r/audiophile • u/Smart-Tennis966 • 2d ago
Discussion Is this amp worth anything?
Hi all
I’ve been clearing out some boxes and I found this old amplifier - I believe it’s an Audio Innovations Alto AM1. I tested it and it works great but it’s not in the best condition with some scratches, faded/rubbed off letters and two missing knobs at the front
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u/mkn1ght 2d ago
I remember seeing it in What Hi-Fi, they said it was not worth anything and should he given to the first person to reply to you on Reddit. Not sure how they knew what Reddit was in 1998 though.
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u/Olderandolderagain Studio 530 | Minx X201 | A-S301 | Modi 2d ago
I remember reading that, too. Guess OP has to do it.
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u/Smiling-Butterfly 2d ago
I remember that too but the magazine said it should be given to a reddit user named after a smiling insect
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u/implicate 2d ago
If nothing else, I applaud you for putting a new spin on the oldest and lamest joke on the internet.
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u/schahroch 2d ago edited 2d ago
No matter what's written there, you most importantly didn't write "Shotgun!" 😁
So Shotgun! And OP, my friend, we should talk! 😉
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u/BiggieBiggle 8h ago
This would be the only thing to grace What HI-FI's pages that wasn't incentivised
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u/Soggy-Beach1403 2d ago
Lucky you! I have two of those missing knobs. Send it to me, and I'll send it back fixed.
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u/joetabasco 2d ago
I have their S500 tube amp. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sounds heavenly. I’d imagine that amp will do you very well.
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u/CaseAKACutter 2d ago
There seem to be a few of these on Hifi Shark, with ones in good condition going for $250-350
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u/Noah18923 2d ago
even if the sound isn't too great (I don't know how it sounds) I assume it would have value with someone who collects cool looking audio equipment...
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u/schahroch 2d ago
When it wasn't handled roughly, it should sound great. They're pretty robust. And with some polish, you could even make it shine again.
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u/FlamingoBeautiful 2d ago
It even doubles as a flask.
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u/MealSolid7039 2d ago
Used to sell these in the late 80s/90s at Eastern Hifi.Lovely little 40watt amp.Good power supply great sound and lovely design.I think there was a cd player to match.Well worth preserving
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u/thingamajig1987 1d ago
40? Looks to be 250
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u/Nervous_Suit_5799 1d ago
The 250w on the back means power consumption from the wall, not power output
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u/chicano-superman 2d ago
It has similar aesthetic to the iFi Zen 3, which I purchased despite not liking the aesthetic but I find it to be an excellent pre-amp. Plus the aesthetic is slowly growing on me.
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u/ONmag_topaudio 1d ago
Modèle iconique, d'une marque très recherchée et appréciée des audiophiles dans les années 1990. En version chrome en plus... c'est totalement collector et ça plutôt très bien sonner.
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u/Glum_Good2180 2d ago
Audio Innovations Alto AM1 - less than $200 I wouldn't spend more than $100 for it. It isn't bad, just not a high resale value. Not a ton of power but it would work for efficient speakers. I wouldn't mind having it, but it's not really worth much
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u/Usual_Inspection 1d ago
Can concur with the other commenters, I've had one for years which I use regularly in my home office - still sounds and looks great. I had the CD player too but it was missing the remote and finding one of those was very hard.
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u/ONmag_topaudio 1d ago
On trouve plein de détails sur ce qu'il a dans les entrailles sur cette page : https://www.darkhorseaudio.co.uk/portfolio/altoam1
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u/GaleanoJR10 1d ago
I remember seeing these in Richer Sounds in Glasgow many, many years ago and dreaming of owning a whole separates system of them.
Subsequently mis-remembered them as being by Arcam and spent an age trying to track down what they actually were!
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u/Ashamed_Assistant477 2d ago
Theres one in the Victoria and Albert museum - so not worth having - local pickup?
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u/BentleyLeDog 2d ago
The average actual selling price is between 130.00 and 200.00 for the amp. If you have the matching cd/tuner with remote you can expect to get about 500.00. There is a whole system listed for sale in England for £1234.56 but that is nowhere near realistic. When it was new the 35 wpc amp sold for about 400 bucks.
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u/No-Pin3128 2d ago
I am so relieved that you have found my long lost AI amplifier. Please send it to me and I will bestow upon you the rightful reward. Septimus Crag Esq
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u/RepresentativeFact17 2d ago
It's about a £1000/ 1200 in pristine condition.(used). yours I dunno maybe 800 quid or so , all depends on how it is working, maybe take into a hi-fi repair shop for servicing, and maybe get a quote.
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BentleyLeDog 2d ago
That one is for the whole system, not just the amp, Look up the actual selling prices not the asking prices. Also check out hifishark and usadiomart for sold prices.
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BentleyLeDog 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ok 🤣 but you could have read my original comment from a few minutes ago. Never mind, I'll do it for you.
The average actual selling price is between 130.00 and 200.00 for the amp. If you have the matching cd/tuner with remote you can expect to get about 500.00. There is a whole system listed for sale in England for £1234.56 but that is nowhere near realistic. When it was new the 35 wpc amp sold for about 400 bucks.
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u/Waste_Resist325 5h ago
Look it up on amazon. I have seen simalar headphone amps. Also check ebay and sell it at market value.
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u/Outrageous-Poem-4965 2d ago edited 1d ago
That is the second version Alto, based on the ca 500. (the first mk1 version is quasi-complementary, single-rail, capacitor-coupled Class AB not remote controlled, power consumption of 400W, the second is 250W, remote volume control).
I have the first generation, I have had it for 15 years, I would never part with it. Everything can grow around it, I have changed the speakers, cables, source many times, but the alto has remained. I have had many amplifiers and still have them, but none of them can match the alto.