by geolemon » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:13 pm
You aren't going to buy ANY 600w amp for $100 new.
You might buy an amp with a ridiculous power claim screened on the heatsink - but for whatever unnatural reason, power numbers painted on amp heatsinks are a giveaway of flea-market grade junk - at best, they are "peak" power levels, and at worst something even worse... fictional "if struck by lightning" numbers. Neither of those will power your speakers.
Let's assume that it is a 300w amp, that 600w number is the garbage "peak" number - and let's assume that you saw that number because it was painted on the amp (although I would be surprised that Kenwood - which is a reputable company - would do that). I might not be surprised if you could buy that amp for $150 to $200, but $100 seems more like what a Kenwood
dealer would pay for that amp... so that makes me suspicious that your $100 is from an internet dealer, or Ebay auction... which really isn't a fair price, as it could be in part or whole a scam, providing product without warranty, possibly refurbished, possibly a customer-return wholesaler, or worse.
So, unfortunately, to answer the question, we need a real power rating (RMS power) and a real price (not an "online" price claim).
If the "real world" price were more like $150, and you have some "online source" where it might be
possible to obtain one for $100, then $50 seems like a screaming bargain - amplifiers don't really depreciate terribly as long as they are fully functional, not missing pieces, or cosmetically damaged. Amplifiers don't wear out, there are no moving parts like with a speaker. If you paid 50% of what an amplifier cost new, that's a great deal, if it is "like new", regardless of age.
If you can pay not 50% of what an amplifier costs new in a retail establishment, but 50% of what an amplifier costs from some online "too low to believe!" price - then that's certainly a screaming deal.
And $50 for a 300w amplifier is remarkable. If you don't buy it, I will.
You aren't going to buy ANY 600w amp for $100 new.
You might buy an amp with a ridiculous power claim screened on the heatsink - but for whatever unnatural reason, power numbers painted on amp heatsinks are a giveaway of flea-market grade junk - at best, they are "peak" power levels, and at worst something even worse... fictional "if struck by lightning" numbers. Neither of those will power your speakers.
Let's assume that it is a 300w amp, that 600w number is the garbage "peak" number - and let's assume that you saw that number because it was painted on the amp (although I would be surprised that Kenwood - which is a reputable company - would do that). I might not be surprised if you could buy that amp for $150 to $200, but $100 seems more like what a Kenwood [i]dealer[/i] would pay for that amp... so that makes me suspicious that your $100 is from an internet dealer, or Ebay auction... which really isn't a fair price, as it could be in part or whole a scam, providing product without warranty, possibly refurbished, possibly a customer-return wholesaler, or worse. :eek:
So, unfortunately, to answer the question, we need a real power rating (RMS power) and a real price (not an "online" price claim).
If the "real world" price were more like $150, and you have some "online source" where it might be [i]possible[/i] to obtain one for $100, then $50 seems like a screaming bargain - amplifiers don't really depreciate terribly as long as they are fully functional, not missing pieces, or cosmetically damaged. Amplifiers don't wear out, there are no moving parts like with a speaker. If you paid 50% of what an amplifier cost new, that's a great deal, if it is "like new", regardless of age.
If you can pay not 50% of what an amplifier costs new in a retail establishment, but 50% of what an amplifier costs from some online "too low to believe!" price - then that's certainly a screaming deal. ;)
And $50 for a 300w amplifier is remarkable. If you don't buy it, I will.