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Pre-owned is defintely the way to get more sound for less cash but keep in mind most of the items listed here are no longer supported by the manufacturer with parts or service. That might eliminate some of the mass market brands from the list since they could easily turn into a $100 paper weight if there are problems.

If the op hasn't yet purchased the speakers, there is the option of fitting together a system where the amp is well suited to the speakers. Take clues from the speakers used in the reviews of the T-amp. However, without immediately knowing the sensitivity of the speaker, I would think the T-amp might satisfy depending on the room size and the SPL desired.

Keep in mind that the items I've listed would cost about $800 to $2000 to reproduce in today's money.

Most of them are still working fine for a few good reasons.

1)They are built like tanks.
2)They were built to last.

The sonic T-Amp is a complete POS in comparison to any of these.

Sonically and quality wise.

Tripath chips are for people who DON'T know how to listen to music. I do know what I speak of, as I've worked on the tripath chips before.

They sound 'nice' (with false exaggerated timing and space cues on simple music/leading edges)..but when the music get a hair busy..they fall completely apart. This is part of their design. They were never meant to do a great job. They were only meant to work as amplifiers on TV's and PC monitors with speakers. That's it.

This is part and parcel about my rant on how folks with limited knowledge in the audio world should not be allowed by wiser heads to make predictions and statements on audio. In reality I've no desire to restrict anyone, or even remotely feel that way.

But those who know better need to speak up.

It's like the guy or gal who has to go through a ton of ex's before figuring out that they problem is in -THEM- not their partners. This T-amp phenomenon is part of a similar process. Lack of full knowledge of what is exactly what. Another false god for the illiterate.

T-amp=POS.

As congested as a high bit rate MP3. But then again, what do you expect from folks who've spent time 'enjoying' MP3's? You get the inability to understand what reality actually sounds like in comparison to reproduction.

It's great that people enjoy it and yes it does offer something. But, like a job at a burger joint, it's not a career. It's only a bus stop. Learn to understand it for exactly what it is. One may as well avoid the job at the burger joint altogether, and go straight to something that is considerably better.

Yes, it's a nice little dancing bug. It is amazing that the bug dances at all. Isn't it cute. But don't stop the parade of music to stare at the bug.

Quote:
Yes, it's a nice little dancing bug. It is amazing that the bug dances at all. Isn't it cute. But don't stop the parade of music to stare at the bug.

Yes, I agree the T-amp is not perfect. But few things are. You could easily go through any list of components and find fault. The question would be which faults bother you and which faults can you live with for "X" amount of time.

I view the T-amps as a stepping stone to recognizing a far better system when funds allow. Given the right circumstances, which I would say start with correct speaker selection and provided you go into this knowing the limitations of the amp, the T-amp offers above average sound quality for 90% of many listener's needs at a fraction of the budget you'd spend for anything substantially better. And, as has been noted in Stereophile, they are fun to listen to when you have the right conditions.

Yep, it can get confused and it can get nasty with aluminum spitballs flying when it clips, but a prospective buyer should know what they can accept before they buy any product. Until it hits its limits the T-amp's faults are mostly of omission which I always find more acceptable than sins of commission. Not saying the T-amp is what everyone should buy, but I do think it gives a lot of hints to what you should be listening for in your next purchase, and I can't say that for most of the mass market brands even in their "better" gear.

Built like a tank? Maybe. A '58 Chrysler 300 was also built like a tank. Don't know that it would be my choice if I was starting with a limited budget and the remote possibility of needing repairs.

One thing I'd defintely want to know about any pre owned audio is whether it has recently been used in a daily situation or whether it has recently been pulled out of a closet, attic, garage or basement after years in dormancy. If it has sat for more than a few years, you can just about count on replacing something within the first year you own it.

You might want to consider waiting until more funds are available. I think that would be the wisest choice since even $350 can get you substantially better sound and something you can own for quite awhile. Or, if this is meant to be a disposable product that lasts you for a short amount of time, go down to Best Buy and purchase one of their Insignia receivers. Hardly great sound but liveable and it has a warranty. On limited funds, a warranty can be one of your best friends.

I would look into the Sherwood RX-4105 ($94 delivered), or if you need a phono input the Sherwood RX-4109 ($90 delivered from RatShack). Decent sound for the low end.

Used Rotel integrateds are the cat's ass, when it comes to used/cheap vs quality.

Integrateds as kitty butts?

Absolutely. They swing.