need help. buying high end stereo stuff used?

[vash]

ok, any good sources? i just want a nice system for the house. i am thinking of keeping it separate from any future surround sound system. i think amp, pre amp? CD player, tuner+sat tuner, and someway to play my wife's ipod, and some badarse speakers. back in the day, i had dreams of owning Adcom hardware, screaming out of definitive speakers. are those companies dead?

feels risky buying used.

[Mule]

Amp
http://cgi.ebay.com/Threshold-SA-2-SA2-Mono-Amplifiers-Nice-Condition_W0QQitemZ230260653757QQihZ013QQcategoryZ 67786QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/Krell-KSA-250-Stereo-Power-Amplifier-Original-Owner_W0QQitemZ280234241933QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3978 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/Krell-KSA-250-Stereo-Power-Amplifier-Original-Owner_W0QQitemZ280233169038QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3978 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Pre amp
http://cgi.ebay.com/Threshold-T3-Preamplifier-not-Krell-Classe-or-Luxman_W0QQitemZ150258702764QQihZ005QQcategoryZ120 50QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or
I know it's a processor but these are sweet
http://cgi.ebay.com/Proceed-PAV-PDSD-Home-Theater-Preamp-Processor_W0QQitemZ320261998327QQihZ011QQcategoryZ 14978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRYSTON-BP20-Preamplifier-WARRANTY-VALID-to-OCT-2020_W0QQitemZ280235726018QQihZ018QQcategoryZ12050 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/MCINTOSH-MX-113-TUNER-PRE-AMP_W0QQitemZ280235803740QQihZ018QQcategoryZ12050Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
You might have to get these new
http://www.eminent-tech.com/main.html

Without knowing your budget or space requirements, I was just guessing. That's why I didn't pick a sub also. This stuff is several steps up from Adcom. Any mix of those should give you a SERIOUS 2 channel system. As far as input, if you chose a turntable, get a moving coil cartridge. As far as cd players, I wouldn't go too crazy. All the vibration dampening stuff is bs IMHO. I believe any most of pre amps can do the d/a conversion of of any decent cd player & you'll be fine. A couple of sets of Vampire cables & you should be able to rival systems costing much more.

[kjb]

Cliff,

Check out audiogon.com. I bought a Linn Classik from a seller on audiogon 7 years ago. The price was right (50% of MSRP for a practically new unit) and I couldn't be happier.

/ Johan

[vash]

damn, just checked Ebay. daunting! mule, my budget is less than that!


thanks johan. sent you a pm.

[9dreizig]

Personally I find that at our age, after loud cars, guns, concerts etc.. my ears can't really tell the difference anymore.. The cost of new stuff relative to the quality/technology is pretty good. I think I've buy new.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by vash

damn, just checked Ebay. daunting! mule, my budget is less than that!


thanks johan. sent you a pm.

What do you want to spend?

[cairns]

What's your budget is the first question you have to answer.

You may want to do a little reseach- buy a few guides (there are hundreds) and consider what you might get within your budget before looking. Most used stuff (that's any good) is going to be relatively expensive and if you're not certain what you want it might be better to buy new. Audiogon is a great (the best IMO) source for used equipment but it is mostly high end stuff, Mapleshade Audio also sells very nice refurbished vintage gear (mostly Scott) and a used McIntosh is almost never a bad buy.

But unless you're after a Marantz Model 10 or Thorens TD 124 or similar (and know what they are) I would try to find a good local high quality shop with a salesman who knows his stuff (not a Circuit City or Best Buy!) and don't forget rule #2- people don't let friends buy Bose.

[Mule]

Not much time left on these but this is just about the holy grail of high end amps, The Julius Futterman OTL. Price is super cheap at $610
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-York-Audio-Labs-Futterman-OTL-3-rare-tube-amps-pair_W0QQitemZ320261482543QQihZ011QQcategoryZ67786 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[tabs]

Well, well, well, I guess the big ears on a Mule are pretty sensitive after all. I knew there was sophistication behind that stuborn persona of yours... U gave it up a coupla times.

