??? Established Manufacturer or Take A Chance ???

Let me modify the question slightly.

At what price difference would you purchase a no-name item over an established Brand name?  This is a sliding scale and could have notional breaks at say 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% discount.

Change the premise a bit, and introduce sound technical innovations with a no-name manufacturer, versus an established technology and brand.  I personally am tempted when the price difference approaches 50%.

A complication is that the innovative little guy probably cannot afford to protect his intellectual property with patents and sooner or later a Brand will adopt his technological breakthrough.

Somebody had to buy the first SME tonearm.  Somebody had to buy the first class-D amplifier.

Seems like the only reason for preference in long term established company is for future resale and/or maintenance.  Both importance is subjective - what’s acceptable to some may not be for others.

@kennyc exactly; and based on OP’s statement, it would seem that resale value isn’t the driving concern here

You are getting pretty long in the tooth & have an itch to build what will most likely be the system playing at your wake

@freediver get amps that make your speakers happy, that make them sing. Audition amps with your speakers, of course. How the end sound, ideally, captures your heart is all that matters. Not the price, nor how many years the manufacturer has been in business, etc.

Besides, established companies are less likely to disappear outright, but they do get bought out and the new owner may decide to end support for legacy products. Try to get vintage Levinson serviced by Levinson.

What are your speakers? 

As a manufacturer that is not well know I would say to contact the one you are considering and as about issues or future repairs.

As a manufacturer we are all point-to-point wired using the best parts versus even the well established manufacturers.  As a repair facility many repairs are because of lower quality parts and circuit boards over a period of time.

Designs can be simple even if a manufacturer is out of business if you know a excellent repair facility with a technician that has a degree in electronic design or has been doing repairs a very long time.

Happy Listening.

@richardbrand The comparing price thing becomes quite difficult, put a Off the Shelf Product from a well exposed Brand that costs $20K - $40K, against a designed item with a BOM of $4K - $5K and there is going to be a very difficult time justifying the extra $15K - $35K for the branded item, even if the aesthetic has an improved appeal.

I have heard a range of SS Amp's that have been from a Kit Design / EE - Designer - Builder compared to a Branded $50K Power Amp in a $200K system with the $50K Power Amp' in use.

I can assure that when the system value was reduced to near $150K through exchanging the resident $50K amp for other amp's significantly cheaper in cost, but from a very good design and build ethic, the overall system performance was not easily discerned for being compromised, and in the case of a Neurochrome Amp, the outcome was clearly showing the $50K amp had serious competition, where the only differences was a sonic signature from each.

I have heard the Neurochrome Amp's also show that an EAR Amplification does not separate from them in End Sound Impression able to be made.  

Very recently a report is being made of a very affordable SS Power Amp' that is a Kit Design and Turn Key, that is making a substantial impression when compared to Amp Designs produced by recognised guru's in their field of work. I will certainly take this info on board and become more investigative.