29 replies to this topic

[Selfdestruktor]

s_tim_ulate, on Apr 11 2006, 07:09 PM, said:

My advice would also be to look 2nd hand... Almost all my gear has been second hand and I've never had any problems...

And if you buy the Jaycar, then install it, do you know what it will be?

Second hand.

So in that respect you can never use new gear

The difference is, he has warranty.
Most manufacturers don't do warranty transfer, so even if you buy an amp that supposedly has 8 months warranty left on it, that warranty might be null and void when it changes hands.

It'd be good to have a list here somewhere.
I know for sure DD and Adire, for example, don't transfer warranty.

Edited by Selfdestruktor, 13 April 2006 - 07:21 PM.

[muzzy66]

BlakeyBoyR, on Apr 11 2006, 08:15 AM, said:

That's a good point, I suppose in that case it comes down to learning what brands are trustworthy and give good SQ and which don't. I really want a sub amp with good SQ, putting out around 700w RMS in a 2ohm load at least and I dont want to pay more than about $500. Perhaps Im asking too much, but surely second hand I could find something like this?
Can anyone recommend a company that makes good sub amps? Are Infinity any good? I've heard they're good for the money.

ARC Audio are looked at as one of the best amp manufacturers around, with build and sound quality right up there with zapco and tru-tech.

That monoblock is rated at 750w into two ohm, and ARC amps are ALWAYS underrated.

It perfectly matchins the needs you desire, and it's selling for $500. He might even negotiate on the price.

If I were you, I wouldnt let a great offer like that go ass they dont come around too often.

I can say you will not get a better product brand new for the same money, and you will struggle to find a better second hand buy.

I bought my ARC 2100-XXK second hand right here over a year ago second hand for a great price because it had a bloken gain knob. I replaced the knob for about $50 (as I sent it back) and the amp has never put a foot wrong. Great sound quality, powerful, and dead reliable no matter how hard its been pushed. Also bought my ARC 1500-XXK subamp second hand of a trusted audio guy and the upgrade in output and sound quality it gave me over my old audison SRx2S was very noticable

But don't take my biased word for it, check out these reviews.

http://carsound.com/articles/publish/printer_298.shtml
http://www.arcaudio.com/arc-05/pdf/4150cxl_review.pdf

I'm not a huge brand snob, but when it comes to jaycar vs ARC / Zapco / Trutech for similar cash, I wouldn't even think twice.

Edited by muzzy66, 14 April 2006 - 02:54 PM.

[muzzy66]

Selfdestruktor, on Apr 13 2006, 09:17 AM, said:

The difference is, he has warranty.
Most manufacturers don't do warranty transfer, so even if you buy an amp that supposedly has 8 months warranty left on it, that warranty might be null and void when it changes hands.

It'd be good to have a list here somewhere.
I know for sure DD and Adire, for example, don't transfer warranty.

This is very true, however if you buy a high end amp like ARC or Zapco, unless you do someethign stupid, it'll very likeely give you reliable, problem free operation for many years. And if it does, and it has a problem three years down the track, who cares? Any amp would be out of warranty by then anyway.

No high end amp is likely to die within a year unless :
1) It was screwed when you bought it
2) You mistreat it, in which case warranty may well be void anyway.

i've owned three high quality second hand amps from ARC and Audison and their quality has proven to stand the test of time. Had a single problem with one of them, but it was due to my own stupidity, not the amp's construction.

[HBD]

But then you see Phil from DD talking about new monos for like $500 and you start wondering why you'd even buy second hand?

[DG Phil]

BlakeyBoyR, on Apr 14 2006, 06:14 PM, said:

But then you see Phil from DD talking about new monos for like $500 and you start wondering why you'd even buy second hand?

That's true, the new M1a makes 1150Wrms on 14.4V for $599, with 12 month replacement warranty and remote gain.

Phil

[Ruger3]

strappable?

[HBD]

What does strappable mean?

[Mr Soundman]

I have my OzAudio Matrix 12" running on a JL Audio 500/1 Amplifier and think it's an ideal match. Sure the amp is not cheap (new) but you can pick them up second hand for about $500.00.

[Funky Miller]

DD Phil, on Apr 14 2006, 06:23 PM, said:

That's true, the new M1a makes 1150Wrms on 14.4V for $599, with 12 month replacement warranty and remote gain.

Phil

Phil, have you got the rest of the specs on the M1a

[HBD]

Im always curious about the damping factor on uber powerful (or what I consider powerful) amps.

[ISRAEL]

Funky Miller, on Apr 25 2006, 02:44 AM, said:

Phil, have you got the rest of the specs on the M1a

like the THD rate at those figures?

[HBD]

THD is also a good point. Damping factor for example, whilst it may be an acceptable 200 @ 40hms, when you get down to 1ohm wouldnt we be looking at a damping factor of only about 50?

[ISRAEL]

I am simply aware that on some of the last run of DD amps there were some fantastic power/resistance/price figures, but they were at some very large rates of THD. Was just wondering what they were on the newer models?

[HBD]

A lot of D class amps have that problem though.

[DG Phil]

ISRAEL, on Apr 25 2006, 01:29 PM, said:

I am simply aware that on some of the last run of DD amps there were some fantastic power/resistance/price figures, but they were at some very large rates of THD. Was just wondering what they were on the newer models?

The M1 was rated at 900W 1ohm, 0.3%, that's awesome for a D class.

It was tested by an Aussie mag at 1050++Wrms, 13V.................

Phil

Edited by DD Phil, 26 April 2006 - 09:36 PM.