Low cost Amp?


I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a used amp for around the $500 range. In the past (pre-divorce) I had a Parasound 2200II and a PS Audio HCA-2. I listen to a wide variety of music but mainly smooth jazz. Like everyone else I am looking for the best sound for the best price.

Thanks,
Rod
rsjb41

Showing 1 response by johnnyb53

An Amber Series 70 if you're OK with 70 wpc.

Any number of Parasounds.

Personally, I've ditched the budget vintage amps in favor of the Onkyo A-9555 integrated amp. It's about 85/170 wpc into 8/4 ohms, and has a seemingly non-existent noise floor. Very quiet, dynamic, nuanced for the price, and musical once it breaks in (takes about 100 hard hours).

You can get one from Amazon new w/warranty for around $474 with free shipping, or a factory-refreshed B-stock from http://www.accessories4less.com for $400.

I've lived with mine for 6 months after years of using an Amber 70 and a VSP Labs TransMOS, and this Onkyo trumps 'em both in pretty much every way. The VSP is 150 wpc, but the 85 wpc Onkyo sounds just as big. It delivers big current instantaneously.