Stereo Amplifier?

[Michaelholder1]

I'm looking for a used stereo amp to go with my B&W dm602 s3s for around £150. I'm just wondering what the best value for money second hand amps in that price range are. I've been looking at the Arcam alpha 9s and the NAD C350s but thats just as i have come across good reviews of them and they sell for about that on ebay! I would preferably like an amp with preouts so i can upgrade with a power amp in the future and bi-amp my speakers and in the mean time use the preout for my sub. I have a very eclectic taste in music so a versatile amp would be good but am more inclined to a warm sound but clarity is important! I do like good bass as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Michael.

 

[Pete68]

As an Arcam Alpha 9 owner I can heartily recommend the amp. It can produce a warm sound with a lot of speakers and can reveal plenty of detail when partnered with the certain speakers. I have owned this amp for 15 years (and am currently having it modified) and play all kinds of music from dance & hip-hop to jazz and blues to indie & rock and it's a good all rounder.

£150 may get you one in reasonable condition, worth checking the input selector switch if you get the chance too before you buy as they are renowned for developing an annoying crackle - fixable but it's a further outlay.

You could also add the Arcam Alpha 9P power amp later and bi-amp your speakers. This makes a huge difference!!

All in all a very good amp, especially at the second hand prices they are going for at the moment.

 

[BigH]

The Alpha 9 has a great reputation but when I looked most seemed to be over £200 which I thought was expensive considering its age. Also you can pick amps like the Arcam A18 for about £300 new. If you can find a 9 in good nick for £150 then could be worth it.

 

[eggontoast]

The Alpha 9 has a great reputation but when I looked most seemed to be over £200 which I thought was expensive considering its age. Also you can pick amps like the Arcam A18 for about £300 new. If you can find a 9 in good nick for £150 then could be worth it.

I kind of understand where you are coming from but newer doesn't always mean better; I would take an Alpha 9 over some of Arcams later incarnations.

 

[Michaelholder1]

Well the 9s can be had for around £150 if you wait for long enough and look hard enough! Prices range quite alot on ebay. For instance if there is two selling at the same time it will sell for a lot less, that sort of thing. But I want a good selection of amps to look for so i dont have to wait ages to find the right deal on one amp if you get me?

 

[rich51080]

What about Rotel - you can get a superb amp for under £150 - a RA-935BX Perhaps?

There is one going on ebay for a bargain price - I would certainly make a bid as it would suit your needs and B&W are greatly matched with Rotel.

 

[p_m_brown]

Old Nad stuff is good and has the kind of sound to are looking for. I had a 302 for about 15 years and it trounces the cheap modern gear IMO. And they are cheap on eBay! :cheers:

 

[Michaelholder1]

Any specific models for nad? New and old? Any other Arcams i should be looking at? What other Rotels? What about denons, marantz ect?

 

[MajorFubar]

worth checking the input selector switch if you get the chance too before you buy as they are renowned for developing an annoying crackle - fixable but it's a further outlay.

...but surely that outlay is no more that a fiver on a tin of Servisol switch cleaner

 

[stevebrock]

Rotel RA-971 MK 2 was a superb amp, better than the Marantz PM 66SE it replaced - £299 ten years ago - seen them go on ebay for £120!

Rotel are nice & punchy good with Electronic/Dance music!

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm looking for a used stereo amp to go with my B&W dm602 s3s for around £150. I'm just wondering what the best value for money second hand amps in that price range are. I've been looking at the Arcam alpha 9s and the NAD C350s but thats just as i have come across good reviews of them and they sell for about that on ebay! I would preferably like an amp with preouts so i can upgrade with a power amp in the future and bi-amp my speakers and in the mean time use the preout for my sub. I have a very eclectic taste in music so a versatile amp would be good but am more inclined to a warm sound but clarity is important! I do like good bass as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Michael.

Look no further than Arcam. Either Alpha 8 or DIVA A75 or A65. Sublime match for the money.

 

[Tansen]

How about Rotel RA-02 ??? Or Yamaha as-500??

