Zd542
" There's plenty of ways to reduce risk. Buying blind by reading reviews and listening to strangers in internet chat rooms is no way to go about it "
This is an audio forum. We talk audio in the amp section here we talk amps. If I had the doe I would love to go with dealers and take their stuff home to try out in my system but I would only do that if I was going to buy something from them at some point and I can't. I am not going to take loaners home from dealers to hear them and find the stuff I like and then go look for it used and not buy from them. I have too much respect and admiration for my dealer friends. They got it tough enough as it is with out someone tying up their gear from a real potential buyer. The 30 tryout internet buy with returns are great too but mostly offered only for buying new and I don't have the doe for new. I don't really have the financial ability to reduce the risk and buy from them so I have no choice but to fly blind. I am flying totally blind based on reviews and talking on this forum. I can go blind and shoot from the hip or do what I am doing try to get some additional information like I am.
I have been lucky and bought some amazing sounding gear that I love that I bought from recommendations what you call strangers and I call my fellow Agon comrades. I guess its all how you look it.
Some of us have to do it like this but I know its not ideal and at some point I am going to mess up and it will prob leave a mark but my gut, this forum and research has worked ok so far but the odds I am sure will come in at some point.
Wish I could do it the other way but its not possible for me right now. Thats why the ARC, CJ, BAT, VAC,PASS,MAC,AYRE,CARY,VTL,CAT,LAMM to name a few are always safe bets and can always flip/resell but I am reaching out here because I am ready to pull the trigger on the Clayton M300 which is a sort of rare, kind of odd big block cube amp that every single person that has heard them say they are truly, world call amazing. I was set to buy a pair of Lamm 2.1 Hybrid mono's and a person whose opinion I appreciate told me those are great amps but the Clayton's are better. A lot better.
Tfl303 above just said the Clayton kills the CAT JL2. The CAT JL2 I have heard and it is much better than my CJ's. Imagine if I could get an amp that kills an amp that is much better than my currant amp?
Well I would love that! I am not looking for that or expecting that but if I can make a blind trade/purchase for an amp that is a much better match for my speakers and overall is a real nice SQ upgrade then that would be fantastic. What makes it tougher and is a big reason for this post is because the amp I am considering buying is not only going from tubes to ss but from a specialty, small, boutique company that specializes in pure Class A, a brand that is not real well known and is kinda plain, utilitarian looking (eye is in the beholder), heavy, runs real hot, gobbles electricity and is balanced only but seems to have a rabid following and is super well respected by those that have heard/own know of them. They describe them as one of the very best amps there are. Very refined, very sophisticated and a true top of list sounding amp. For me I can overlook the things I stated above if the sound is as good as they say so would love to hear more from those they have heard Claytons.
If it doesn't work out I am back to the drawing board and looking to flip some amps that are not in that real quick selling group listed above and is why the CJ LP140M keeps popping in my head, that and I know I love tubes just think i may be getting more of what I already have... Don't really want to do that so the Clayton's are how I am leaning and Any and all feedback and advice is really appreciated.