2. amps-preamps
  3. 1027609731

Older vs newer with comapinies like CAT & AI??

#What are some observations out about cost of newer gear versus older.I know that say after 10-15 years you need to worry about replacing Caps etc but when I see a AI Modulus 3 I wonder how much more of the 'oggds" I would get with a 3A.Saw a 3 posted rently for $600 versus twice that for 3A.I hear that the newest CAT "Ultimate" is overpriced.At $3500 used I wonder if one of the earlier variations might be better bet $$ wise.So I gues the issue unless a major change in desugn happens are newer variations of a piece which "evolves" worth it?Maybe a 6922 change over to a 6H30 would be a marked change but again I thought rently about Counterpoint or MFA Melos(one of the designers of this was Bruce Moore who developed Modulus for AI).I am thinking about newer product like Rogue 99 but when I see some older pieces even if they needed some work I guess I am trying to get high value as opposed to assuming latestis greatest.Thoughts?
chazzbo
sean
6,231 posts
 
Given a good basic design to start off with, it is quite possible to take an older piece and upgrade / replace passive parts ( resistors, capacitors, diodes, etc... ) and smoke the newer gear by a measurable amount. Not only has inflation set into high end, so has higher profit margin for the dealers. Avoiding both and putting your money directly into where it counts ( parts quality since the design is already done ) on an item that is effectively heavily discounted will get you the most bang for the buck by a large margin. That is, if you are capable of sourcing the parts and doing the work yourself. Sean
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newbee
4,768 posts
 
i would go for an older model that was SOTA in its time and have it upgraded/or have vunerable parts replaced. there may be a lot of changes in the years since they were SOTA but not all were necessarily for the better, just different to encourage sales. don't confuse mfa w/ melos. mfa had some prime stuff, melos i'm not so sure. (i still have an arc sp10II, 18 years old, running strong and have not heard anything that has tempted me to replace it.)
artmaltman
769 posts
 
I've owned the AI Mod 3 and 3a and I think they are both fairly priced on the used market.
Art
twl
3,251 posts
 
Without letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak, there will be a new Bruce Moore preamp coming out next year, that will be affordable and have some exciting design features. This is sort of inside info, so I can't talk alot about it right now, but at the right time, I will do some in-depth posting about it. Right now, I am using an MFA Magus that has been factory modified, and it is real nice. The MFA and Counterpoint stuff is a real good value right now, but it should be re-capped.
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