Ideas for an amplifier?


Hi Gentlemen,

i was thrilled at receiving a second hand Maraschino Cherry and was looking for another one. A gentleman on eBay had two that were sold for $1,000 pair, less than half price new. Then I found out that the Digital Amplifier Company is essentially defunct with the untimely death of its owner, Mr. Tom O’Brien. RIP

Perhaps people are worried about parts and repair. 
 

I did a lot of reading on amps but I don’t have your experience. There is certainly a lot of hype about class D amps but one also has to watch out for the class D amps that are for low frequency subs only.   I’m not married to the idea of a class D amp and am open to suggestions. 
 

When I was young the Krell amps were amongst the best. Judging from the price it seems that is still the case. I have a McIntosh mc2100 but I just need more juice.  Most hifi stores think the newer amps have less THD than the older ones. 
 

i was reading something about a kind of impedance that needs to be matched with speakers, not the 4 ohm 8 ohm thing. Something about feedback. I didn’t understand it first time reading through it. I think it wax late before bed. 
 

at the end of this I will put the list of equipment I have. Maybe someone can suggest an amp around $1200 to $1500 on the used market?  I, like most men, just came up with that number as what I would like to spend. Once guys pull a number out of their hat it is hard to change it even though there was no logic to coming up with it. 
 

The main reason for reaching out is so that I don’t make a mistake buying an amp that everyone knows to be harsh or a great THD on paper but not smooth. 
 

Ok, here is what I have to play with now, thanks to some earlier suggestions by Dugeon. 
 

Sony HAP Zies 1tb DAC NAS

Speakers:  Vandersteens, Maggie III, Monitor Audio Silver bookshelf, B&W Nautilus SCM-1’s. 
 

PS. The Vandersteens are power hungry. All the others are good. 
sub:  RBH (don’t like it because it can’t handle much power before sounding flop flop from overdriving them)  driven by a Yamaha 2500 in mono mode. 
 

Please only nice positive comments. Thank you. 

128x128geworthomd

I do know someone who is selling a Threshold S/500 amp that can be bought for about $400. It is older but great THD and power. What do you think?  I would still have enough money to take my Wolfhound to McDonalds. 

@geworthomd 
Assuming that Threshold is in operable condition… buy it. Don’t walk. Run. If/when you decide to replace it, you’ll actually MAKE money on the resale. Read the reviews and take a look at what those sell for on hifishark. Heck you could probably have it professionally recapped and still come in under market value.

I wouldn't worry too much about buying a preowned Cherry amp just because Tommy is no longer with us.  Solid state amps these days are pretty darn reliable and you may very well be able to pick up an amp that has a tube like midrange with a solid state low end for 50-60% of the list price.

But...the same is true of a number of preowned amps these days and if you buy preowned and its not exactly what you want, you won't suffer much depreciation if any when you go to resell it.