Garage stereo amplifier (solid state!)

[xtian]

Trying to find a CHEAP stereo amp for playing MP3s in the garage, to power an old (nice!) pair of JBL 8ohm 4-way speakers. In looking for the least expensive option, and not wanting to troll the local yard sales, I found this on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSE-i15w-TA202 ... 19cf2f21c2

I'd much prefer to buy these Tesla monobloc amps:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230860294778


But cheap wins.

Any better ideas?

[Cygnus X1]

I'm using an old organ amp with 4 6L6's, a cheap Sansui SS tuner, another cheap Sansui EQ, a 6 channel Teac Model 2 mixer, and this PC.
Let's see:

Conn organ amp: $25
Sansui tuner and EQ: $10
Teac mixer: $4
PC...doesn't count, it does too many other things.

$39 for some serious goodness!



But that looks like a cool little unit.

[NickC]

I would not buy anything on eBay that ships directly from China.

0.02


Those Tesla "Vintage Cinema Power amps for Klangfilm" amps look cool.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

The Tesla's would be cool. Love the top hat diodes! Haven't seen those in years.

[ampgeek]

I have been packaging these up in ABS boxes and zoomy, personalized graphics for my college kids' dorm rooms.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=320-329

They actually sound really nice with a decent pair of speakers.

And...really hard to beat the price!

Cheers,
Dave O.

[Cygnus X1]

I have been packaging these up in ABS boxes and zoomy, personalized graphics for my college kids' dorm rooms.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=320-329

They actually sound really nice with a decent pair of speakers.

And...really hard to beat the price!

Cheers,
Dave O.

Alright...you're about to make me throw out my Grand Plan.
Price alone makes me want to save the space.

Naaah.
Mighty tempting though.

[ampgeek]

LOL! I agree...your approach is much more interesting...and fun.

And you are right about the real estate part.

That is king in a dorm environment!

Cheers,
Dave O.

[xtian]

I went with the parts-express amp recommended by ampgeek. Does exactly the job I expected for my $12 investment!

The feet came from my subwoofer (I have cork floor in the studio, so these feet will never get used), and the standoffs are made from a dowel. I even had to make one speaker wire because I didn't have enough!

[LeftyStrat]

We want clips!

Just kidding. I just always get a laugh when someone posts a clip of their new pricey SET 300B amp on youtube, so everyone can listen to the low bit rate reproduction on their crappy computer monitors, and say, "wow, that sounds really great!"

[xtian]

I was going to post a clip: One of the woofers in the old Pioneer speakers needs fixing--about half the foam surround has crumbled away. Sounds pretty good, though!

[ampgeek]

Nice! Hard to beat the cost:performance ratio with those little puppies.

Here is how I package them up for the girls dorm room's.

They are also great for beach parties and back roading adventures with a car battery adapter. Low packing space but enought ooomph for a moderately sized bonfire party.

Cheers,
Dave O.

[Structo]

Sweet!