Champagne amps for beer money needed!

[greekgod]

Sounds like you really want a Burmester. You could negotiate a lower price. If you end up not liking it, you could sell it for more or less what you paid. Life is short. Go for it! If you don't, you will always be left with that itch of wanting to upgrade.

[Diapason]

You're right, greekgod, but it feels a little foolish since I'm going purely on reviews here. Whenever I've bought components without sampling in the past I've been happy enough because I knew some other items from the manufacturer or had some other touchstones, but here I'm completely in the dark. The variation I'm hearing between different amps is giving me pause at pulling the trigger on one I don't know at all.

Still, I can't fault your logic, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted!

[Masterlu]

Burmester 911 MKIII amps are downright magical. Are you aware of their damping factor >2500 second only to the Soulution 701.

I will never part with mine.

[Diapason]

Oh dear, this is getting more and more dangerous. After all, if they're good enough for Ivan's Aidas...

Um, would anyone like to give me some idea of how different they'd be to a Krell KSA80?!?

[Superfrg]

Surely the burmesters are fantastic amps, but why not buy your beer money amp now to enjoy and get the champagne amp later when the finances allow it better?

There is always something better, but asking for good bargains to start with and ending up buying a 10K used amp without auditioning it seems a bit rushed.
Sure, you can sell it again if need be, but with no guaranties that it will sell fast or even at any amount you thought it would be sold for.

Just trying to act like the voice of reason, which seemed to fly away after a few posts

[Diapason]

Yes, that's definitely the way to play this, Superfrg. In fairness, I'd be very happy with something else for a while, I don't need to go for broke straight away.

Thank you for the cold water. It was necessary!

[greekgod]

I can relate to having champagne taste on a beer budget so here is my suggestion. I know you have an itch to buy something right now but don't buy anything at the moment. Sounds like the Burmester pops up on the used market often where you are so it is not like you are missing a rare opportunity to snatch one up.

Come up with a one year plan. Be as frugal as you can and each month set aside as much disposable income as you can. Figure out how much that money will amount to in a year and it will probably be enough to get one of those Burmester amps.

If you buy a Krell or anything else right now, it will only tie funds up and sidetrack you from your longterm goal. In the meantime, you may find an opportunity where you do get to audition a Burmester so you will not be buying blind(or should I say deaf?).

Let me share a personal experience. I really wanted to buy my dream car which was a Lexus but I couldn't afford one. Not even close. I almost bought a Toyota instead to tie me over but I knew it would only side track me from my ultimate goal. Instead, I spent seven years taking the city bus so I could save all my money until one day I had enough money to finally buy my dream car. If I had bought that Toyota, I would have never got around to being able to get that Lexus...

[Diapason]

Dammit, there's too much sense here!

Thanks gg, good advice. I'm not sure I can return to the GRAAFs, but let's see.

[Anatta]

Seriously, do look up Audionet (reviews, YT vidz), they actually are champagne amps (at Burmester and Soulution level) and I think would mate very well with your SFs.

[Diapason]

OK, my dealer offered me a very low price on the Krell, and will take it back for the same whenever I want to sell it, so I think it's going to stay for a while. I'm very happy with that solution, as I'm enjoying listening to it and not feeling the upgrade itch yet. This approach buys me some time to expand my options and budget.

I will, however, be trying to find out more and preferably get a listen to some of things mentioned on this thread, so thanks everybody! There are some really great suggestions here.