CHEAP power amps ... m'kay?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lt. Bob
  • Start date Start date
Lt. Bob

Lt. Bob

Spread the Daf!
I need a 2 channel (stereo) power amp. I don't need much power ..... even 25 watts a side would be fine .....
And I don't care much about quality as long as it is functional.
I just want something I can drag to any part of my house ..... hook up my phono preamp to it and drive a very small pair of Advents. It's simply so that I can listen to records anywhere in the house besides the music room.
That's why a low powered model might be nice ..... it'd be small.
Now I see 100wpc Nady's and Gems at M.F. for $100 and that would certainly do the job but is there anything even smaller and cheaper?
I'm poor.
 
I'd check ebay for an old marantz reciever or some other home hi-fi amp. Cheap, garage sale style, 70's gold with big old knobs.

Pete
 
battleminnow said:
I'd check ebay for an old marantz reciever or some other home hi-fi amp. Cheap, garage sale style, 70's gold with big old knobs.

Pete
Click to expand...
That's what I should do I think.
It'd be a good way to do my first ever e-bay.
 
Craigslist.com -keeps it local, see before you buy..:)
 
Craigslist is another good option.

Pete
 
Screw ebay, it's yard sale season!! Shipping can add lots to a cheap ebay purchase.:(
 
I picked up an open box buy at Circuit City on a Sony receiver - STR DG500.
Ran me just over $100. Damn thing blows away my Alesis and Samson power amps I was using on my monitors (not that they are great amps). Total impulse buy. I wanted to try it out, since it has so many inputs and outputs I could ditch the mixer I use to route everything and simplify it all. It does that and sounds way better. I'm hearing way more details (& flaws) in my mixes. Never thought I would mix through a receiver, but it sounds great (obviously leaving the EQ flat).
 
leddy said:
I picked up an open box buy at Circuit City on a Sony receiver - STR DG500.
Ran me just over $100. Damn thing blows away my Alesis and Samson power amps I was using on my monitors (not that they are great amps). Total impulse buy. I wanted to try it out, since it has so many inputs and outputs I could ditch the mixer I use to route everything and simplify it all. It does that and sounds way better. I'm hearing way more details (& flaws) in my mixes. Never thought I would mix through a receiver, but it sounds great (obviously leaving the EQ flat).
Click to expand...
wow .... that's an interesting idea!
So you use the various ins/outs to route your signal so you could, say dub from one machine to a CDburner ... that sort of thing?
 
mixsit said:
Craigslist.com -keeps it local, see before you buy..:)
Click to expand...

i been watching this, and just did my first purchase...right down the street!!
it was great...Craigslist replaced the old local want ads, imo.

most don't include phone numbers...but this dewd did. and it was great a 5 minute deal!

$100 for a brand new 17", 1.8gighz, 256ram, 40gig, CDR, CD, floppy...IBM..keyboard, mouse...

my buddy sold a large TV on Craigslist too. No problems...just like the old Want Ads.

but better!!!

FREE...No Charge, local.... worth checking out anyway.
 
COOLCAT said:
i been watching this, and just did my first purchase...right down the street!!
it was great...Craigslist replaced the old local want ads, imo.

most don't include phone numbers...but this dewd did. and it was great a 5 minute deal!

$100 for a brand new 17", 1.8gighz, 256ram, 40gig, CDR, CD, floppy...IBM..keyboard, mouse...

my buddy sold a large TV on Craigslist too. No problems...just like the old Want Ads.

but better!!!

FREE...No Charge, local.... worth checking out anyway.
Click to expand...
Absolutely and thanks for the advice...... I've already started checking it and though I didn't find an amp yet, I did find a keyboard I want.

uh-oh ... on second thought this might not be such a good thing!
:D:D:D
 
A coffee place I frequent in Syracuse, NY is selling just such a home stereo receiver/amplifier for like 40 bucks... might already be gone, but who knows! Of course, you prob dont want to drive/pay shipping for such an item, when there are probably about 4,000 of them sitting in attics, garages and washed up discoteks from here to FL... :D

You might also want to check your nearest large salvation army store - they always have heeps of old consumer electronics at mine - and those often contain stereo amps, for next to nothin. Craigslist also a great place. If you like driving to creepy houses in the middle of nowhere, wondering as you drive whether that cool Tascam 22 open reel recorder was worth paying for with your life :eek:

...sometimes I hate central new york :(
 
Lt. Bob said:
wow .... that's an interesting idea!
So you use the various ins/outs to route your signal so you could, say dub from one machine to a CDburner ... that sort of thing?
Click to expand...

Yep. Really cleans up my work space.
 
How about Building a Power amp??? You can buy Kits for building a Poweramp for under $100 that come with all Parts needed accept a Chassis over at Chipamps.com....I have built several (For powering Monitors and I use one as a Guitar amp) and the audio quality is extremely good and they are considered beginner projects.....

Just a Thought......


:D
 
Minion said:
How about Building a Power amp??? You can buy Kits for building a Poweramp for under $100 that come with all Parts needed accept a Chassis over at Chipamps.com....I have built several (For powering Monitors and I use one as a Guitar amp) and the audio quality is extremely good and they are considered beginner projects.....

Just a Thought......


:D
Click to expand...
Ooh cool .... maybe I'll do that. I actually have a diploma in electronics from a trade school and I've always repaired my own gear so it doesn't need to be a beginner project ...... I just need a source for designs.
I'll check it out ...... thanks.
 
Since your wattage needs seem minimal perhaps a decent 2.1 computer speaker system with a good quality sub and powered satalite outs might be another option. (Just swap the PC satalites with your Advents)

I purchaced such a system for myself for that same purpose and have no regrets: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=588550

It will still cost you around $100 (shipped) but when you consider you'll not only be getting the stereo power you need (@2x40watts), but also a really decent 100 watt 8" powered sub, it might be well worth forking over that full Franklin.

You can find even cheaper of coarse (even in the same product line), but few other systems I researched offered that much bang for the buck in terms of wattage and impressive low end performance. Portability may be another story but its probably not too much more clunky than a full size receiver or power amp and you can always bolt a carry handle on top
 
NRS said:
Since your wattage needs seem minimal perhaps a decent 2.1 computer speaker system with a good quality sub and powered satalite outs might be another option. (Just swap the PC satalites with your Advents)

I purchaced such a system for myself for that same purpose and have no regrets: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=588550

It will still cost you around $100 (shipped) but when you consider you'll not only be getting the stereo power you need (@2x40watts), but also a really decent 100 watt 8" powered sub, it might be well worth forking over that full Franklin.

You can find even cheaper of coarse (even in the same product line), but few other systems I researched offered that much bang for the buck in terms of wattage and impressive low end performance. Portability may be another story but its probably not too much more clunky than a full size receiver or power amp and you can always bolt a carry handle on top
Click to expand...
DUDE!!!!! That's a flippin' GREAT suggestion! I even have one of those around here .... thanks man. Screw the Advents ..... I was just gonna use 'em 'cause they were small enough to drag around. But that's even better.

:)
 
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