hey guys, i've been coming across some deals on ebay, and used amps are so much cheaper than new ones. but what am i looking for in a used amp that would tell me that it is no good?? i mean, what is it about using an amp that makes its quality go down? i would love to save $$, but at the same time don't wanna end up taking the shaft cuz of something in front of my eyes i didn't notice. any help is appreciated.

 

You are best sticking with brands with good reputations.

Usually sites like epinions and sounddomain will have feedback on the particular model you are looking at. And from my experience, models / brands that tend to have feedback pointing at problems have problems. For example Boss amps for the most part are crap, and the reviews show this. If you go with something that has a good history albeit used you will more then likely do allright.

And most def do not buy cheaper equipment just because its new vs buying a used amp of a reputable brand/model.

 

well, i'm basically looking for zapco reference series....i'm sure these would hold up good for a while. are there any signs pointing to wether or not i'm buying a lemon, or an amp that isn't performing to what it's supposed to?

 

It is better to try to buy from a Friend who has good stuff, but want to upgrade. There are tons of Audiophiles out there....(Like me) lol... Who have trouble stopping upgrades. I'm sure you have a friend like that. He will probably sell you his old stuff for dirt cheap.

You're always better off getting brand new products. I have bought a lot of stuff on ebay before, but I tend to be very careful when I'm looking for high end and/or expensive products. I do buy lots of brand new stuff off of the "Power sellers" with high > 500 feedback ratings.

If you do decide to buy off of Ebay. Here's what you look for:
1) Feedback. If you're buying used, chances are it will be a private party and not one of the "power sellers" on Ebay. Look at this person's feedback rating.
How high is there rating.
Is there rating high because of selling or buying?
When looking at there feedback rating click on the "From Buyers" tab. See how many people have bought and most importantly, WHAT did they buy? Click on each individual auction next to the feedback comments and see what it was.

If the seller has sold high priced items and/or lots of stereo stuff in the past. You should be able to trust them. You are always taking some risk though buying used. Who knows why they are selling the item. That is why it is a good idea to also see why they are selling. You may not get an honest answer, but it's still good to see how what they say.

Also, email them to ask a question, regardless of whether you need the answer or not. This will test their responsiveness. You want a seller who will ship right away after you pay. It already sucks that you have to wait for it to be shipped to you, but it's even worse if they don't ship it for a long time.

2) How much am I saving after shipping charges and Tax? Depending on what it is you might not even be saving enough money to justify the risk of buying used. I'm always willing to pay a little more for something that can be guaranteed as working well and/or new. So make sure it's worth it.

I've bought off of Ebay and have been very fortunate myself. I've saved tons of money and I really like Ebay. I can't guaratee that you will have the same experience.

I also a seller on Ebay. Ebay is a great website.
It has gotten me enough money to get all my mods including my Pioneer N1 Navigation deck!

I should get me a "Sponsored by EBAY" windshield sticker. Just kidding...Hell No!

 

It's hard to tell from just a picture in an auction. Even if you could hold the AMP in your hand, and it looks good, doesn't mean that it'll work. Even if a brand is known to last long or be very good, there is no telling what the person did too it. Even really good high end equipment can break if it's abused enough.

When buying off Ebay you just have to trust the seller as to whether or not it works. That is why feedback is the probably the most essential thing to look at. If they have negative feedback avoid them! If they have good feedback, a high rating, and 0 to almost non negative feedback, chances are you can trust them. Most sellers, including me, never want to tarnish their flawless feedback ratings!

Good Luck Man!

 

i see what you guys are saying, thanks a lot
well, this guy i'm buying off of actually isn't from ebay, its from a car forum, and he lives close enough that i can drive over there and check it out in person....so i was really wondering if there are like any signs i should look for that would let me know if this amp has been abused (of course other than basic overall physical looks).....for example, is it like if its kinda rusty or scratched in a certain area, that means he must've blasted it all the time, or something like that

 

Oh okay, I see man. I actually live in Stockton and I use to live on Sacramento for like 5 years. that's cool you're from the same area.

There are not too many obvious signs, but you can do this.
Shake the AMP. Does anything sound loose? If it does that's a bad sign.
Then even though it sounds funny, smell the AMP, does it smell like burnt electronics?
Unless the AMP is hooked up, then you can't really tell it works. Ask him if he can hook it up temporarily to his car, so you can see that it works. Appearance means some, but it's just like a computer, you can't tell if it works unless it's on. I've seen really crappy looking amps, that still work perfectly.

Then, look the guy straight in the eye and ask if it works okay. Then ask him why he's selling. If you end up going to his house, then that's a plus because you know where he lives. Chances are he's a good guy, and that if he went to all the trouble to sell it then it works. It's just those dishonest sneaky guys that ruin for everyone else.

Good Luck man...what area are you going to meet him? Is it in Sac or Davis?

 

hey, what kinda amp are you looking for? pretty soon im gonna be giving up my Alpine MRD-M500 mono amp, and im looking to sell it. i got it off ebay for cheap, and i could sell it to you for cheaper than i got it, which would be pretty cheap. its in perfect working conditions, never had a problem with it. i still got the box and manual, and all the parts. so if your deal here falls through and i got what your looking for, PM me

 

The other aspect to consider is to by a used amp and have the factory recondition it. The more reputable the factory, the more they will do that. I wholeheartedly agree with buying equipment from reputable companies. They will still be around if you have any problems and tend to be more customer friendly. Amplifiers made in the US, as opposed to overseas will be much easier to bring back to factory specs. With a little work you can get Mcintosh amps for say, Kenwood prices. A few scratches on the top or side won't hurt the sound any.

 

thanks for the info guys.
actually i was gonna drive to the bay area, but the deal fell through, i'll keep all this in mind next time tho....i might end up going w/ a used amp for my subs, since 1000 watt amp is quite expensive.