AMP's for less than $1000

justlord

I am a Home Theater enthusiast (but enjoy music between 30 and 50 percent of the time) that is just realizing the benefits of powered amps. I am just about to upgrade to the RTI-A7 and -A6 for my front-stage, and I intend to run my Onkyo NR-807 as a pre-amp for those speakers. Those who have Onkyo's have indicated Emotiva's sound bright with the RTI series. I am considering 3 and 5 channel amps, but wouldn't mind the 2 channel amps, either.

I would prefer to start off brand new for now and pay less than $1000 to boot. I am still serious about Emotiva XPA-5, but willing to consider other options, such as the 2 and 3 channel amps for less than $1000, and with enough authority to take the powered sub out of the music if I wanted to.

chumlie

Can you say Parasound, Carver, Marantz ?

shawn474

IMHO, used is the way to go. A well taken care of amp can last a long long time and you would greatly increase hour selection.

PrazVT

Yeah I'm seeing a Rotel 1095, NAD T973, Sunfire Grand (200 x 5) in the $800 - 900 range on quick check of Audiogon.

thsmith

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?127841-Amp-for-RTia9-Adcom-Emotiva-or

la9ers

Your best bet is to go used, at 1k your limited.

tonyb

You can find Parasound, B&K, Rotel amps all day used under a grand, and alot under 500 even.

Systems

Used:
McCormack Audio Corp.
2733 Merrilee Drive Fairfax, VA.
22031
703-573-9665

Systems

Here: http://www.mccormackaudio.com/index1.html

You may be able to find one used under $1k.
Look for the DNA .5 or 1, or the DNA 125 used.

cfrizz

If you want new, your only choices are really Outlaw Audio or Emotiva. You can get 3 Outlaw monoblocks for $1050.00, or an Emotiva XPA 3-5. These are the only companies right now that make reasonably priced gear brand new.

Sherardp

Outlaw, Sunfire, Emotiva, Adcom, Parasound are some that may be close. Wyred 4 Sound, might be close but don't quote me on that one.

SDA1C

This is about the best deal you are going to find.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128255-Adcom-Sunfire

justlord

Thank you everyone for your replies. Your answers are what I suspected. I have seen the website audiogon mentioned several times. Since these items are typically used, what payment options are typical for this website, and is there a seller's rating to look out for?

rengnath

I personally have used eBay in the past few weeks to pick up some amps. I found a B&K ST2140 for $290 shipped and my brother picked up 2 Parasound HCA1000As shipped for under $700 that he will run in mono and squeeze 400 watts out of each. Typically when looking at used, I look for any amp that you can tell the seller used it for their personal use, and they are selling it due to money needs or an upgrade. There are alot of sellers that you can tell just found the item at a yard sale or they bought it or they bought it non-working and fixed it. Audiogon had alot of nice amps when I was looking, but eBay seemed to have a better selection of budget amps.

audiocr381ve

justlord wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your replies. Your answers are what I suspected. I have seen the website audiogon mentioned several times. Since these items are typically used, what payment options are typical for this website, and is there a seller's rating to look out for?

I would visit the website, you'll find all the info you need there.

There are some amps in the for sale section that you should take a serious look at. The Parasound HCA-3500 might still be there :eek: (although a little out of your price range)

audiocr381ve

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128027-FS-Parasound-HCA-3500-Mint-Condition

An absolute BEAST.

Lietuvis91

rengnath wrote: »

2 Parasound HCA1000As shipped for under $700 that he will run in mono and squeeze 400 watts out of each.

Just remember that in bridged mode (mono) these amps cannot handle 4ohm speakers, just something to keep that in mind.