advent 5002 speakers (which I have to refinish) and Dual 505 turntable. I need a CD player and a decent integrated amp.

Is there anything of good quality that might be found used on Ebay or Craigslist for under $200? I haven't paid attention to audio equipment in years.

zahc · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:36:49 AM »

There's too much good gear from the 70s through 90s to recommend a single thing. I would just start hitting up estate sales, craigslist and goodwill. Heavier=better.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:45:39 AM »

Before we moved I chucked my NAD integrated amp, which I loved. It needed some parts that I couldn't find, and a repair shop on the west coast wanted $200 to repair it. I wish I'd gone ahead with that. It sounded great.

bedlamite · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2012, 01:35:39 AM »

I gave my dad has had an Adcom GTP-450 preamp/tuner and GFA-545 power amp about 15 years ago when his old Sansui was giving him problems. I've got the same power amp driving my sub and have no complaints about sound quality, and power into a 6ohm load was measured at 170w per side. They can still be had on ebay for a reasonable price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adcom-GTP-500-II-PRE-AMP-/140892862641
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adcom-GFA-545-2-Channel-Amplifier-/261138804173

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2012, 03:02:37 AM »

Thanks, Bedlamite. That's a brand I'd seen mentioned on some audio forums. Also Cambridge, Rotel, A&R and a few others. Harmon Kardon, too, although I don't know if that's as good as the ones already mentioned, or if it's just been the name all these years.

charby · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2012, 09:54:34 AM »

I had this from college to when I got married. It rocked a pair of Sony 15s pretty good.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-SX-303R-100-Watts-Per-Channel-Stereo-Amp-Amplifier-W-Owners-Manual-/310529288335?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item484cfce88f

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2012, 11:45:03 AM »

That sounds like a great party amp, Charby.

I've seen a couple of NAD 3020's on Ebay, and I'm tempted to get one again. It's a sweet-sounding amp, but not a lot of power.

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2012, 02:55:43 PM »

Yamaha makes good integrated stuff. Denon always gets rave reviews for their price/performance value. Amazon is your friend. Plus, don't forget Craigslist, especially right after Christmas or about the time college dorms started emptying at semester's end. Finally, check the clearance shelves of your local Big Box store. I've scored some screaming deals on clearance electronics at my local Best Buy. Don't be afraid to make them an offer.

Brad

never_retreat · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2012, 06:03:16 PM »

I've had one of these for about 15 years. Got a great deal on it (most likely fell off a truck

)
1000 watts per channel down to 2 ohms if I remember correctly.
Downfalls
Melted down a few speakers with it.
Can dim the lights.
Must weigh 60 pounds.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2012, 06:27:10 PM »

I have a Peavey guitar amp. I didn't know they made audio amps.

never_retreat · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2012, 07:13:57 PM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on December 08, 2012, 06:27:10 PM

I have a Peavey guitar amp. I didn't know they made audio amps.

I think they have/had a separate line for stuff like this. If you hooked 6 big cabinets to this thing you probably could crank a small arena.

HForrest · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:12:46 AM »

I'm no expert but I'd highly recommend Denon after my experience with one of their stereo receivers. All the Denon/Marantz stuff seems to be really well made and well reviewed.

geronimotwo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2012, 08:42:07 AM »

i had a 70's marantz receiver that i was very happy with. i also grew up with the "if it's heavier it's better" attitude, and i can't believe the sound coming from the lightweight sytems made today.

most of the pro audio gear (like that peavey power amp, (also crown and mackie are solid)) will give good clean amplification, but the volume controls are not always where you want them, the connections are seldom home stereo friendly, and they lack asthetics.

try taking out a wanted ad in craigslist. someone may have something laying around that they forgot about.

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2012, 10:15:57 AM »

I have an older Dynaco SCA-35 tube integrated amp sitting boxed somewhere in the garage.

It needs new capacitors, but 17 watts/channel of warm tube sound are oh-so-nice!

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2012, 12:51:31 PM »

geronimotwo, I'm looking at stuff from the 80's that I'd researched back then, so I don't have to go back and research again.

I'd love to do McIntosh, but I haven't seen anything for less than $2500 to $3000 that wasn't being sold for parts.

I just may stay with an NAD 3020, but add an NAD power amp (this house is a lot bigger than what we had before). Now that vinyl has made a full resurgence, I'm cleaning up my Dual 505 and looking for a good cartridge for it. That wasn't the most expensive turntable by any means, but it's still considered to be very good.

GW98, a tube amp would be great. What do you figure that Dynaco would be worth in working condition?

Scout26 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:48:13 PM »

I had a Harmon Kardon tube amp in High School. I sold when I was in college and desperate for money. One of the worst mistakes of my life. Nothing sounds like a tube amp.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #16 on:** December 09, 2012, 10:58:20 PM »

I've been looking at those, too, Scout26. Some are pretty $$$.

Right now I'm really interested in a A&R CAmbridge Arcam A60. I've read a lot of really good reviews. If I can get it for the right price, it could be a good unit. The only problem is that it uses DIN connectors on the back, so I'd have to get a couple of RCA to DIN cables, and they might have to be attenuated, at least for the CD player.

zxcvbob · « **Reply #17 on:** December 09, 2012, 11:03:23 PM »

Don't really know what you're looking for, but Fitz has an amp for sale in the classifieds section. Just listed it today.

Fitz · « **Reply #18 on:** December 09, 2012, 11:22:37 PM »

Quote from: zxcvbob on December 09, 2012, 11:03:23 PM

Don't really know what you're looking for, but Fitz has an amp for sale in the classifieds section. Just listed it today.

The amp I selling is quite different., and meant for instrument amplification in conjunction with a good preamp

Thanks though :-)

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2012, 12:01:33 AM »

Hey, if it amplifies the signal, that's all that counts, right? :)

zxcvbob · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2012, 12:42:30 AM »

If you have a preamp it'll work fine. (I know you said "integrated", but I missed that)

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #21 on:** December 10, 2012, 01:11:39 AM »

Quote from: zxcvbob on December 10, 2012, 12:42:30 AM

If you have a preamp it'll work fine. (I know you said "integrated", but I missed that)

Yeah, but if it's for playing that "modern" music, it probably has a signal to noise ratio of 1:1.

Fitz · « **Reply #22 on:** December 10, 2012, 07:27:13 AM »

This power amp I'm selling is very low noise. It's designed to be pretty neutral. I used it for a modeler .

It's solid state not tube

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #23 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:21:00 AM »

Fitz, didn't you see the winking smiley? I was kidding about the noise level. I'm sure it's a great unit.

Fitz · « **Reply #24 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:56:05 AM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on December 10, 2012, 10:21:00 AM

Fitz, didn't you see the winking smiley? I was kidding about the noise level. I'm sure it's a great unit.

I getcha :-D

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Author Topic: Recommend a good used integrated amp (Read 2422 times)