[doug s.]

not tubed.  not remote.  but w/its pre-outs/main-ins, you could add either or both.  as this is completely refurb'd, it's a good deal, imo, even at its buy-it-now price.  i had an original never-serviced one, and it easily competes w/modern gear, imo:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sansui-AU717-Refurbished-/280778707845


if you get really lucky, you might find a sansui au-9900 or even an au-11000 for $500, but i'd certainly wanna have its history werified prior to purchase - in good shape, they usually sell for a bit more than $500...

another excellent wintage suspect is the revox b251, but none f/s right now, afaik.

doug s.

[charmerci]

There's a couple of guys selling integrateds with remotes on AC. The ads are from a while back so PM them to check. I'm pretty sure either of these are better than any mass-market integrateds out there.


http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=98580.0

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=95627.0

[bunnyma357]

You might look around for a Yaqin MS-20L (approx. $650) - it's a little more expensive than your price range.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MS-20L-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/140643738716?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item20bf05245c#ht_3180wt_874

A used one, or if you're adventurous, buying directly from China might get you within your price range.

I have the older Yaqin MC-10L non-remote and have been happy with it. Another way to go is put a remote pre-amp in front of a non-remote integrated - I ended up doing that for around your price range (bought a Used Meridian 501 Pre $299 & New Onix SP-8/3 for $279 which is usually around $500).

If you're patient and don't mind a little bit of risk, you can find some great deals - my Yaqin cost $480 delivered, but I've seen them go on eBay for around $300.

One other thing to consider is that a lot of sources can handle volume control remotely (Squeezebox, TV's with variable outs, etc.), so even though a non-remote integrated is less convenient, it might be acceptable.

Jim C

[doug s.]

yes - yaqin - you may also wanna check out the yaqin mc-100b; i know more than one person who got one of these for <$500 delivered...  even a bit nicer, methinks, than the ms-20l; it has triode/ul switching, a little more power, is true dual-mono, and has fixed bias, which means tube matching is not as critical, as you adjust each tube separately for bias...

doug s.

You might look around for a Yaqin MS-20L (approx. $650) - it's a little more expensive than your price range.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MS-20L-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/140643738716?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item20bf05245c#ht_3180wt_874

A used one, or if you're adventurous, buying directly from China might get you within your price range.

I have the older Yaqin MC-10L non-remote and have been happy with it. Another way to go is put a remote pre-amp in front of a non-remote integrated - I ended up doing that for around your price range (bought a Used Meridian 501 Pre $299 & New Onix SP-8/3 for $279 which is usually around $500).

If you're patient and don't mind a little bit of risk, you can find some great deals - my Yaqin cost $480 delivered, but I've seen them go on eBay for around $300.

One other thing to consider is that a lot of sources can handle volume control remotely (Squeezebox, TV's with variable outs, etc.), so even though a non-remote integrated is less convenient, it might be acceptable.

Jim C

[charmerci]

..... or if you're adventurous, buying directly from China might get you within your price range.

I've gone that route and I'm not going through THAT adventure again!   

[rollo]

  NAD BBE series. Or Rotel.


charles
SMA

[bunnyma357]

I've gone that route and I'm not going through THAT adventure again!   

I've had nothing but good luck with smaller purchases (DAC, OpAmps, Tubes, Camera Accessories, etc.) directly from China, Korea, Hong Kong & Russia - but, the risk of a bad transaction, or a power supply wired for another country has made me leery of a direct purchase of an amp.  You see stories on line of people having nightmares, and people getting great deals.

Jim C

[maxwalrath]

Thanks everyone for the input and the thoughtful suggestions! My friend is going to go with a used Panasonic SA-XR50 digital receiver that a member has for sale. Hope it works out. Thanks again everyone...