 

[Michaelholder1]

I could definitely get the Rotel Ra 02 at that kind of price the as-500 I havent seen going anywhere near £150 yet though! Would anyone be able to provide me with some Nad models in that price range that would be good? Preferably some that arent too old, 2000 onwards I'd prefer. How old are the other Rotel amps suggested? So is it just going to be the alpha 8s/9s and the diva 65's/75s in that price range for arcam? What about denon and marantz amps? Any good in that price range?

 

[altruistic.lemon]

The NAD C320BEE should be good. I've used C326BEE which followed it, really good.

 

[eggontoast]

worth checking the input selector switch if you get the chance too before you buy as they are renowned for developing an annoying crackle - fixable but it's a further outlay.

...but surely that outlay is no more that a fiver on a tin of Servisol switch cleaner

Unfortunately not, switch cleaner is only a temporary fix for a short period.....if your lucky.

 

[Michaelholder1]

Ok thanks for you replies but still havent really got what I was after. Essentially, I just want to form a big list of good second hand amps around the £150 price range so I can hopefully find a good deal. I'll list the ones I've been look at on ebay and gumtree currently, if you could give your opinions on them, rough estimates on value and any other amps to look for. The problem is I'm relatively new to this world and I cant listen to these amps first so I'm relying on other peoples reviews!
So potential amps:
Nad C340/C350/C370

Nad C320BEE
Arcam Alpha 8/9

Arcam Diva A65/A75

Rotel RA-935BX II

Rotel RA-971BX II

Rotel Ra-02 to Ra-04

I was also quite confused with the Audiolab 8000a amps as from what I understand all the versions have been called the same thing so how in the hell do you value one on ebay? Also are they any good?

Is there any musical fidelity amps to look out for? Denon? Marantz?

 

[eggontoast]

The Audiolab 8000As came in three versions, the early ones have din input sockets stay away from these ones. The second version has chrome input phonos and grey case work, the final edition had a black case (although there are a few grey ones too) and gold phono sockets. Your best bet is to get one of the ones with the gold input sockets, be advised though that they are getting on now. The gold phonos fall to bits due to heat, some of the caps could probably do with replacing as they are also starting to fail now, if it has blown up in the past and has been repaired it probably has a badly scorched PCB cos the protection circuit is rubbish. All versions are approximately the same price, £150ish but they do sound good.

Another amp to consider is the Marantz PM66KI Sig

 

[BigH]

Im not sure where you are located but if you can get to a hifi dealers that stocks used gear there are a few around it would worthwhile as not all amps may suit your taste or speakers. What speakers do you have?

 

[Michaelholder1]

Well Im at university in Nottingham and but I'll be back in county durham next month so if there is any that you know round any of them let me know! Okay so it sounds like the audiolabs are a risky buy? Are they still worth it? Yeah I've heard a lot about those KI marantz amps, is that one not quite old though?

 

[BigH]

Well Im at university in Nottingham and but I'll be back in county durham next month so if there is any that you know round any of them let me know! Okay so it sounds like the audiolabs are a risky buy? Are they still worth it? Yeah I've heard a lot about those KI marantz amps, is that one not quite old though?

I don't know that area but did find this: http://www.2ndhandhifi.co.uk/category/amplification/

They have some Arcam and Audiolab amps prices don't look too bad either..

 

[eggontoast]

Yeah I've heard a lot about those KI marantz amps, is that one not quite old though?

Similar age to the other mentioned, cira '97

 

[Michaelholder1]

Oh really, I sort of fancied a newer amp but not really sure why, just seems like a good idea in terms of reliability and such like. I think it may be more of a subconcious thing about looks as well. I've noticed a lot of the Marantz amps dont have pre-outs for bi-amping; should that be an issue do you think?

 

[Michaelholder1]

There is a guy selling a NAD C340 for £30 but one of the channels isnt working/is quieter. I think its probably worth the risk at that kind of money but whats likely to be wrong with it with that problem?

 

[eggontoast]

Impossible to say, you would need to determine if it's the preamp or power amp which is causing the fault first. You can do that by crossing the pre-pwr amp links over with a phono cable.

 

[Michaelholder1]

How exactly do you mean cross the pre/power links? Should they not already be crossed to work? Also when i do this what should i look for and what if its pre and what if its power?