Hi,

I have been trawling all over the net, trying to find a site that
offers a good comparison of 2nd hand integrated amplifiers and have
failed miserably.

My goal is to purchase a 2nd hand high-end amplifier and would like to
know what makes/models i should consider. I have been obsessed with
the sound of the mission cyrus II ever since I heard it a decade or so
ago. I would look to buy something with a similar quality of sound (or
better) to plug into my B&W speakers. my budget is around =A3200 and
whilst I appreciate that I could pick up a cyrus II for that, I would
like to know what else is worth considering out there and if there are
any websites that may offer me some advice.

Thanks in advance
Robbo

For BP200, you won't get audiophool stuff unless you are very lucky
(and that luck would be a matter of opinion). There are a goodly number
of those Missions on eBay, your mileage may vary based on what actually
arrives.

My experience is in vintage US-made units.... most of them would hardly
be called 'high-end' by most standards as they are 70s designs using
discrete components for the most part. But a fair-to-middling range
would be... starting from the el-cheapo to the pretty-damned good. I
assume you want solid-state.

Dynaco SCA-50: Last of the Dynaco line, flea-power (25wpc), but a very
simple amp. They are not common, but should be very cheap. Say US$75 or
less. Much of it is IC-based, so make sure it works first (if this is
what you want).

Harmon-Kardon 401A: A real sleeper. This is a Japanese-assembled 40-wpc
integrated amp that HK commissioned at the same time they were going
great-guns from their Long Island, NY plant, as an introduction to
their line. Usually US$50-$100, or less. Also tiny if that is a
concern.

Dynaco SCA-80(Q): DO NOT go after this amp unless you are prepared to
do some substantial rebuilding. Without that rebuilding, from the
factory, it will sound like glass in a blender. With the rebuilding
(about US$40 worth of parts (as onesies/twosies) and 4 hours time), it
is quite a sweet-sounding unit. Low power (~40wpc). Can be had any day
of the week for US$60 or less as they were made in uncounted tens of
thousands.

AR Integrated Amp: About the same as above, however the rebuild
requirements are different. It sounds good even without rebuilding but
it is highly unlikely you will find a still-functioning as-factory
unit, or if so (repairs only by substitution-of-new), it is a matter of
minutes (NOT hours) until the next failure. Once the modifications are
made, it becomes both sweet and very stable. Moderate power (60wpc).
Pay no more than US$200 for one that is pristine. Don't count on its
working when received.

Any of several Heath integrated amps.

Any of several Marantz integrated amps: 1090, 1060, 1070 and on and on
and on. Japanese-assembled, a good thing at that time.

Any of several Revox units, from the A78 to the various B-series.
Prices will vary. Bullet-proof for the most part unless deliberately
abused.

And, of course, nearly infinite variations of Pacific Rim stuff from
NAD to Sony to Pioneer and so-forth. With the exception of NAD (which
has severe reliability problems), most Pacific Rim stuff is reliable
and gives good bang-for-the-buck or pull-for-the-pound. But in my
opinion, it is pretty homogenized.

Then, there are the also near infinite variations along the 'high-end'
lines. Mission, Audio Research, and many, many others. Keep your eyes
out for that stuff.

What you can count on after a certain basic quality point and at that
price is a moderate piece of equipment in the 40-100wpc range that is
reasonably reliable but won't be an eye-catcher. It should do an
excellent job of making music within its limitations.


Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA