@nonoise
@erik_squires
@charles1dad
Thank you all so far... I’m not as worried about resale potential because I’m looking for a "be done" amp now... I’ve never been a swapper outer really, though I’ve done enough to know that I prefer new amps over vintage gear even refurbished vintage. That said, the e480 isn’t vintage in the sense of an HK 430 or Marantz 2238, and the new Technics ain’t the old Technics though some of that old Technics was great and I’m glad to see they’re back at it... and if I got the e480 and didn’t prefer it, I could likely get as much as I paid for it... so I suppose one trick would be to pony up 20k get at used 480 and a new Tech with 60 day return privs and actually play em side by side, but that’s 20k now, 10 of which could be working for me in mutual funds instead...
As for LOOKS... well, I like ’em both! They’re both gorgeous; different, but gorgeous. I’d be very happy to gaze at either.
But really I’m trying to future proof, finally get the higher level (or higher-enough-for-my-imperfect-but-educated-discerning ears) and be done w the amp... and then with that solid core at that point I can swap in speakers at will, and have fun moving from my updated Epi with their beautiful sweet tweeter and bass that reaches into the inner ear brain, to the Klipsch Heresy IV (or possibly Forte IV... maybe), to the Q Acoustics Concept 50, half a year this one, half that one, maybe eventually settle on the speakers (the EPI are settled; they’re not going anywhere). Beyond that, I need not go.
Truth be told, I already have a Marantz Ruby... lol... so why am I even looking? But, I am looking, and it’s entirely OK if I end up w two systems: match made in heaven Marantz-EPI in the study where I spend a lot of time, studying ;) ... and the Tech or the Accu w the other speakers in the bigger living room.
Indeed, I asked a similar question as the current Tech vs Acc when I got the Ruby, which was the Ruby vs the Accu 480 and the Ruby won that one on sheer value (in addition to excellence). This discussion is now between two similarly priced amps, almost literally exactly as there’s a "like new" Accu 480 for sale right now at the same price (but w/o dac and w/o phone stage) as a new Technics 1000 which does have dac and phone so the Tech is actually slightly less $$ if those considerations are taken...
So I am starting this perhaps-obsessive -- or careful, if that’s a better term -- research and questioning you all now, because I don’t intend to do it again two or five or ten years from now; once I have nice stuff, I tend to keep it a long time; I mean, I drive a ’99 v-6 Camry w 308k miles on it, and it’s durable, powerful enough for all my purposes, gorgeous, user friendly, comfortable, smooth and easy to drive, just like I like my amps. See what I’m saying?
So I am really appreciating the inputs already from this community, so thank you! Those who have insights or experience, ideas for me to consider other than a bunch of other amps which I know there’s a whole universe, I’m just focused on these two now, keep it coming please!
