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Handling Heavy Amps

There are several amps I’m interested in possibly purchasing but I’m dissuaded because of their weight. I’ve had lower back issues so I need to be careful. I live alone. Even if my wife was still alive she would not have been able to help much. Also Children live far. I see that many of you have these 60-100 pound behemoths and I wonder how do you manage. If I buy from my dealer he’ll load it in my SUV. However when I get home it will be difficult to get it out and onto the garage floor where I can place it on my handcart. Then when I get it next to my rack I need to maneuver it out of the box and up onto the rack. I guess I would need to see if my dealer would deliver it and place it on the rack. Probably for a fee. So that may work. But then if I need to paint, move furniture, resell the unit whatever I would need help. I think I can handle up to 40lbs. So how do you handle these amps? Is it a concern for you?  I’m spoiled by my Benchmark 12 lb AHB2. It’s also the reason I’ve been investigating Class D amps. 

jfrmusic
jerry_b2
15 posts
 

As someone now over 70, I enjoyed this discussion as it certainly applies to me.  My story:  Bought two very heavy Mark Levison 23 amps nearly 30 years ago and put them up on a shelf with no help. Just recently had minor service to them. It was  a PITA to get them down, into my car, into the repair shop and then again to get them home and back up on the shelf.  I needed help at every step.  My costs:  Beers to my sons-in-law and the admission I needed help.  These amps currently power my Egglestonworks Andras whiich weigh in at hundreds of pounds each....which also were a PITA to send back to the factory for upgrades...and came back with even more granite. My hearing loss is to the point that what I own is good enough for me to still enjoy and I plan to keep the amps and speakers in their current positions...hopefully for at least another decade if lucky.  After that.....headphones at the assisted living home. Life is hard. Suck it up. Nothing is free ....and if it is worth it to you, you gotta pay for it somehow.

ghdprentice
6,409 posts
 

@jerry_b2 

 

😁👍

ryder
1,682 posts
 

I carried my 180lb Krell FPB 600 upstairs by myself.


You are strong, or I'm weak. :-) I could only manage about 100lb in my prime. 

moonwatcher
348 posts
 

Stereo equipment should be something you set up once and very rarely move around, if at all. Do you go to a church or have friends with "children" 30 and younger in good health? Ask for help. Most people would be happy to help - and get the chance to hear what a good system can sound like. Kick 'em a few bucks for their time and trouble. 

Otherwise, go for a lightweight Class-D amp or integrated and call it a day. Not worth screwing up your back to hear some music, even as much as we love it. 

Even for instance if you had a good gun collection and needed a safe, you aren't going to be lifting something weighing 500 lbs. You'd be smart and hire some people. 

tjassoc
258 posts
 

Anyone in the central NJ area - my audiophile friends and I will come help you with your equipment. Cost - join our small group which casually gets together to have a bite to eat, share a good glass of wine and listen to each others systems and music.

My friends just helped me move my almost 200 pound mono-block amplifiers and a LOT of my other stuff (do we ever realize how much stuff we have?).

Just before this move, it was moving our (now recently deceased) friend's heavy speakers! I'm no spring chicken but I keep myself in good shape - and I am very grateful for their help - on both occasions.

Come join us - we're not perfect but we're a good group :-)

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