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View Full Version : Is Spectra RPA the "poor man's" NT RPA?

messier2
07-30-2020, 02:28 PM
Super popular set this year and much more affordable than NT.

Is this the set that poor people like me can afford without investing my life savings for one card?

If you have a guy you are targeting...better off getting 10 of his Spectra RPA's vs. one of his NT/99 RPA?
mvp
07-30-2020, 02:30 PM
I’d prefer the Immaculate, personally.
RogerGodahell
07-30-2020, 02:51 PM
Too blingy and razzle dazzle for my taste. Also it depends on which year. Last year i think the horizontals look ugly. This year the verticals look much better though.

Personally i like the clean look of Encased for the price. I don't own any but to me that's a nice looking RPA for the price.
smalltown
07-30-2020, 02:53 PM
Immaculate. Then probably impeccable and Noir.
whoaitsg33
07-30-2020, 02:57 PM
Not a fan of select and spectra RPA’s. keep it simple, eye appeal should be on the autograph and patch.
cboog3105
07-30-2020, 02:59 PM
Spectra rpa is more like a prizm rpa than anything else
Spacemanspif
07-30-2020, 03:02 PM
Too blingy and razzle dazzle for my taste. Also it depends on which year. Last year i think the horizontals look ugly. This year the verticals look much better though.

Personally i like the clean look of Encased for the price. I don't own any but to me that's a nice looking RPA for the price.

I know most people don't like the horizontals, but I definitely liked the Silver Prizm /299 and Gold /10 from 2018 better than any of the designs from 2019

My rankings:
NT
Immac / Flawless
Noir / Impeccable
Spectra / Opulence
Stickers
blinkme323
07-30-2020, 03:03 PM
This year was a big improvement, but still no one really cares about Spectra, so no. (I for one like it though).
eastbayak
07-30-2020, 03:08 PM
This year was a big improvement, but still no one really cares about Spectra, so no. (I for one like it though).

Spot on assessment. Spectra is still Spectra.

Color blasts are still nice
drobfan8
07-30-2020, 03:09 PM
This year was a big improvement, but still no one really cares about Spectra, so no. (I for one like it though).

Totally agree here.

There's some nice cards throughout these releases and maybe it gathers more steam someday, but there is 100 better cards each year.
mossoholic
07-30-2020, 03:11 PM
I’d prefer the Immaculate, personally.

Most prefer the Immaculate. Look at Immaculate presale prices compared to Spectra. Immaculate cost way way more than Spectra. For the box cost Spectra is a great RPA. Immaculate may end up being the worst box breaks of the entire year for the cost.
RogerGodahell
07-30-2020, 03:17 PM
I don't consider Immaculate on the "poor man's" end of the spectrum. That's mid-high end to me. Probably the 3rd best RPA behind NT, and Flawless imo.
JoeAdam
07-30-2020, 04:01 PM
Well, after reading this thread I don't have high hopes for my Zion RPA taking off. But I like it, so I guess that's all that matters.
Thirsty Whale
07-30-2020, 04:19 PM
Super popular set this year and much more affordable than NT.

Is this the set that poor people like me can afford without investing my life savings for one card?

If you have a guy you are targeting...better off getting 10 of his Spectra RPA's vs. one of his NT/99 RPA?

Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.
discodanman45
07-30-2020, 04:22 PM
Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

But it can make you poor...
messier2
07-30-2020, 04:23 PM
Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

I am VERY poor! Hobby-poor!
PKIPP
07-30-2020, 04:23 PM
I know most people don't like the horizontals, but I definitely liked the Silver Prizm /299 and Gold /10 from 2018 better than any of the designs from 2019

My rankings:
NT
Immac / Flawless
Noir / Impeccable
Spectra / Opulence
Stickers

Agreed. I've got a few of the Silver RPA's.. Super underrated. I feel like if ppl had a chance to see them in hand at a show compared to the scans and images they see on the bay or other places, they'd start to get more love from other collectors. Amazing looking cards.


I don't consider Immaculate on the "poor man's" end of the spectrum. That's mid-high end to me. Probably the 3rd best RPA behind NT, and Flawless imo.

Nailed it.


Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

Nailed it x2
mvp
07-30-2020, 04:33 PM
I don't consider Immaculate on the "poor man's" end of the spectrum. That's mid-high end to me. Probably the 3rd best RPA behind NT, and Flawless imo.

Of course, you are right.

I guess I was considering that because, for instance, Luka's Immaculate RPA goes for like 10% of the NT RPA equivalent, it's kind of like "the poor man's National Treasures RPA."

But, that doesn't mean that's an RPA for a poor man, which is probably what OP was more referring to.
Jasondr91
07-30-2020, 04:46 PM
I have always viewed Immaculate /99 as the poor man's NT.
Ra3
07-30-2020, 05:29 PM
based on the responses so far, it’s clear spectra has quite a ways to go to improve itself in the eyes of board members, but after opening some this year i can say i think they’re super attractive cards and beautiful in hand. definitely a little flashy but i think they look great. the color blast being a chase card and the relative sp of the zion rpa vs other players in the set also probably doesn’t hurt that card or the product prices at all.
ninjacookies
07-30-2020, 05:31 PM
Spectra's RPA's this year and head and shoulders better than any of their previous releases.

But like others said, they just get lost in the market shuffle. I'd probably rather have them over the select RPA's though. And I wouldn't mind owning any of this year's Spectra RPA's at the right price.