looking for an amp for christmas

nadams
nadams Posts: 5,877
edited November 2005 in Flea Market
I think I may ask for a 2ch amp for christmas... anyone have something they'd like to sell? I'm going to be driving my SDA2's with it. My receiver just isn't doing it anymore. I know I can find plenty on eBay, just thought I'd throw it to you guys first.
Ludicrous gibs!
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2005
    It shouldn't be hard to beat the receiver. How much are you looking to spend? Will you be needing a preamp too?
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited November 2005
    Are you interested in a component system. I have the following sitting unused and they handled my 2Bs really well:

    Nikko Alpha 230 amp
    Nikko Beta 30 Pre
    Nikko Gamma 30 tuner

    Do some reading on the net about these if you're interested. I can do a "Christmas Special" for $300 if you come pick them up.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2005
    I had a Nikko electronic crossover. It was a very high priced high end unit. I understand Nikko was a very high quality company but this is the first time I've seen the name other than on my own unit. If these are similar you can feel the quality oozing out of them.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,545
    edited November 2005
    Somebody had a real nice Rotel in the Flea market...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2005
    I have two NAD 2700 I have been thinking of letting go. Present Bluebook for used is 325.00, of course always willing to cut a polkie a deal.

    RT1
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,505
    edited November 2005
    looks like any of those will be a significant improvement over the reciever. it'll be hard not to notice the difference, go get em kid
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Wiim Ultra. Jolida CD player. Fiio k11 R2R DAC, XTZ as300 Edge amp. Focal Cobalt 826 towers,

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Classe Audio 5 Preamp, DIY1200as2 Icepower Amp x 2, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E70 Velvet DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Polk LSi15's with MM840 woofer upgrade.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Schitt Saga 2 preamp, Topping a90 headphone amp, Mac Mini, Audiophonics Hypex NC252m amp, Polk r200's
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  • fredv
    fredv Posts: 923
    edited November 2005
    Wow, Nikko. I thought it was an unknown name in this country. That was my very first "stereo" in my life - a 20wpc receiver!!!!

    -fredv-
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited November 2005
    I'm looking to spend at MOST $300. I do have a preamp already.

    The biggest problem I'm having with my receiver is that it HATES the whole common ground thing. It is a common ground amp, but if I turn the speakers off (to use headphones instead) I still get sound out of the SDA drivers, unless I unplug one end of the SDA cable. This is getting old!

    I'm also not really looking to do this until a little closer to Christmas, so keep in mind I'm not ready to jump in w/ both feet right this instant.

    BlueMD- While that's a great price for those components, I really only need the amp, and would just have the rest of the equipment laying around then...

    SteveinAZ- I have seen the rotel, but it's a bit too rich for me. It's a beast, that's for sure!

    At least now I've got a few leads to follow up on and see how what I want compares to how much I can spend, and what I really need :D
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited November 2005
    No worries, Noah. I don't need to sell this stuff, and wouldn't have offered it had you not posted this thread.

    The Nikko Alpha 230 does have a feature that would end your SDA aggravation: A/B speaker outs in parallel - just put it on the unused out when doing headphones (both the amp and the pre have a headphone stage.)

    If you've had time to research a bit, you may have discovered it is a high current amp and will drive about any load. Most of them I've seen as separates have been "road hard and put up wet" because it was/is a prized DJ amp and it never runs out of power.

    Good luck in your search. These would have to go as a group (the pre and tuner are nothing to sneeze at for build quality and features either.)
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited November 2005
    Nikko? Didn't she used to sing with the Velvet Underground?

    nadams,
    Ted's NAD's are a good candidate. If Carver is an option, I might be able to help you out.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited November 2005
    Tour2ma wrote:
    Nikko? Didn't she used to sing with the Velvet Underground?

    He sure did! :eek:
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2005
    Ted's NAD's are a good candidate.
    Yep...Ted has always spoken very highly of his NADs. I think he takes good care of them too.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited November 2005
    I'd like to thank everyone for their generous offers. I'll be making a decision sometime before Christmas, I really hope. It all has to do with available fundage around the holidays. I'm thinking maybe I can get my dad to take the biggest hit as my christmas present this year :). Just what he wanted me to get, a better amp! :D

    For now, I've solved multiple problems with one device. I brought the old Marantz 2220b out of retirement. At a whopping 20wpc, it's no powerhouse, but it sure does sound sweet on these SDAs. It fixes the problems with the headphones, as I only use the headphones with the computer, and I don't use the computer with the SDA's, therefore I left the computer and headphones hooked up to my old receiver and just have my CD player and SDA's hooked up to the Marantz. And it also solved the HISSSSSS that I was getting with my receiver... the Marantz simply DOESN'T have it!

