Best used amp with a $500 budget?

135

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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    "I've Had the Old Bull Now I Want the Young Calf"

    In that case, you'd better bring the new wallet with many more old Benjamins!:eek::biggrin:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    "I've Had the Old Bull Now I Want the Young Calf"

    In that case, you'd better bring the new wallet with many more old Benjamins!:eek::biggrin:

    Don't you worry about that playa :cool:
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited May 2011
    It sounds as if you have already made up your mind on this matter. Just a few things to consider. As far as amps go there has not been any earth shattering improvments in amp construction in the past 10/12 yrs. The very same qualities that made a good amp good back then are the same as the ones we will look for today : good power/ watts, high but stable current output, able to drive heavy low ohm spkr loads. low to 0 noise, a faithful reproduction of the input signal with out coloration, intermal spkr protection devices, bullet proof design that will last for years with out failure, ect,ect. You will be hard pressed to find any new amps out there that have been made by anyone that is so advanced and so much better than the older units that the 10/15 year amp has to take a back seat to it. New does not always equate into better, but you can be damm sure it will equate into being way more expensive by alot.!!!! Enjoy your search and happy hunting!!!
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited May 2011
    I forgot to include this and then I will close. Amps will all have diffrent sounds and this will all depend on what the designer was trying to achive with his/her amp doring it sdesign phase. Personnel taste and likes comes to the front here as any 2 people can and most likley will enjoy diffrent amps as to how they sound.:smile::smile:
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    victor. askew wrote: »
    It sounds as if you have already made up your mind on this matter. Just a few things to consider. As far as amps go there has not been any earth shattering improvments in amp construction in the past 10/12 yrs. The very same qualities that made a good amp good back then are the same as the ones we will look for today : good power/ watts, high but stable current output, able to drive heavy low ohm spkr loads. low to 0 noise, a faithful reproduction of the input signal with out coloration, intermal spkr protection devices, bullet proof design that will last for years with out failure, ect,ect. You will be hard pressed to find any new amps out there that have been made by anyone that is so advanced and so much better than the older units that the 10/15 year amp has to take a back seat to it. New does not always equate into better, but you can be damm sure it will equate into being way more expensive by alot.!!!! Enjoy your search and happy hunting!!!

    That's some great advice and helpful information. I hope I didn't make it sound like I was against vintage, I just don't want anything THAT old ya know? I'd take an amp from the 90's no questions asked.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    "I'd take an amp from the 90's no questions asked."

    My TFM-35 is from 1993:cool:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    "I'd take an amp from the 90's no questions asked."

    My TFM-35 is from 1993:cool:

    For sale? :biggrin:
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    Never!!:eek:
    :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    here are a "few".:wink:

    http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/items/Electronics__carver?_trkparms=65%253A1%257C66%253A1%257C39%253A6&_dmd=1&_mdo=Consumer-Electronics&_sacat=293&_sc=1&_sop=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_vc=1
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    here are a "few".:wink:

    http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/items/Electronics__carver?_trkparms=65%253A1%257C66%253A1%257C39%253A6&_dmd=1&_mdo=Consumer-Electronics&_sacat=293&_sc=1&_sop=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_vc=1

    What do you think about the TFM-45?
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    I wish I'd bought a 45 instead of a 55 (needs to be overhauled), the 45 is generally considered one of the most "musical" of the later Carver amps.:wink:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    I wish I'd bought a 45 instead of a 55 (needs to be overhauled), the 45 is generally considered one of the most "musical" of the later Carver amps.:wink:

    I'm picking one up tomorrow :eek:
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited May 2011
    In what way was Bob Carver assoiated with Phase Linear. I only ask becouse the E bay site listed above has Phase Linear amps for sale on trhe Carver site. Thanks.
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited May 2011
    victor. askew wrote: »
    In what way was Bob Carver assoiated with Phase Linear. I only ask becouse the E bay site listed above has Phase Linear amps for sale on trhe Carver site. Thanks.

