Where is the better value?

phipiper10

Is it easier to find better value in a used amp or preamp?

I was thinking about a used Parasound HCA w/ 300watts for a few hundred dollars. For a few hundred dollars could I find a pre on par with this? This is hypothetical. I'm not looking for a pre for a few hundred. (I'd love to improve on the Anthem I had though - I thought it sounded NICE!)

I know this is all subjective but do you gain more in going from say a $500 amp to $1000 amp or from going from a $500 pre to a $1000 pre?

Is this universally known?

BlueFox

phipiper10 wrote: »

Is it easier to find better value in a used amp or preamp?

I was thinking about a used Parasound HCA w/ 300watts for a few hundred dollars. For a few hundred dollars could I find a pre on par with this? This is hypothetical. I'm not looking for a pre for a few hundred. (I'd love to improve on the Anthem I had though - I thought it sounded NICE!)

I know this is all subjective but do you gain more in going from say a $500 amp to $1000 amp or from going from a $500 pre to a $1000 pre?

Is this universally known?

Depends on what universe you live in.

Generally speaking, the more you pay, the better the equipment. Of course, you always get into the "This CD player at $1500 is equal to $5000 CD players." situations where quality and value create subjective differances.

All things being equal in the used equipment market, the same rule of thumb will apply. Of course, after you purchase a used piece of equipment, somebody will say they paid hundreds less for the same thing.

phipiper10

It might just be that there are more options and used amps available than there are preamps so more supply = less $$??

Gaara

Totally depends on tastes, system synergy, budget, etc.

IMO it is easier to find a better value on a pre, but I like passives. You can get a nice passive for <$100. Going to be hard to find a decent amp for <$100.

From that perspective going from a $100 pre to a $500 pre is a much smaller difference then going from a $100 amp to a $500 amp. Of course this is all based on my own personal experience, system, and preferences. I also strongly believe that going from a $500 pre or amp to a $1000 one is a much smaller difference then spending $500 on treatments on a untreated room...but that's a discussion for another day.

NJPOLKER

I'm not looking for a pre for a few hundred. (I'd love to improve on the Anthem I had though - I thought it sounded NICE!)

It sure does sound nice, no it sounds great!
Drew

phipiper10

I get all the subjective stuff but some of you guys have been through a lot of gear and likely have a useful opinion. Collectively it may be useful to gather some info.

1) If you have a used amp and a used pre which did you pay more for or were they roughly the same?
AMP

2)Is the item you paid more for a better performer by the same margin of dollars than it's counterpart? (If the answer is no "I think they perform equally or are a great match" and everyone paid more for their amp then I'd say the value is in used preamps or vice versa.)
NO(but I have limited experience)

TroyD

Put me in the camp of a better preamp will pay bigger dividends than an amp....

For me, as long as it has the horsepower required, I'm less concerned (solid state, mind you) with the name on the faceplate. Do NOT intone that I think that all amps sound the same, however, it's my experience that a good preamp is where it's at.

BDT

Hawkeye

Gaara wrote: »

I also strongly believe that going from a $500 pre or amp to a $1000 one is a much smaller difference then spending $500 on treatments on a untreated room...but that's a discussion for another day.

$500 spent on room treatments would be a better value in my opinion also. I never realized the potential of the gear I had until I went in this direction.

Gordon

Gaara

Hawkeye wrote: »

$500 spent on room treatments would be a better value in my opinion also. I never realized the potential of the gear I had until I went in this direction.

Gordon

I am AMAZED at how much $ some people will spend with no concern from the room. My neighbor has a system that cost $25k+ with ZERO treatments, hell the whole right wall of the system is glass.

IMO the room has the 2nd largest effect on the sound beyond the speakers. As such I have spent more $ on the room then any other item in my system, with the exception of my front speakers...it is that important.

phipiper10, what are you getting at? I don't really understand your 3rd post. I have probably tried 20+ amps and 10 or so pres, are you looking for impressions or cost comparisons?

1) I have 3 systems, in their current configurations 2 the amp was more expensive, and 1 the pre was.

2) I don't understand. You can't compare a amp vs pre dollar value. You could compare amp A at price X vs. Amp B at price Y, but not really between classes.

phipiper10

Ha, I've been away and forgotten how I made my question so unclear a few weeks back. :eek:

Was basically trying to figure where to spend the money? The pre or the amp?
I finally moved the Blue Circle amp.

My last set up was roughly $1k on the amp $600 on the pre.

This next round is B&K amp @ roughly $600 and closer to $1k on the pre. Open to suggestions on the pre.

Looking at Quicksilver, SAS Audiolabs 10A or others at your suggestions under $1k

Both amps on the warmer side(BC more so) and both pres will be tubed.

So should be some similarities.