confetti

I looked at the links you kindly dug up, W27, and added the Yamaha RX-V line to my 'possible' list. I just found an RX-V1300 at the pawn shop for $115, so I did OK for my bucks? Nice reviews. Hope it's not so bright it makes my eyes water. As they only had two amps it seemes like a meant-to-be. Thanks, guys.

Well, I nabbed a yamaha rxv 1300 for $115 at the pawn shop, haven't hooked it up yet but it'll do - some people really like that sound so I'm interested in what it does. Will probly want to blow my roof off, but I dunno if it does nuance. But for $100, what am I thinking? Thanks for turning me on to the DT world, wdecho - was just talking with my son-in-law about it and he's been wanting to check it out, so I'll get a chance to see it in action. It's really very cool.

Good advice, W27. I wonder if you'd be kind enough to list the (less expensive) ones you'd recommend in a slightly higher bracket? I know that people differ on favorites a lot, but it'd be great to have a handy list or two from people who know the RF7s. It'd also give me some specific items to watch sharp for in Craigslist and yard sales and eBay and such - though eBay prices are pretty well standardized now. And exactly - it's easy enough to research brands that are frequently recommended, much harder to know what models are the best bargains. It was fun having a biggish chunk of cash for speakers once upon a time before my boat sank, but this process has its own appeal.

Yeah, jason, that's where I keep landing. Lots on Ebay, and some pretty established sellers - now just trying to decide between a 3020, sweet sound but so old, I worry, and a really almost unused C316BEE, which gets nice reviews but is apparently missing some of the almost mythical musicality of its ancestor. I don't want to be looking at repairs. I listen to movies, too, and maybe the newer one would be a compromise if it's a little more 'digital' sounding. Hmhmhmh.

Just writing in here and googling tirelessly for a few days has me realizing that I should probably get a NAD 3020, since I really was fond of mine and they can be had for just a little more than I wanted to spend. With my RF7s, which I know are somewhat different than other Klipsch speakers, and before I spring for a NAD from the UK (that guy is NAD city), are there any specific reconsiderations I should entertain? Everyone loves the NADS in general, but just want to make sure I'm not overlooking a particularly perfect bargain match. Like the Yamaha, which some people hate on Klipsch speakers because of brightness - does that hold across all Klipsch speaker models? I have a good ear - had a professional sound guy and audiophile sweetheart years ago who used to take me around to demos and blindfold me and show me off (That sounds wrong. My EARS!) and my Dad was dedicated to all that, but I have little patience with techy stuff and realize that I don't know much about my own speakers. What about Cambridge Audio? There's a cheap lower end one in Ebay - it's pretty. Too warm? I liked the bold energy of these speakers when I bought them, among other things, they just lit everything up. Still love 'em and can't wait to get them going again.

They really are tempting... will ponder. I don't build stuff or wire stuff. Not even easy stuff. I make muffins, and I plug stuff in. So if I went that route I'd go for one of the boxed items.

Those are all interesting picks - there are also NADS not too high, too, especially from that Ebay guy in the UK, anyone here who's dealt with him? He seems to have zillions of NADs, always. Mostly just a little too high. I could trade in the dead NAD for parts somewhere maybe... For my RFs and budget is there a better way to go? I've been waiting for a bargain one, or maybe Marantz, HK, Onkyo, maybe Rotel? B&K? There's no dearth of amps out there, just options are very limited by the combination of my absurd price range and lack of knowing which Kenwood or Pioneer or whatever to recognize as a stellar buy. I've only known the NAD and like it - it's really difficult to sort through the particular models of the many various vintage options. Been waiting for a super bargain and watching Craigslist daily, nothing so far but ready to leap. Was sorta hoping someone in here, Klipsch expert, had just the right thing to sell me.

I'd consider it, but the ones I'm just now seeing on Ebay are out of my awfully low price range.

wdecho, have you used your minis for any length of time? No matter where I go there are so many reports about channels going out, pins breaking, total death inside of 6 months... if not for that I'd really try one. everyone loves the sound. Are they particularly sensitive to any minor ill-use or something? My old Nad survived decades - toddlers, moves, droppage, scentsy wax spilled thru the grate, something that gave it a big dent... I think I'm grieving, cough.

Nada at that price there just now, tromprof, but thanks for the heads up.

It's a small but open studio apartment, speakers are @20, 25 feet from my usual listening post, pulled-out corner position. Medium volume is fine; the NAD had more than I needed though I did let 'em rip now and then. I do need minimal loss at low volumes, though in my price range I'm not sure I can be very choosy. I have a huge CD collection but as often use itunes on my laptop for convenience. Never was sure that I was setting that up the best (affordable) way - just ran a long cord with a cheap dongle thing. The CDs sound better of course, but it's liveable.

Hm,I just took Ebay off North America only and there are a slew of NADS from the UK - shipping is bad but some are pretty low, I maybe cld push the envelope... Are there ANY NADS to avoid? Anything cheaper used that's really comparable and cheaper that I might really keep my eye out for?

Maryland, Baltimore suburbs. My daughter lives in Carlisle PA and cld maybe do a pickup there as well if not a long drive.

I'll give it two weeks and see if anything else turns up here or elsewhere - if not I'll give that a try, wdecho. Mostly worry about the reliability - so many complaints about that on all of them. Pretty amazing sounding little guys, though, by all accounts.

I had it repaired once, many years ago, and it cost more than they're going for on Ebay, it was kind of shocking. I'd love a free estimate, but the best deal I can find on that is $40 non-refundable, and I'm afraid to risk it. I'm not a cheapskate, it's just a real wall, sigh.

My old NAD died, alas; and I'm on a ridiculously tight budget. I know I can't afford to replace my NAD sound, but does anyone have something that would pair nicely with my RF7s for (this is embarrassing) $100 - $150 with shipping? I'm watching ebay and Craigslist but in that range things get really iffy and I'd much rather purchase from someone in this community.

(And yes, an integrated 2-channel amp. That model Luxman is well out of my price range according to ebay, alas.)

Those minis are a neat idea, thanks. For $25 I could use it as a temp if I didn't like it much while I cut to beans and rice and saved a few pennies... I'm currently listening to stuff on the laptop with a little borrowed bluetooth, it's pretty awful, really used to that NAD. But darn, where's that recent post offering the Luxman? Search is failing me here...

Interesting, wdecho. I actually almost purchased the Dayton DTA , the sound is very well reviewed, but a LOT of Amazon reviews are reporting that it craps out within a year. The Topping has fewer buyers, but no reliability complaints - I hadn't heard of it. Apparently it tends to underpower one channel especially at low volumes, but it's now double starred on my list. I don't understand the board thing, looks like it requires piecing things together, not something that I undertake easily. I really love those old, simple, heavy amps, keep thinking a right one will flow my way. BTW, would a Luxman pair well with my speakers? My Dad had one on his Infinity towers; the whole setup sounded and boxy but the speakers were really ancient and may have been degraded.

My beloved old NAD has died and they want too much to fix it, sigh. I've got RF7s that I bought well before I retired and became very happy but shockingly poor. I'm going to have to search for a very cheap amp - as close to $100 as I can tho I can swing a little higher - does anyone have a bargain for me? Someone was offering a Luxman for $125 in here but I can't find the post - search won't function. I'm watching Ebay and craigslist and may decide to save up for a few months - I really would like to get the best bang for my embarrassingly tiny bucks. Cosmetics don't matter at all to me if everything's in working order. (Ha - that sounds like my retirement motto.) I have a few confused, too long lists going of what I should look for - all and any suggestions would be much appreciated!