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

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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Check out the Hypex Nilai 500 Stereo. I doubt you’ll find many used, but they weigh in with amplifiers costing many times more: https://deercreekaudio.com/products/ols/products/hypex-nilai-500-stereo-amplifier