    I do still need an amp, though. This Marantz does have a few age-related problems of its own (needs a good cleaning, beyond what I can reach with my trusty spray-can of electronics cleaner...)
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • gatemplin
    gatemplin Posts: 1,595
    edited November 2005
    shack wrote:
    Yep...Ted has always spoken very highly of his NADs. I think he takes good care of them too.

    I've seen his NADs, so I can confirm that.
    Graham
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited November 2005
    Not something I'd choose to advertise...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited November 2005
    F it, go tube.

    Let me see what I have stereo-wise, in the 10-25 watt category, and what we can mod, full bore, to get you into Hi-Fidelity.

    BMD's Nikko rig is a steal, I'd write the man, and tell him how shockingly handsome he is.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited November 2005
    Ted's NAD's are a good candidate.
    Ted has always spoken very highly of his NADs. I think he takes good care of them too.
    I've seen his NADs, so I can confirm that.


    Hmmmmmm........I thought this was a thread about used amps not used.... :eek: :D
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2005
    Somethings have a legend of their own, my NAD's are one of them. :D

    RT1
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  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited November 2005
    I have a NAD c370 intergrated,I hook it up now and then,Ive never considered selling it...it just sounds so dayum good.NAD is good stuff,I think best buy for the money
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited November 2005
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    F it, go tube.

    Let me see what I have stereo-wise, in the 10-25 watt category, and what we can mod, full bore, to get you into Hi-Fidelity.

    BMD's Nikko rig is a steal, I'd write the man, and tell him how shockingly handsome he is.

    Russ- First off, would 10-25 tube watts be enough to get the SDA2's to decently loud levels? More often than not, I listen at reasonable levels, but sometimes I just need to crank them... a little. Also, how much maintenance does a tube amp require? Would I have to be replacing tubes every month or anything like that? I don't really want to be spending money all the time after an initial investment in it. I obviously have no clue how long power tubes and such live...

    Oh, and I do realise what a good deal BMDP's gear is (and am very greatful that he offered it), I just don't really need another tuner and pre... :)
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited November 2005
    It doesn't take a lot of watts to be loud. Remember, the sensitivity rating of your speakers is the loudness at 1 meter with a single watt.
    Never Forget
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,231
    edited November 2005
    BlueMDPicker wrote:
    He sure did! :eek:

    Wasn't Nikko a chikc that Morrison was **** ?
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2005
    Let it be Known that RuSs likes his NAD's, I have a NAD piece that was once his, still has some unidentifiable spots and definete lip prints on it. ;)

    Noah you wont have to change the tubes every month. Tube gear is just a bit more finicky than ss. I really like tube gear, but for what you are saying a ss amp and a tube pre would be nice. Of course I realize right now you are just looking for an amp. 20 tube watts will run your SDA very nicely at low to mid levels, but she is going to clip at high gain. I think you heard 20w mono's at PF05 as you know they sounded nicey nice.

    RT1
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited November 2005
    Actually, I didn't hear any tubes at PF05, because I was only there for the tour. Wish I could've stayed and demod all the gear on Saturday!

    What I'm thinking is that a tube amp is just more than I want to get into right now. It seems like you actually need to know a thing or two about them to work with them (bias adjustments, tube replacement, all that). And, RT- you are right, I'm just looking for an amp, I just have no idea what yet :)

    I'm certainly not discounting tubes or ruling them out at all, but I would like to find out some more about daily tube use before I take the plunge.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2005
    Whoops, well when I start drinking Rum my world gets a little random and things get fuzzy.

    RT1
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited November 2005
    Willow wrote:
    Wasn't Nikko a chikc that Morrison was **** ?

    My bad... I thought this was one of the trannies in Warhol's traveling circus. Actual spelling was "Nico", and JM was apparently one of a posse of musicians she was "associated" with. Info from Wikpedia

    Okay... enough about Nikko/Nico, let's find this young man an amp. ;)
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited November 2005
    BlueMDPicker wrote:
    My bad... I thought this was one of the trannies in Warhol's traveling circus. Actual spelling was "Nico", and JM was apparently one of a posse of musicians she was "associated" with. Info from Wikpedia

    Okay... enough about Nikko/Nico, let's find this young man an amp. ;)

    "As a young girl she moved to Paris and met the famed photographer Tobias, who christened her "Nico" after his ex-boyfriend, filmmaker Nico Papatakis. "

    wtf
    Never Forget
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