used power amp under 1500


I started with a great system and I managed to downgrade it to an OK sound through a lot of trades, sales, questionable decisions and shrinking budget. (No regrets, it's been a fun journey.) I ended up with very low sensitivity, hard to drive speakers and now I need more power. Will 100 Watts be enough and is it OK and safe to buy used? Any brands that are a good value at $1500?

parkergetdean

There is Robertson 4010 and a 6010 for sale one ebay.  Both fabulous amps from the 80s.  The 6010 may need a little work, but these are great. . .Certainly way better than the than some of the stuff being introduced today.  

 

6010 #1https://www.ebay.com/itm/286617389550?_skw=robertson+sixty+ten&itmmeta=01KFA3F845MDPXFFJ8AHFEB209&hash=item42bbba49ee:g:bvIAAOSwWg1mtQlh&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8O7PUuNWmJ%2B%2BUShgI9tQz%2FqcLFZLNxdDKaR%2Fi%2F4GyvQBhWOe7hQVO%2BYnjPewGtfEBzDEmuLQU0NgGLBwmwGaB1j5w7%2Bc%2F7ezzxWlPO0%2BhjX6lUAEYP%2BYMP6izvlEGq49VWjfrYxDI%2FFjjzTUJLX22l%2FtdtujQ8TMxWVzihfL%2F31JQ92kHTNrZH9mZHWPi0sm1TNA1s0iaC5unrjTcZ1wTMKAGWlUImH0mRSmdsLH8na5fqt5zqSoHh8F9rHiv%2B0R159BdZ3FSROd3nul3Q%2BNbId8XfQe0B05%2FBq79Yj%2BUKCgTi9UNR7MX5ynJK%2BP%2BcdToQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8qCvcP6Zg

6010 #2 - more (a little too much) money - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124807719747?_skw=ROBERTSONOO+AUDIO&itmmeta=01KFA3J4FGY0BXVPHH3SVS43FE&hash=item1d0f1eab43:g:NO4AAOSwKptcafo9&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8O7PUuNWmJ%2B%2BUShgI9tQz%2FozEszGxAdQCO3EJvaKiKY38a0UFOar4v9kVdK78x4K1A43FMtSYI9M5tHJGWBPO3wAvYmGGYZ5%2Br%2Fvd%2BEj9SuQvxu0N82b5jeKMFEhhRyWQhrDjbZPrwgJ5bsG0yYAZBfY7b52Jlx0uv97b%2B%2B%2FhhK4mvjrjqV10qny6HNqslcTTFb2wMQudFTvlL6OS4o2IFbLI6kyJjyK1yzhm40eO9vHkTPKPt3FmE%2BcAQiLGjQfwgGRiL%2BIhLYGPQGqXlXzUhyF3I70gAR5MhUjiP%2FRkEaNBfpgfpY2A1mFpRps3rxaXw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_7IyMP6Zg

 

4010:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/236218348900?_skw=ROBERTSONOO+AUDIO&itmmeta=01KFA2V32460FPHY67RKRCM1YJ&hash=item36ffb5f564:g:jj0AAeSwaXtoftVE&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8O7PUuNWmJ%2B%2BUShgI9tQz%2Fpk3oZGZsZIBOdlt%2B%2BxMtPl6SJh9ACwQtvUBBotYgyh%2BSLNLI6xMWd15nfm3aXLxooBJx%2BlahfkD0zD9%2BBjID8KOZMHbEWGAiqeAF%2BC6PfpI%2FeWrFkHV%2FGJZu0yltEyOcCc4mhKCUbxh8OOcAQ96cADqFqHuhgOSjwZZ1sJrvWG4V8QwjC%2FrrUhJh07wBRL4EbvAKj1BjUBHOXICAG6BTPi0by8Xw1kkB5cHh9%2FZQGf%2BcjQAz2v9qqx8VsXHKybhssn6IyloVD0t4ivUBNDvrTq9tkvEopNYcw%2Fw8XB9vEhEA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8Ky7ML6Zg

