How much is too much?

[lancerswimmer89]

A friend of mine that works w/ me wants to try and sell me a 600 watt Kenwood Amp that he used to use on his old system. Its probably about 5 or 6 years old, and has been used, but stored for the last year or two. He wants $50, but i'm not sure if i should buy that, or a new one for $100. lemme kno

[smoker]

if possible new is always better, you get a warranty if your buying from an authorized dealer

[geolemon]

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.

[smoker]

i have seen those kenwood 600 watt amps....and your right geo they are not 600 watts....reputable companys are conforming to the more is better way of thinking and kenwood is one of them, people will say what they want of kenwood but i have always found the equipment to be relliable and accurate to the rms power rating but i think that 600 watt is like 75x2 if i remember right........i have a lot of them come in used to be installed and they do a nice job of running some lower power subs but are definitely not in the same leauge as a 600 rms amp

[lancerswimmer89]

Well, like i said, i'm buying it from a guy that I work with. And he even told me that he doesn't have a very good idea of what its worth anyways.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Well if its like a grey/aluminum, says 600 WATTS on it, dont get it.

I knew a guy who had one of them, 5-6 year ago or so, and it sucked nuts.

He ended up switching it out to a Kicker 600 watt amo, and wow. Mega difference...

Thats my input.

[smoker]

i had a crackhead come in the shop saturday that had been looking for an amp and i priced him a gp1600.1 for 275........he bought a used kicker 600.1 for 300........amongst crackheads used stuff is worth more i guess

[lancerswimmer89]

Yea, but how did u know he was a crackhead? those guys usually don't have an xtra $300 bucks lying around to go out and buy anything but CRACK COCAINE!!!

[smoker]

cause the guy tried to get me to smoke with him....

[lancerswimmer89]

Really? thats pretty sweet i guess. I hope u said yes, its rude to turn down an offer like that, especially to such a violence prone person



"When a man needs crack, A MAN NEEDS CRACK!!"