Pair of Classe DR-10 amps and Mirage M3si speakers
BuckeyeTim
Posts: 483
I have come across a pair of Classe DR-10 amps and Mirage M3si speakers. I need to know the thoughts on this stuff. I need some input fairly quick as I told the guy I would do some research over the weekend and give him an answer on Monday.
Supposedly, everything is in great condition and not abused. His "asking" price is $1500 for the pair of amps and $1300 for the speakers. With the limited amount of searching I have done, I am thinking more on the lines of about $1200 for the amps (if close to mint) and maybe about the same for speakers. He also has a Krell cd player that he says he paid $3000 for (I didn't ask what model) but he won't sell it.
What do you guys think? Don't be afraid to be brutal. If this is boat anchor material, don't hesitate to say so.
Tim
Supposedly, everything is in great condition and not abused. His "asking" price is $1500 for the pair of amps and $1300 for the speakers. With the limited amount of searching I have done, I am thinking more on the lines of about $1200 for the amps (if close to mint) and maybe about the same for speakers. He also has a Krell cd player that he says he paid $3000 for (I didn't ask what model) but he won't sell it.
What do you guys think? Don't be afraid to be brutal. If this is boat anchor material, don't hesitate to say so.
Tim
Post edited by BuckeyeTim on
Comments
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Both are excellent choices.
The DR's are miles better than your Carver.
Your SDA 1C's are better than the Mirage's.
If you do get the Classe's, you certainly will need a better pre, they deserve it. Sorry can't help on the asking price as I haven't priced that stuff out in a few years. The price seems high on the Mirage's to me.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Agree with heiney9, Classe makes very fine-sounding amps, you can find their preamps on Audiogon from time to time. Take a pass on the Mirage's.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
Looks like I am going to have to pass on the amps. I sent an email to Classe about creating a common ground between them so that I could use them with the SDA's. Looks like it is a no go. I was told that it would damage the amps if I connected them together in order to use with the SDA's.
Oh well. I am sort of looking to upgrade, not in any hurry, but will not sacrafice the 1C's to do so. -
You can use an AI-1 isolation transformer. It's a sonically better choice than ground strapping.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Mirage M3si are incredible speakers and I have to strongly disagree with Heiney9. I've owned the original M3 and a pair of SDA-1C (with all the standard upgrades). In my experience, the Mirage was clearly a better speaker with more detailed realistic midrange, tighter bass, and better looks. The SI version is significantly improved over the original M3. However, I think $1300 is way overpriced in this economy. $7-800 maybe.
The amps sell on Audiogon for under $500 each, so for the whole package, he should be looking for about $1500 if he really wants a sale. If he comes to his senses and would take an offer like that, I think it would be well worth your time to try them all out and at those prices, you could re-sell without any loss if you decided you didn't care for them.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
Again that was IMO, I sold the Mirage's in the day as well as SDA's and the 1C's in particular and while the Mirage is no slouch by any means, I've always enjoyed SDA's. I could easily live with the Mirage's if I had to. I just really like the 1C's with all the mods.
I agree on your pricing Bill.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
I am still somewhat undecided. I did notice a few of the amps for sale for $500 or less. I am not as interested in the speakers as I am the amps. Although, for the right price, I will need something for the living room when I move the sda's to their own dedicated room.
It's not tlike the guy has anything advertised or is looking for an immediate sale. He is a guy I work with and just doesn't use it much any longer.
Actually, since a pre upgrade will be necessary as well, I am thinking I should jump on the one that Inspiredsports has in the fm...the Conrad Johnson. -
BuckeyeTim wrote: »I am still somewhat undecided. I did notice a few of the amps for sale for $500 or less. I am not as interested in the speakers as I am the amps. Although, for the right price, I will need something for the living room when I move the sda's to their own dedicated room.
It's not tlike the guy has anything advertised or is looking for an immediate sale. He is a guy I work with and just doesn't use it much any longer.
Actually, since a pre upgrade will be necessary as well, I am thinking I should jump on the one that Inspiredsports has in the fm...the Conrad Johnson.
If he is a work friend, then all the more reason for him to give you a good deal. I would just say something along the lines of "I've read up on your amp and speakers and I am definitely interested in them, but when I checked the current values on Audiogon, the whole system was only worth about $1500." Show him the recent sales of both.
If he really doesn't want to sell the gear, then so be it. Either way,
the amps are worth no more than $8-900 for the pair on a local sale like that. Don't pay him any more or you will loose money if/when you decide to sell them.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