Well anyway I have been the proud owner of these components for decades now.

MR 78, C-27, MC 2125, JBL L65, Thorens TD 165.

[nostatic]

audiophile stuff is a slippery slope. And if you want to ingetrate into home theater, forget it. Buy newer stuff.

If you want this to be a hobby for 2 channel audio, the audiogon is probably the best bet. I was into the higher end stuff in grad school, flirted with it again awhile back but pulled back to be happy with midphile. Current a Cambridge Audio receiver and Dana speakers (from theaudioinsider.com). Mail order has changed the landscape, and there are tons of "direct" speakers to be had. Then buy a decent NAD receiver and be happy. Or watch out for the grease as you slide down the slope...

[Mule]

Originally Posted by tabs

Well, well, well, I guess the big ears on a Mule are pretty sensitive after all. I knew there was sophistication behind that stuborn persona of yours... U gave it up a coupla times.

Well anyway I have been the proud owner of these components for decades now.

MR 78, C-27, MC 2125, JBL L65, Thorens TD 165.

Last turntable I had was a 165. You can't go wrong with Mc.

[imcarthur]

Futterman? My gawd. That's a blast from the past.

Just for a related topic drift . . .

At last weeks Pro show in New Orleans, several mixers/masterers were bemoaning the fact that record companies are demanding louder & louder masters (with less & less dynamic range of course). This is so they will sound good on dynamic limited media - radio, ipod, youtube etc. When asked what the industry & consumers can do about it . . . buy analog . . . was the consensus answer.

Ian

[Mule]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Futterman? My gawd. That's a blast from the past.

Just for a related topic drift . . .

At last weeks Pro show in New Orleans, several mixers/masterers were bemoaning the fact that record companies are demanding louder & louder masters (with less & less dynamic range of course). This is so they will sound good on dynamic limited media - radio, ipod, youtube etc. When asked what the industry & consumers can do about it . . . buy analog . . . was the consensus answer.

Ian

That pair of amps is a steal! Even if you have to send them to George Kaye for a tune up. People will have to genuflect in their presence! The 959 of the audio world!

You're right about the analogue. Most of the old, super good tube amps (like these) have been bought up by the Japanese while they sell us solid state crap.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Mule

That pair of amps is a steal! Even if you have to send them to George Kaye for a tune up. People will have to genuflect in their presence! The 959 of the audio world!

While that may be a bid strong, they are a bargain. There's a pair on the 'Gon for $7K.

Ian

[vash]

ok..less than 2k? can i do it?


i know i want to keep it separate from any surround sound. we listen to most types of music except jazz. oh, no RAP. i want to keep it simple.

[MRM]

Watch Craig's List and don't be shy about offering less than the asking price. We bought a great system for our lake home for a thousand bucks or so. I think it was $1,200. Can't remember what all it was, but we bought it from a guy who used to work at Circuit City and didn't need it any more. It was maybe 5 years old but very high end stuff. It would have been about $5,000 to get the same stuff new. Pre-amp, tuner, 5 speakers and a subwoofer that's the size of a recliner.

[tabs]

5K for a HE Stereo system is the price of " the hello" in the world of HE stereo.

[stuartj]

With everyone buying 5:1, 7;1 homethreatre- there are some absolute steals around if you an old fashioned L/R sort of bloke......

[ramonesfreak]

not risky if you buy Bryston. they come with a 20 year transferable warranty, not that youll need it.

had what i thought was a problem with mine and sent it to company. the tech called me while it was on his bench and went through MY error with me. no charge, and touched up my paint blemishes...new knobs etc.. awsome gear. lasts forever

[89911]

If your going to be listening to mostly Ipod output, 99.99% of the components mentioned are wasting your money. The Ipod is the weak link in most newer systems, and it only gets accentuated with higher end components. My audiophile days are over. Gone are the days of listening in an acoustically perfect room with the lights dimmed and all outside noise is filtered. (and if you can't do this, what good are $5000 speakers?) With 4 kids and all that goes with a home with 6 people living it, some decent sounding music is good enough. I guess it comes down to your personal situation.