Digital Amp Receivers
WesKParker
Posts: 43
Whatever happened to all the digital amp receivers that were being made during the mid 2000s. Like the Panasonic SA-XRXX's? JVC and a few other companies made similar receivers at the time. They were extremely popular among mid-fi enthusiasts, at least thats what forums suggested.
After research I see that Panasonic hasn't sold a new model since 2008. But it seems like the demand is still high. Last week the last of the slim line models, the SA-XR57 sold on ebay for $330, that's probably more than the seller paid for it new as the MSRP on these was 399 i think, but most sold for between 200 and 300... I know when my mother was looking for a receiver for a bed room system to replace a dead sony dream system, i suggester her buy a sa-xr55, current model at the time, and i don't think she even paid $200 for it.
There seem to be very few on the used market (suggests maybe people aren't getting rid of them) but the ones that do sell, seem to fetch a good price.
I know Rotel, Pioneer, and Sony are putting digital amps in there higher line receiver/amps now, but certainly at nowhere near the cost of the Panasonic or JVC models.
I read that Tri-Path, the company that made the chips for the T-Amps went bankrupt. I'm not sure if these are the same chips as what are in the budget receivers.
Is this the reason they went away? Or is there some sort of conspiracy where the higher end models wanted to monopolize the market?
I guess the easy answer is probably because Panasonic / JVC had trouble selling them at the MSRP and didn't feel they were making enough profit selling them at 50-70% MSRP like many of them did..
After research I see that Panasonic hasn't sold a new model since 2008. But it seems like the demand is still high. Last week the last of the slim line models, the SA-XR57 sold on ebay for $330, that's probably more than the seller paid for it new as the MSRP on these was 399 i think, but most sold for between 200 and 300... I know when my mother was looking for a receiver for a bed room system to replace a dead sony dream system, i suggester her buy a sa-xr55, current model at the time, and i don't think she even paid $200 for it.
There seem to be very few on the used market (suggests maybe people aren't getting rid of them) but the ones that do sell, seem to fetch a good price.
I know Rotel, Pioneer, and Sony are putting digital amps in there higher line receiver/amps now, but certainly at nowhere near the cost of the Panasonic or JVC models.
I read that Tri-Path, the company that made the chips for the T-Amps went bankrupt. I'm not sure if these are the same chips as what are in the budget receivers.
Is this the reason they went away? Or is there some sort of conspiracy where the higher end models wanted to monopolize the market?
I guess the easy answer is probably because Panasonic / JVC had trouble selling them at the MSRP and didn't feel they were making enough profit selling them at 50-70% MSRP like many of them did..
Post edited by WesKParker on
Comments
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I don't know what happened, but i have one.
Pioneer Elite VSX-50.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
Sony has not made a digital amp since the DA7100ES about 3-4 years ago. If you can find a used one, and a NA9100ES SACD player, buy it as fast as you can. It makes a great combo when connected via the digital Ilink for SACD playback.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
