TLDR; Should I borrow money for this Leak amp or should I wait until a vintage pioneer (which I love the looks of!) comes around? I worry I’m making this decision more so out of thinking it’s a “deal” and scarcity anxiety rather than rationally.
Hi everyone! I wanted your shopping advice. I’m a student who’s looking to upgrade her audio system to better enjoy vinyl. I want to slowly work my way through the components and I’ve figured out I want to start with the amplifier. My budget is around 400 USD for said amplifier, ideally with a wooden case and integrated amplifier. Thing is, I live in South America where everything is more expensive and harder to find because it’s imported.
Recently a Leak 130 popped in my local facebook marketplace for 730 USD. It looks brand new and comes with the added benefits of bluetooth connectivity on top of my previous requirements. Besides, it isn’t even sold by retailers in the walnut cover in my country. However, it’s waaaay over my budget.
I know this subreddit will probably have a bias, but I guess I want to collect a variety of opinions.
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I have a few 70s systems myself that range in the thousands I obviously didn’t pay those prices. I mostly kept looking and lucked out a couple of times. Don’t borrow; save & keep looking. Remember once you find and buy the amp that you luck into you’ll need to find a pair of speakers that match it.
Save, don’t borrow. <---- best advice.
Grab the pioneer! And grab a set of large advents! There not that much. You can thank me later 👍
FOMO=Fear Of Missing Out. @ $730 you’d also add in a fair bit of debt. I wouldn’t do it, personally. I’d keep an eye on every publication for something you actually want. Make an offer, hell, tell them your poor student sob story, which might sway a seller.
Get yourself a Pioneer SX-650. They’re pretty common everywhere and are fantastic units. I’m literally sitting arms lengths away from one right now. They were the ‘sweet spot’ in the SX-X50 lineup, which is probably why they sold so darned well at the time.
Vintage audio gear is a journey that never ends. Find something in budget, enjoy it, and if you still have the itch in a couple of years start saving up. Don’t blow all your money on an amp alone. Speakers make a huge difference as does a decent turntable + cart.
Just my two cents as a huge Pioneer nut.
Never borrow money for a hobby
I wouldn’t borrow money, personally, I’ll spend far too much of my savings but that’s money I’ve already got, I don’t want to be on the hook to anyone. I respect your aesthetic infatuation for vintage amplifiers, aesthetics was the main reason I got my first wooden cased 1970s Luxman amplifier, thankfully it also sounded amazing. I don’t hear it said much anymore but the “rule” when putting together a hifi system used to be; spend half your budget on the speakers as they’ll have the biggest impact on sound quality. Another way of putting it would be good speakers paired with a shit amp is better than a good amp paired with shit speakers. Also, remember the rule of diminishing returns. A $2000 system is far far better than a $100 Bluetooth speaker. An $8000 system is a lot better than a $2000 system. A $50,000 system is only a little bit better than an $8000 system. And don’t spend money on fancy cables, fancy cables are a scam
got it!! yeah i’ve come to the same conclusion from different people around this sub. also, i was definitely falling for the fancy cabling scam. thank you!!