what is a good amp that wont break the bank

[Radian]

I find that US made products exhibit a greater level of QC than Chinese made equivalents.

Six Sigma business models have rapidly reduced the margin of quality between internationally traded products and continue to do so every year at a geometric rate. Given the same materials, tolerances and manufacturing processes, a widget hewn by a machine in China, Mexico, or the USA is going to turn out the same. The only difference is the cost to produce. This, of cousre, is not necessarily to the benefit of the individual economies involved in the trade.

The Chinese made products are 'disposable', whereas the US made ones were often repaired instead of tossed in the trash and replaced with new

Knowledge is money. That's why we're all in this forum. Learning about basic electronics can net you substantial savings. Of course we have to know what products we're talking about specifically, but almost anything can be fixed if you know how it works and was initially put together (industrial / process engineering). I've saved enough over the last few years in electrical and other rework to have easily paid for a digital soldering and rework station. The money saved adds up faster than you might think:
- Tune up for the GF's car +$200
- Repairing a blown head gasket on the BMW +$2000
- Restoring the the battery for the nephew's "power-wheels" +$75
- Soldering a frayed wire in the GF's electric razor +$25
- Trouble shooting a faulty LED transmitter in the remote control +$20
- Trouble shooting and replacing the key pad flex cable for the cell-phone +$125
- Replacing a crapped-out hard drive in the GF's computer +$100
- Not buying a JBL SRX system because I can build something my self better for 1/3 of the price +$2000
- Re-capping a blown out Behringer DEQ power supply +$150
- Knowing that the DEQ cheap power supply caps eventually dry out over time +$300
The list goes on..Everything's repairable (cheap china toy to the family automobile) , it just depends how valuable it is too you. I think Bill has referred to this as "Sweat Equity"

[bossman]

Knowledge is money. That's why we're all in this forum. Learning about basic electronics can net you substantial savings. Of course we have to know what products we're talking about specifically, but almost anything can be fixed if you know how it works and was initially put together (industrial / process engineering). I've saved enough over the last few years in electrical and other rework to have easily paid for a digital soldering and rework station. The money saved adds up faster than you might think:
- Tune up for the GF's car +$200
- Repairing a blown head gasket on the BMW +$2000
- Restoring the the battery for the nephew's "power-wheels" +$75
- Soldering a frayed wire in the GF's electric razor +$25
- Trouble shooting a faulty LED transmitter in the remote control +$20
- Trouble shooting and replacing the key pad flex cable for the cell-phone +$125
- Replacing a crapped-out hard drive in the GF's computer +$100
- Not buying a JBL SRX system because I can build something my self better for 1/3 of the price +$2000
- Re-capping a blown out Behringer DEQ power supply +$150
- Knowing that the DEQ cheap power supply caps eventually dry out over time +$300
The list goes on..Everything's repairable (cheap china toy to the family automobile) , it just depends how valuable it is too you. I think Bill has referred to this as "Sweat Equity"

I'm with you on the DIY repairs. I have saved thousands as well by fixing things that others may have thrown out. The thing I would be concerned about is obtaining replacement parts. Can the parts be sourced easily, etc. Sometimes that is the determining factor to whether or not something can or can not be repaired. Thanks for comments! Interesting topic.

[bzb]

Back in the 80's, "Made in Taiwan" was a terrible label. They put in labor laws and organized unions, and started making some of the best computer/memory chips. Now it's expensive to manufacture in Taiwan.

So companies moved to cheaper pastures - China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, etc. Places where labor is cheap and plentiful and labor laws shoddy or non-existent.

Like Radian said, these companies aren't moving their production to China in order to create a sub-standard product. Their brands and reputations are valuable, almost irreplaceable assets. Think about Bose and Sony - they're not top-of-the-line products, but the general public perceives them as such and they add a premium to their products. If they start turning out a bunch of products that blow up, they're not going to be able to market themselves and lower their profit margin.

Would you be happy if your amp says "Made in Japan" or South Korea? They have a pretty good service record on cars and motorcycles

[Ron K]

I really believe the burden of the import or non made in the US product is clearly the fault of the consumers not the manufacturers.When consumers bargain buy they often choose price only as their "bottom" line. That's the sole reason places like Wal-Mart exist and why manufacturing has moved to more profit driven environments.No point in manufacturing a product that costs 10xs more and is just going to sit on the shelf and possibly never sell.Once the "cheap" ball gets rolling the damage is done. The manufacturers are simply keeping their margins in line so they make their money and consumers are only watching their bottom line of spending as little as possible for the products they need.

Future Shock by Alvin Toffler is a great book defining the throw away society we've created and now live in.Written in the seventies I had read it as a Sophomore in High School.It changed the way I looked at the world through my young eyes and sadly every word has come true!

Select Toffler Quotes

Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology possible.

Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life.

One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we'll need a new definition.

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.

You've got to think about big things while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.

The next major explosion is going to be when genetics and computers
come together. I'm talking about an organic computer - about biological substances that can function like a semiconductor.

[gilscales]

My XTI says "Proudly Made in the USA" on the back.

I'm with Bill on this, it doesn't really matter anymore. Americans are just as crappy at putting things together on an assembly line as Chinese are.

For $309 shipped on ebay, a XTI-1000 is really hard to beat if that's all the power you need.

Notwithstanding the cynical tone this thread has taken, (lets throw in american made cars for sure!) I took your advice on the E-bay $309 deal for the xti-1000 to use on my first pair of Jack 110's and later on a pair of DR250's then I will just get a 2000 or 4000 for the subs, seems to me the way to go from what the majority have said on this forum, thanks "bzb"

[bzb]

I'm sure you'll be happy with it. It took me a couple months to finally take the advice that everyone here was giving me... so you're already a faster learner than I am

I kept debating whether to go with the DSP unit and keep my existing amp(s), or start fresh since these new amps are so light. Two birds with one stone.

I'm planning on getting an XTi 4000 sometime next year once I have the T48s built. For now, this 1000 will push my T39s and the eventual OT12s just fine. I don't have any large gigs planned until late spring/summer - but I think even the T39/OT12 combo would be pretty good in comparison to what a lot of guys bring around here.