    He was chief designer at PL, then went on to found the companies Carver and Sunfire. His PL designs were nice, but had a well founded rep of catching fire (Flame Linear) and blow speakers without warning from the lack of speaker protection circuitry. I can hook up anyone who has PL gear in need of a upgrade or mods with an awesome tech who really knows these beasties, just PM me.
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited May 2011
    Thanks. I have in the past owned 3 Phase Linear amps and can more than vouch for the grt power and sound they put out but also for the fact that when one goes south on you , its damm fast, all 3 of mine failed ( output devices) during my period of ownership. The 2 spkrs involved were complete history. Req'd all 3 drivers being replaced each time per spkr. They were all I coukd afford back then so I kept going back to the well. Never again.:rolleyes:
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited May 2011
    I have owned a TFM-45 for a year or so now and it's a great unit. Tons of power for my SDA-1C's. Very warm sounding with loads of headroom. Haven't even come close to using this unit at full power. No distortion up to very loud. You should like this amp.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited May 2011
    For all you owners of the TFM-45, is the noise floor (I don't know if that's the correct term) really loud on these amps? At idle their is rather loud constant white noise. The guys at the audio repair place said it was normal? I no likey. :mad:
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  • victor. askew
    victor. askew Posts: 50
    edited May 2011
    You may need to install grounding to your equiment. I would start there.
    Amps- Nakamichi PA 7 & PA 5.
    P Amp- Classie Audio. Nakamichi CA 5
    Tape- Tandberg 3014A.
    Tape- Nakamichi 600.
    CD Calif Audio Tercet 3.
    CD-Rotel 1078.
    Spkrs- Polk Audio RTI 150 Towers.
    Spkrs- ADS L1290 Towers.
    Spkrs- Yamaha- NS 670,NS 500m,NS 200m, NS 200ma
    NS 200ma hybrids.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited May 2011
    Bl +1

    bdt
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • polklore
    polklore Posts: 12
    edited June 2011
    Adcom 555ii, Forte model 3 and Nakamichi pa5 are good amps and all fit the $500 range.
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  • polklore
    polklore Posts: 12
    edited June 2011
    nguyendot wrote: »
    H9, i noticed you posted a Threshold amp up there. I'm picking up a Threshold CAS 2 today, any good?

    What do you think of the CAS2? How does it sound?
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    For all you owners of the TFM-45, is the noise floor (I don't know if that's the correct term) really loud on these amps? At idle their is rather loud constant white noise. The guys at the audio repair place said it was normal? I no likey. :mad:

    No, and they don't know what they're talking about. You should have given it to Rolland, if you had.......you probably wouldn't be getting rid of it now. You seem to ignore all of the advice that you ask for, what's up wid dat?:smile:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    No, and they don't know what they're talking about. You should have given it to Rolland, if you had.......you probably wouldn't be getting rid of it now. You seem to ignore all of the advice that you ask for, what's up wid dat?:smile:

    The repair shop fixed my concern about the noise floor pal.

    I didn't ever ask anybody to make a decision for me, I asked for advice. Big difference. You think because this is Club Polk that I take everyones advice as a word from god? Come on man..
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited June 2011
    Have to add a used Parasound HCA 1500A to the list. It's a decent high current amp.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    The repair shop fixed my concern about the noise floor pal.

    I didn't ever ask anybody to make a decision for me, I asked for advice. Big difference. You think because this is Club Polk that I take everyones advice as a word from god? Come on man..

    Who ever brought the word of God into anything? If the "tech" did indeed say that about noise being normal/expected He is full of sh!te ! But hey, you saved a buck and you are satisfied, that's what really counts the most.(are you ever satisfied, truly ?) I shan't waste my typing fingers to respond to your dilemma any further Mr. Marantzpantz, you're too snotty by half, IMO! I say... good day!:biggrin:
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  • polklore
    polklore Posts: 12
    edited June 2011
    Here's one.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1312508784&/Forte-Audio-Model-3-
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited June 2011
    polklore wrote: »
    Here's one.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1312508784&/Forte-Audio-Model-3-

    That looks Tasty !:smile:
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  • chandler9a
    chandler9a Posts: 878
    edited June 2011
    That does look Tasty!

    Shane, if you ever come across an Onkyo Integra M-505, give it a shot. There are better amps out there but it is really smooth and I think you might like how it mixes in with your system.

    I'm not a huge Carver fan but they are nice for sure... I have an M-504 I can borrow and I think I am going to swap it out for the Adcom 555 just to see the difference on my SDA 2A's.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited June 2011
    I can say that after getting the Parasound HCA2200 for around the 500 mark that its a nice amp. Using it on my A9's and kicking butt. I still like my Adcom 5802 better for 2 channel but the Parasound is a good deal I think for that price.

    just my .02
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    chandler9a wrote: »
    That does look Tasty!

    Shane, if you ever come across an Onkyo Integra M-505, give it a shot. There are better amps out there but it is really smooth and I think you might like how it mixes in with your system.

    I'm not a huge Carver fan but they are nice for sure... I have an M-504 I can borrow and I think I am going to swap it out for the Adcom 555 just to see the difference on my SDA 2A's.

    Thanks for the recommendation bro. I saw one of those on CL a few months ago, I should have grabbed it!

    What else have you tried on your SDA's? The Carver has really grown on me. I had a buyer who was supposed to come by this morning but ended up backing out, so I'm having a good time with it. It was definitely a solid recommendation by all who those chimed in about it. I'm stoked about the Emotiva XPA-2 that I have coming in too. I'll report back to you when I get a chance to listen to it.
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