Older higher end or newer mid-fi...better bargain?

My pick would be around your asking $$ I would go with a Threshold S/300 amp and a Audio Research sp6 or sp8. These two in good condition together could be pretty close to you budget ....Had them both and worked very,very well.

Depending on your speakers. If reasonably sensitive i would go with Pass Aleph 3 and AES or Cary tube pre. Not very original, i have that combo, but it works for me.

Great thread...and an interesting "dilemna" for new shoppers...new or used? When I recently assembled a very modest system...I went with a highly regarded budget $500 Stereophile class C intergrated...then recently inheritated a hi end solid state amp that is almost 20 yrs old...after doing some a/b comparisons I came to the conslusion that the older amp was slightly more veiled in presentation and not as musical...until I realised I was actually listening to the newer intergrated! OOOOppps.... Yahtzee! Now...to be fair...the differences were slight on first comparison...but over time they have become more somewhat more prenounced...at any rate...they were not night and day...but the older class a/b amp does have class a drivers,,,better wiring... better componets...and ofcourse better build quality...if you wanted to keep things simple and not monkey with the used market and simply make a quality purchase with no regrets...I would go with a new intergrated...such as the Creek,Musical Fidelity, Bryston b-60,etc...at $1500 there are many choices...and most of them very good...however...if you enjoy doing some research, tweaking gear, finding deals,etc..the used market can be very rewarding...but like others have stated...there is a risk...but the nice thing about purchasing a hi-end 2 channel amp(regardless of age) is you get to assembly the preamp of your choosing...and with scarcity of 2-channel amps(it seems everything is multi now)...going used might be the way to go...have I confused anyone yet? At any rate, regardless of new or old, at $1500 for amplification alone...rest assured you will probably have the nicest amp(s) on your block....

Also...you mentioned suggestions...older McCormack,B&K, and even Adcom come to mind..others have more knowledge pertaining to specific models,etc...good luck...

Items with moving parts, given time, will break; (i.e. tape decks, cd players, turntables). I have always bought this new. Items without moving parts will last longer (amps and pre amps). I have always bought these used. Used speakers will reveal their condition quickly, just listen. IMO; used equipment gives you a superior cost to quality relationship.