I bought a lot of amps from pawn shops, most of the time they really don't know what they have. I have found some amps have problems with the caps but it effects the quality of sound so much they stand out right away. I always bought Sansui amps why? they had some good specs and they are very overbuilt. If you found a Sansui amp rated at 50 watts per channel it will trounce on a 150 watt per channel amp from today. If the amp has scratchy controls only which most do, you can buy some contact cleaner in a can and concentrate that into the pots and you have an awesome amp for cheap. I have used Sansui amps, bought them cheap, enjoyed them fixed them up am sold them for big profits. I have found 25-30 year old amps that still sound as good as day one. If you ever find a Sansui AU-517/717, AU-719/819/919 those were some of the greatest. the older series way very good as well.
