New amp

[ehren]

My trusted Jolida 1501A that I've had for about 7 years is now toast. It looks like the pwr transformer is shot. After talking with Jolida it looks like it would be a minimum of $200 + shipping to fix, for an amp that is worth maybe $350 used, IMO anyway. I'm not too upset, I've used this amp literally almost daily for the last 7 years, hours on end, at parties ect...I'll get it fixed at some point but I'm gasing for something new.

After reading this review:
http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/907onk/

And finding this price:
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/ONKA9555BLK

I'm thinking of trying this out. This amp has gotten a lot of praise and I'm tight for cash at this point. Anyone have any experience?

I'll be pushing Acoustic Energy Ageis 3's, floor standing speakers, fed by the Firestone Spitfire 24bit DAC out of my iMac.

[Nick's Picks]

Music Hall MAMBO or MAVEN

the mambo runs in pure class A, and is super sweet.  Both have built in BB dacs and just sound kick ass.
http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?miscrcvr&1204143676  good price !!



I also like the Cambridge audio 740 and 840a
maybe even check out the Marantz two channel Int.

[Shawn]

if you are interested in a MH MAMBO I may be intersted in getting rid of mine. It has some cosmetic damage, but is perfectly functional. Given the cosmetic damage I'd be inclined let it go for a decent price.

[Nick's Picks]

and moving to what now shawn ?
(buy his amp, used to be mine).

[ehren]

well, I've been checking out the mambo but this onkyo has been kicking ass in every review I've read. The Mambo seems a bit out of my price range, I'm REALLY tight on cash.

Sean, what kind of damage and what are you looking to get for it?

Honestly, I'm intrigued by the Onkyo and when that happens I usually go for it out of curiosity.

check out this thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1162244234&read&keyw&zzonkyo

and this shootout:
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm

[cheshirecat]

well, I've been checking out the mambo but this onkyo has been kicking ass in every review I've read. The Mambo seems a bit out of my price range, I'm REALLY tight on cash.

Sean, what kind of damage and what are you looking to get for it?

Honestly, I'm intrigued by the Onkyo and when that happens I usually go for it out of curiosity.

check out this thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1162244234&read&keyw&zzonkyo

and this shootout:
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm

Looks like the 1501A is going for $575 on audiogon, I'd get the PT replaced and sell it, you'll come out on top and have a few hundred dollars extra to dump into a new amp if you want.

[ehren]

well, I've been checking out the mambo but this onkyo has been kicking ass in every review I've read. The Mambo seems a bit out of my price range, I'm REALLY tight on cash.

Sean, what kind of damage and what are you looking to get for it?

Honestly, I'm intrigued by the Onkyo and when that happens I usually go for it out of curiosity.

check out this thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1162244234&read&keyw&zzonkyo

and this shootout:
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm

Looks like the 1501A is going for $575 on audiogon, I'd get the PT replaced and sell it, you'll come out on top and have a few hundred dollars extra to dump into a new amp if you want.

Yep, absolutely going to get it fixed, but mine has some cosmetic damage. Not bad, but it's not mint and has been heavily used.

[Shawn]

and moving to what now shawn ?
(buy his amp, used to be mine).

not sure. I'm thinking of putting together a nice headphone rig for my office since I do 75% of my listening there. Thinking of tubes and some grados or hd650. I just can't get past not having a "big stereo" when I want to really throw on something and immerse myself in it. Heaphones are great, but I need the full body experience of a big stereo sometimes. At this point it's just not financially feasible for me to hav eboth. maybe in a year or two when I am not taping as much I'll move to a better playback rig and lesser recording rig.... wait did I just talk myself out of selling this? Honestly I'm not sure what I really want to do.

Sean, what kind of damage and what are you looking to get for it?

It's got a scratch or two on the edge of the front face plate, and the rear plate has some dents in it. I don't know what I'd want for it honestly. I haven't thought too much about it. Give me a day or two to think about some options and decide if I really want to do it. Up unitl now I've just been toying with the idea in my head. If I do decide to get rid of It I'll get plenty of pictures so you can see the damage.

[BC]

outlaw stereo receiver got a good review:

http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw/

[ehren]

outlaw stereo receiver got a good review:

http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw/

Yes, very interesting...so many good budget choices these days...

[ehren]

has anyone actually heard the Outlaw amp? Looks very interesting and I like the feature set a lot. I wonder how it sounds..

[Weirdness]

It sounds like you are after an integrated, I just noticed that someone just put up a DK Designs Reference MKII for $800 on Audiogon which is a stupid good deal:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?intatube&1204779352

Very lively and punchy sounding amp that will drive almost any speaker with ease.  The only 2 downsides are that it weighs quite a bit(90lbs) and you need to get some quiet input tubes before it will be at it's best.  For that price though, a good pair of tubes won't pinch as badly.  You certainly have a lot of choices but that particular deal is stupid good bang for your buck. 

[ehren]

It sounds like you are after an integrated, I just noticed that someone just put up a DK Designs Reference MKII for $800 on Audiogon which is a stupid good deal:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?intatube&1204779352

Very lively and punchy sounding amp that will drive almost any speaker with ease.  The only 2 downsides are that it weighs quite a bit(90lbs) and you need to get some quiet input tubes before it will be at it's best.  For that price though, a good pair of tubes won't pinch as badly.  You certainly have a lot of choices but that particular deal is stupid good bang for your buck. 

thanks for the head's up. I need to do a bit of reading about that amp but it sounds like a fantastic deal. It's a bit out of my price range but we all know how that goes

[Jimna]

outlaw audio has gotten great reviews everywhere ive read about them, with nothing bad.  im looking in that direction also...

[Nick's Picks]

does the Outlaw have a DAC built in ?