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Compared with a new preamp or line-stage at US$1,400, this is more of a serious used-audio buy than a throwaway gamble, and for a Threshold piece it reads as fair to attractive if the unit is clean and complete. Threshold gear has a strong reputation for low-noise, muscular, very controlled presentation, so the value here is in getting that classic Nelson Pass-era solidity without paying new-component money.
What makes it worthwhile is that these are often bought for long-term keepers, not flip pieces: if the chassis is tidy, the controls are quiet, and it comes with the right power supply, box, or documentation, that adds real confidence. I’d want to hear it working quietly at idle and check for any scratchy switching or hum, but at this price a healthy example looks like a legitimate enthusiast purchase rather than a stretch.
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.
