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At US$579, this lands a touch under the US$592 median and well inside the normal used band of roughly US$544 to US$641, so it reads as a fair, buyable asking price rather than a stretch. It is not a bargain-bin score, but it is priced sensibly enough to move if the unit is presentable and functioning properly.
That makes it interesting for the sound and the pedigree: Threshold gear is generally sought after for strong build quality, clean dynamics, and a very capable, no-nonsense presentation that still holds up well in serious systems. If the condition is genuinely good and it comes with any original packaging or paperwork, the value gets better still. At this price, the main thing to verify is simple honesty on service history and operational health, since age matters more than cosmetics on older high-end solid-state pieces.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Threshold Audio emerged in Sacramento, California, in 1974, founded by renowned audio engineer Nelson Pass alongside graphic designer René Besne and Joe Sammut. Pass, a pioneer in amplifier design, launched the brand with the groundbreaking Threshold 800A power amplifier in 1975, introducing a novel sliding bias system that boosted Class A efficiency while employing 48 output transistors in a sophisticated triple-series/triple-parallel configuration. This California-rooted heritage defined Threshold as an innovator during its original run, which spanned until the mid-1990s, after which the intellectual property changed hands, including a 1994 acquisition by investor Randy Patton, who integrated it with PS Audio and relocated operations to Camarillo.
The brand focused squarely on high-end amplification, producing iconic power amplifiers like the 400A and 800A, the Stasis series renowned for their balanced Class A performance, and preamplifiers such as the NS10, SL10, and FET range including the FET-1, FET-2, FET-9, and FET-10. Later designs, like the T-200 by engineer Michael Bladelius, continued this legacy. Threshold eschewed speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables, concentrating instead on pure analog amplification that prioritized sonic purity and robustness.
Threshold holds a revered position as a vintage high-end icon, cherished by collectors and audiophiles for its enduring sound quality and Pass's technical wizardry. Once a market leader in premium solid-state gear from 1975 to 1992, it remains a sought-after name in the used market, embodying boutique excellence rather than mass production, with modern revivals under Threshold Audio sustaining its elite reputation.
See all Threshold listings on RADAR.
