2. amps-preamps
  3. 1198192413

Poor Man's Ferrari?

Starving artist with very intermittent income...non-audiophile-spouse is the breadwinner of the household. Intermittent-income-earner has eye on refurbished Mark Levinson No. 27 amps and No. 26 preamps on ebay which frequently show up at attainable-but-stretching-it prices. Are the potential audio world related pitfalls here as formidable as those oft heard horror stories about the blue collar guy who sinks a year's pay into a 1982 Ferrari 308 or is this sort of purchase a worthwhile goal for somebody on a really tight budget?
lg1
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
IMO you are stretching too far.
You should try something in-between the junk you amp with now and what you consider the best.
Like the case of the supercar. What good is it? In your fantasies!! But in real life a good BMW 318i or such would be WAY BETTER realistically.
So I say look at something more reasonable.
And no.. you have to make your own choices. (mine is a Forte' 4a bought new years and years ago)
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
would need to know what amp and pre you're driving now.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
When upgrading, it is a good idea to seek long-term happiness by taking as big a step as you can. However I agree with Elizabeth that in your case you don't have to look at 'attainable-but-stretching-it', especially if it means getting lucky with the first try on eBay. Given your takeoff point (your Sony), attainable will please you more than you know. You can create a very satisfying setup if you listen to some integrated amps priced like the ones Reubent suggests. Audio Space is a name I would add, for tube gear.
lg1 OP
49 posts
 
Thanks all for the feedback. The Prima Luna gear has definitely caught my attention at this point...
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