Buying an amplifier

[goblinsly]

Hi everyone !

I am buying a second hand stereo amplifier. I plan to use it with my Hitachi 2x30W speakers, connected to my SB audigy 2 value sound card on my computer. I will use it mainly for music and for media on youtube and such. My limit is 100€ and i found several options for that money, i would be glad if you could give me some feedback.

The Hitachi speakers i have:



The second hand amps i found online and their prices:

- Pioneer A-109 60€

- Technics SU-V300 65€

- SANSUI A-5 65€

- Yamaha A-500 69€

- SONY TA-F400 70€

- SONY TA-FE320R 70€

- PIONEER A-307R MOS FET 70€

- Philips FA 660 70€

- DENON PMA 880R 80€

- YAMAHA AX 380 90€

- PHILIPS FA 950 100€

- Kenwood KA-2060R 100€

- Rotel RA-550 100€

- TECHNICS SU-VX700 110€

- SONY TA-F 561R 115€

- ROTEL RA-931 120€

Some of them are over 100€, i would be prepared to pay that if it would really matter ... meaning there should be a lot of difference compared to the one costing for instance 80€. There would also be an option to buy from e-bay since offer in my country is quite small. I would be prepared to pay up to 130 dollars for amplifier + sending costs. I dont know anything about amplifiers soo i hope that you can give me some hints as to what should i buy.

 

[bandit pilot]

There won't be a hill of difference, but clearly, there are some there more powerful than others. They are all capable, so the only real question relates to age. The older, more powerful amps in budget are older, but probably better.

Sorry, you asked for an opinion.

My money would go on:

Yamaha A-500 69€

PIONEER A-307R MOS FET 70€

DENON PMA 880R 80€

YAMAHA AX 380 90€

PHILIPS FA 950 100€

 

[meninblack]

I had a Rotel RA-931. It was a lovely little amp, but 120 Euros is far too much! In the UK they would be £40.

 

[MJ.]

I agree with MIB.

Take a look at the UK eBay. There are better amps for that price.

 

[goblinsly]

I have never bought from eBay before .. i am afraid i will not get what i am paying for .. like an empty amp ... and how is with the shipping cost ? Will amp cost + shipping be cheaper then buying one of the amps on the list ?

Btw i just found that the same denon was sold on eBay for 80£ .. i am thinking about buying it for 80€ in my country ... i think a company is selling it, maybe i could even get some limited guaranty for it .. or if nothing else ... i can be sure that the amp is in good condition, since a company wouldnt go put a black mark on their name for some 80€ amp ...

I am hoping for is a step to a better sound from where i am standing right now. Right now i am using a genius 5.1 amp and have the hitachi speakers attached to it:



I think it should be quite a difference if i buy an amp from that list ... it will be my first real amp. In future i plan to buy a better one but i think its best that i begin at the bottom.

 

[meninblack]

Pay your subs then stick a wanted advert in the Wigwam classifieds. 1000% more trustworthy than eBay. Something will turn up. :^

 

[goblinsly]

How about we talk about the list i posted first before we go out looking for NAD-s on eBay and such ... it would be much easier for me to just pick the one from the list ... )

 

[Toe rag]

Personally I always liked the sound of the Yamaha's probably due to having one as my first proper amp

 

[RobHolt]

From your list the Pioneer A109 should do the job perfectly well.

its not that old either so should still be working well.

Got to be worth 60€

 

[paulf-2007]

yes I am surprised eBay is still in business with all those scammers sending empty boxes. :KH:

I have never bought from eBay before .. i am afraid i will not get what i am paying for .. like an empty amp ... and how is with the shipping cost ? Will amp cost + shipping be cheaper then buying one of the amps on the list ?Btw i just found that the same denon was sold on eBay for 80£ .. i am thinking about buying it for 80€ in my country ... i think a company is selling it, maybe i could even get some limited guaranty for it .. or if nothing else ... i can be sure that the amp is in good condition, since a company wouldnt go put a black mark on their name for some 80€ amp ...

I am hoping for is a step to a better sound from where i am standing right now. Right now i am using a genius 5.1 amp and have the hitachi speakers attached to it:



I think it should be quite a difference if i buy an amp from that list ... it will be my first real amp. In future i plan to buy a better one but i think its best that i begin at the bottom.

 

[goblinsly]

paulf-2007: Heh i know ... but what if the amp i get doesn't work ... just extra work to send it back ..

Well it will be tough to choose, on different forums i think basicly all the amps from the list got recommended.

 

[Jazid]

Hi Goblinsly, welcome to the bughouse. I imagine you aren't in the UK (from reading between the lines). If so then making that plain would eliminate some well meant but impractical suggestions hereabouts? If you are afraid on duff electronics then a better amp up to 15 years old will probably be a better bet than a newer budget choice. Pioneer anad Sony are pretty bullet-proof as a general rule!

If you are in the uk then £10 on a sub would be easily recouped from classifieds as there must be a mountain of ageing amps stuck in corners of Wammers houses that they can't be arsed to sell even at market rates :roll:

 

[goblinsly]

I am not from UK ...

I was almost certain that i will buy DENON PMA 880R but now that you mention it ... Those two 70€ sonys dont look half bad. I wonder why did i think that sonys didnt do good amps ...

And that pioneer A-307R MOSFET .. this thing is fairly new, it is still on some pages, they want 210€ for it instead of original 250€ ... soo i think its a good deal for 70€.

 

[Jazid]

:^

 

[jon]

You could also look at older but good quality AV amps - especially on amps that were out before HDMI, they can sell for a fraction of their original price. You could get a mid- to high-end AV amp that might have originally sold for £500-1000 in your budget - which should do a pretty decent job in stereo.

 

[julian2002]

I'm rather partial to technics class AA amps. The tech inside them is very similar to quad's 909 'current dumping' design which seems to get near universal praise. I spent £45 or so on mine and it came with 'free' cd player, tape deck, tuner and 2 sets of speakers . The cd player is doing sterling work in my mums system and she also uses a technics amp (my very first one bought new in 1985) so they are definately durable. Some are massively overpriced but my advice is to check out the local selling channels, local news papers, gumtree / craigslist equivalent or facebook 'for sale' groups. That way you can listen before you buy and make sure it works.

 

[Chumpy]

Do consider buying new with meaningful warranty etc something great/budget.

I admit that - although I have bought used great LP12s/Linn speakers used as well as new - I have chosen never to buy 'used' amp-things.

Of marques you mention, I have had great Philips-Technics, and I respect Rotel-Yam-Pi and Marantz which you do not list.

Unless you really know what you are doing/do not value your loudspeakers etc, I advise fine new great warrantied budget purchase.

 

[goblinsly]

I took PIONEER A-307R MOSFET for 55€.

 

[MallyMad]

Cool. Try and upgrade your speakers next to get the best out of it. Acoustic Energy 1 at £80,Mission Mx1 or Q Acoustics 2010i £120 are the sort of thing I would be looking for. Or go s/h off the forum for a bargain.

You won't look back.