And here is an Mark Levinson ML+-9 amp from when they were still great when Levinson was still running the company - just over your budget:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/286594857593?_skw=mark+levinson+ml-2&itmmeta=01KFA39SREXQP58E99P2PYR0PA&hash=item42ba627a79:g:ji0AAOSw2DBna3Yf&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8O7PUuNWmJ%2B%2BUShgI9tQz%2FpYo2OTc%2FbHac%2BTWWrCcS2EdrTQCcj5uMYaT60MaVuf0R0sh07V9NHnJa1sZUCGnCDF3dNnQpiqVM50JMW2AOHcaNHAF0LVAR1ZxrlyUqqxfYsv9UskefvvUx2WYDwX%2FkNctpXfrh%2BKuDMBz1P5%2BLy2d8Nb0Qr8dIW4ctXnp2qnsqlewvRD01vagxX0i3DLkoS%2Fceg%2BVSevKbVFGP9%2F%2BEh1kRLUYy4%2BPDhunBkGiVnN6R3dIbBmFGUWj6snXaTKp9iqyztub%2B%2BCst%2BYW%2BRAhNMBIzQZ7S8RNRY3adFznAd8KA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8icp8P6Zg

old Krells are also awesome - look at the inside of this KSA-200 - also just above your budget, but it’s a keeper. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/357701653799?_skw=krell+ksa&itmmeta=01KFA3RT6HF7FPWFBF87Q5A6ZA&hash=item5348ae1527:g:HZQAAeSwHzxo4LmU&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0O7PUuNWmJ%2B%2BUShgI9tQz%2FrjwoqoLn9R88P50ZNDc1LjSfMHiu01zfurlE9lPEVX7sWezxLmvFtrqwH9YWp0yTvedcV%2BXDSWql7Vvu8xM2yPTZf6y73S%2B05i1BUzBTeNVRuPmsGBp5dhvJ2G4O8WcGQa%2BuNXxJ6iIxitySHGeBlPHTqEHpAK%2BG2hw21rsj0XmjWmpSIUNEoy2Te6iEf2jIxqxQXTMR87Euj2x6WvqPb7pQPAQFDqVygvOS9jSnX5RyFIPI1MBpKCa9fP10hsd8U%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7ij48P6Zg

Amp technology is pretty much the same today as  it was 30-40 years ago when these amps were new (and I could not afford them).  Seeing this stuff almost makes me want to start a second system. 

I hooked up the amps in dual mono mode, and although a bit harsh at times, they sound incredible. They really make the speakers sing. Clarity, punch and details that I have never heard. I am very pleased. (playing CDs)

However I realized there is no input for my turntable. My preamp is just a DAC with a volume control and 4 digital ins and a balanced out. I cannot Lego it together.

So I need a preamp or an integrated. Kind of shot myself in the foot (wasn't the first time or last devil)

Thanks @patrickalston ​​​​@dishman442 ! Probably can't make it work with a power amp sad

If I understand what you're saying, you're using a DAC with a built-in preamp with no phono section, correct?  If so, you can get an inexpensive phono stage, there are plenty around.  For example the VIncent PHO-8 is a dual chassis MC/MM phono stage that got good reviews from Stereophile.  (I bought one on clearance two years ago and never used it...it'll be a backup when mine goes in for recapping).  You can run any phono into your DAC and run balanced DAC output to balanced or RCA into a power amp.  Personally, I'd wait and push your budget to $2500 (for used) where you'll have many more options--some of which are serious players.  I suspect that in the long run you'll be happier if you buy correctly today.  

I'll be 60 this year and I'm only on my second system.  I still have my Martin Logan CLS speakers that I bought used is the late 80s/early 90s and my first BAT VK-60 that I purchased over 20  years ago.  I could  live with this stuff until my last day (although I likely won't) and be very happy.   

Take your time and listen to stuff you can't afford because one day it's going  to be sold for a fraction of it's original price.  

@patrickalston so it’s the Audiolab D7. I do have a nice little phono preamp. The phono preamp has RCA out. The Audiolab has no RCA in. 

Unless I am mistaken I cannot run my phono preamp through my DAC to the power amp.

I agree with your point to raise my budget to $2500. The issue is, the rest of my system wouldn’t keep up with that. All the components are modest (but sound great to my ear.)

 

 

 

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