used power amp under 1500

@bhenry91 I am a Classe fan. I have a  CAP-150 integrated to look at soon. The DR9 also looks good, 2 of them on Audiomart. 

@larryincmh Thanks! Marantz is in the my search list

@emann50 45 years is epic!

@cooperdude6 I am not a Krell person. I feel that’s higher end. And I admit, I care about the looks - to some extent as well.

I pulled the plug on a pair of Class D, made in China amps to try them out in mono mode. It’s an easy first step, 30 days trial, $800,  never had class D, all that. The opposite of everything I wanted: not used, not USA or Canadian made, not vintage, not a big black beast. But at least I have a way to listen to music while hunting. 

Waiting for a pair of balanced cables, haven’t plugged it in yet.

For $500-$700, you can pick up an M117 from Luxman and get 200 wpc from the Japanese McIntosh.  I’ve used one on JBL Everest DD67000, Westminsters, Revel Salon 2, Canterburys, Apogee Studio Grands, and several others.  I’ve been very pleased with all of those combinations.  Best bang for a buck in audio.  Using much more expensive power now, but honestly, that’s because of ego-driven pretentious tendencies.

thanks @doodle6 ! It would be awesome. I don't see any for sale right now.

All of you guys are awesome.

I’ve always liked the Hafler P1500. You can often score one for about $400. Got a couple around, if you’re interested, but check other opinions first.

Of the two DR9s, one of them appears to be "upgraded" a bit. But what cool amps they'd be for a vintage system. Buy two, run mono, get a pair of Maggie 3.5R panels, and see how that plays out.

I've owned and lived with Adcom, B&K, Pass Labs, Aragon, Forte, and McCormack, Decent amps with strengths, but better with certain speaker pairings than others.

The current rotation has been CJ Classic 62SE, a MF-2275, Herron M1 monos, the Pass A5, and the Belles 150. There's a Precision Fidelity M8 Hybrid on a shelf, but that has sentimental value, and comes back on special occasions when mid bass is desirable. 

Of that crowd, the solid state MF-2275, and the Herron M1 monos can sometimes be found for 1500. I'd recommend these as well; they have their own strengths.

ghdprentice I respect your choices and method, along with the passion you bring to it. I've enjoyed reading your posts for years. I'm a bit of a tourist in my second era of audio assessment, since 2012 or so. I do enjoy the social aspect of buying and selling gear with fellow enthusiasts. By having more than one system I can experiment and often learn something.