2. amps-preamps
  3. 190102-89202

Quandary

I’m really happy with my system. However when a technician, who is also a salesman, came to my house for a stereo repair he complimented my set but said it would sound a lot better if I switched out my Benchmark AHB2 amp (which I think is great) for a Pass 30 wpc class AB amp. He offered to let me hear that amp in my system so that I could decide for myself (at a fee of $300.) The only problem is he doesn’t  have the 30 watt amp in stock but would have to demo the Pass sound with 60 watt monoblocks. He assured  me that with my very efficient GoldenEar Triton 1 speakers the 30 watt amp will almost have the the same quality.

Do you think I can honestly judge how the smaller amp will actually sound? Or should I cancel the demonstration (and save$300?)

128x128rvpiano
coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
754 posts
 

$300 for a “demo.” RUN!

inna
7,296 posts
 

I certainly wouldn't want free in-home audition or even extensive at-store audition. I believe, dealer's time and effort should be paid for. Question is how much.

kavakat1
110 posts
 

Watch out for the upsell. Where he gives you the 60 watt mono Blocks and then after you are impressed, admits the 60s do sound a lot better than the 30 watt, and since you already have them at your house and all hooked up….let’s make a deal o the 60s. You’ll be much happier.  Right 

sokogear
1,095 posts
 

If they are that confident that it will sound better, let them get the one they recommend and bring it over. Hearing a different amp is of no value. I assume this is an expensive amp. I had a guy tell me that a tonearm would be a huge improvement for me, installed it on my turntable and said if I wasn't blown away, he'd refund my money (not store credit), He needed business, and I didn't think of the upgrade. I usually do smallish incremental improvements that I can hear. 

He was right on the money! I was blown away, and all I risked was my time and aggravation of driving an hour up and back and waiting for him to remount the cartridge and put the arm on. Cartridge took longer than the arm.

Why can't you bring an amp home and install it yourself? It should take a couple minutes to plug in the cables. There are places that will offer a money back refund if you pay shipping back to them. TMR for example....

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