2. amps-preamps
  3. 128212-28876

High End Amp Price Collapse musings

If Class D amplification becomes accepted by audiophiles there should be a glut of high end amps (Krell, Levinson, Pass etc) becoming available on the used market at prices a fraction of what they are now.

Think CRT TV when the flat panels began emerging.I think Ill hold off on a new/used amp purchase for a little while. Maybe I will bet a Boulder.

Has any one else considered this?

energeezer
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 

"I agree vinyl is very alive"

Seriously? How many people outside of (some of) the folks who post here do you think are spinning a turntable? Look around and see how the next generation of young folks are consuming their music. Buying CDs, vinyl - don't think so. Audiophile will keep doing what they're doing now and everybody else will go for cheaper, lighter - read more portable, and more energy efficient- read class D, stuff. I'm not holding my breathe to grab a Pass XA60.8 at fire sale prices anytime soon. I just wish.

aberyclark
1,359 posts
 
It's all about what you are familiar with. If you never heard a good class A amp, or heard a not so good class A amp, a class D can be impressive. I had a Pioneer Elite receiver about 12 years ago and it sounded great. However, I purchased an older B&K st140 and there seems to be a deep soundstage where instruments are at various places. Whereas the Pioneer sounded as if every instrument was lined up front and center ( if that makes sense). Now I have not heard a recent class d amp
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,611 posts
 
There will always be high-priced amps.  Even if Class D eventually takes over, there will be high-priced Class D amps.  
peter_s
1,348 posts
 
The Aragon is a very impressive amp at its price point.  Loved it with Quad 988's
mgreen27
147 posts
 

"Has any one else considered this?"

I see no reason to expect a price crash due to class d amps. Solid state amps are "superior" to tube amps and you don't see a run on those things. Even vintage tube amps sell for high prices.

A lot of the high end companies have been selling class d amps for years now. Rowland only makes class d amps now for 10+ years. ARC, PS Audio, Theta, Cary, Rotel, NAD, Wadia, and countless others, all make class d amps.

More to discover