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Best Used Solid State Amp for less than $5000?

I'm sort of toying with the idea of upgrading my amp (threshold S300 - I know, its old) and the one amp that jumps out is the pass X250 which seems like it can be had for about $3000 to $3500 on the used market. Is there anything else that comes to mind? I can't afford the Tenor hybrids and even the Lamm SS's are about $7 to $9K. The rest of my system is as follows:

CF PFR
Fanfare FT-1
Parasound Ultra 2000 CD
Nakamichi DR1 deck
Stax Lamda phones
Sota Star table w / emt
Pass Aleph ono phono
Hales T8 loudspeakers

Would appreciate any suggestions you may have.
russellrcncom
jwmazur
179 posts
 
I have owned 28 amps in the past 12 years and have auditioned both the Pass X250 and 150. The Spectron Musician II resides in my system and, boy, am I glad it does. I don't look back.

You can get this amp new under $4K. Give Galen Carol Audio a call to try before you buy. He is one of the best dealers I have dealt with. Make sure you get the sense cables to try with the amp as they make a huge difference over regular speaker cables.

Good luck.
sheffb
64 posts
 
I strongly recommend auditioning a GamuT D-200 Mk. III. This is a wonderful SS amplifier. The Mk.III is more refined then their previous vintages. TAS highly regarded the Mk.I. I understand they like the MK. III even more and will have a complete review in an upcoming issue. I use the D-100 Mk.III which is identical to the D-200 except for power. It is very musically accurate in my system.
danlib1
819 posts
 
Best amp I've used is the Pass X-250. To each his own however!

Good Luck.
nighthawk
241 posts
 
Another vote for Rowland Model 10.
chuck
201 posts
 
Here is my short list for under 5K

1. Pass X 350
2. Rowland Model 10
3. Parasound JC-1's
4. Levinson 335.5
5. McCormack DNA .5
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