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HI-FI NEWBIE NEEDS HELP!

I am new to the higher end of music listening, actually I haven’t started the listening part yet. I have just purchased an Emotiva XSP-1 pre and a pair of Magnepan 1.7i’s. My listening room is 14x14 but one wall is not closed off completely and there is an additional open space connected that is 8x9. My budget has been unexpectedly diminished more by having to buy new connectors and speakers cables. I just assumed I would be able to use my old RCA connectors and my 50’ spool of speaker wire I bought from Radio Shack 25 years ago. I will pause while you laugh....Anyway, the jist of it is is that I’ve got $2500 left for an amp. I need advice on what would be good for my setup? What would last the next 25 years, as I am a poor man with expensive tastes and will probably not be able to make any further upgrades. Would something used and older be out of date technically in 10-15 years? Could I consider something new that would be adequate for that price point? Should I go mono or two channel? Thank you for your consideration and reply.
widespreadpanic
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Why buy used? Well first off amplifiers really are typically bulletproof. And used saves a LOT of money.
Second, buying used means you can also SELL the amp for about the same price. So if you do not like your used amplifier. You can sell it for almost no loss. If you buy a new amp you will lose at least 30%, maybe 50%.
Bryston 4B-ST are a great value right now..several at $1,500
And a 3B-ST is only $750 wow.
jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
Why buy used indeed is this not a website for selling used equipment? As Elizabeth correctly points out it's a great way to essentially home audition amps with little financial loss. I daresay many of us here have used that exact strategy over the years.
milpai's avatar
milpai
1,341 posts
 
I have read on htguide.com how much the Magnepan fans love the Parasound A21 with their loudspeakers. Check out the Club Halo forum on that site. Some users also provide tips on how to optimize the sound of Magnepans. Read that years back; so you might have to search for that.
So, like Elizabeth said, you might consider a used Parasound A21 and save the money for the "improvements". Good Luck.
willemj
1,036 posts
 
There are many silly stories going round here about the sonic character of amplifiers. If an amplifier is any good it will not gave a sonic character, even in the most revealing system. So my simple suggestion is to get a matching Emotiva with enough power to drive your speakers easily (more power is always better). Emotiva makes excellent stuff for realistic prices. If you want to spend more, get a Bryston for really bombproof engineering without any voodoo science.
And by the way, if anyone duped you into spending serious money on cables, you know that was a snake oil seller. Just return/sell the stuff and save some money. Emotiva themselves have excellent cables for a decent price.
clearthink
672 posts
 
" There are many silly stories going round here about the sonic character of amplifiers. If an amplifier is any good it will not gave a sonic character, even in the most revealing system. "

There are many silly posts from you such as this claiming everything sounds the same and yes among the contributors here there are a tiny noisy handful of those who make similar claims and who are quick to yell snake oil and yet among this same group of contributors there are many many more who do hear the difference. So either this tiny noisy minority are right and all the others have been deluded by this vast conspiracy of snake oilers, or the few who maintain that everything sounds the same are just misinformed or trolls. Perhaps you believe you have some nearly exclusive ability to define the truth but in much greater likelihood it is the rest of this vast diverse experienced and knowledgeable community that is right. 
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