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

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkme323

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkme323

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvp

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by messier2

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thirsty Whale

Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

But it can make you poor...

messier2 · 07-30-2020, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thirsty Whale

Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

I am VERY poor! Hobby-poor!

PKIPP · 07-30-2020, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacemanspif

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thirsty Whale

Nobody is poor who is in this hobby.

Nailed it x2

mvp · 07-30-2020, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

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.

07-30-2020, 02:28 PM	#1
messier2 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 15,324	Is Spectra RPA the "poor man's" NT RPA? 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?

07-30-2020, 02:30 PM	#2
mvp Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 783 diamond_d7	I’d prefer the Immaculate, personally. __________________ Looking for Josh Green rookies

07-30-2020, 02:53 PM	#4
smalltown Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 17,243 ifeature	Immaculate. Then probably impeccable and Noir. __________________ Collecting: Raptors, Canadian Basketball Players, Vintage & More. PC: https://www.instagram.com/smalltown.cards/

07-30-2020, 04:01 PM	#13
JoeAdam Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,012 sjoteo joeadam	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. __________________ @the_ace_of_cards on IG “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take - Wayne Gretzky” - Michael Scott

07-30-2020, 04:46 PM	#19
Jasondr91 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Behind the Pokemon cards at WalMart Posts: 4,549 Jasondr91	I have always viewed Immaculate /99 as the poor man's NT. __________________ Still collecting certain Aleksandaя "Sasha" Pavlovic items since 2004. "The United States has become a place where professional athletes and entertainers are mistaken for people of importance." - Robert Heinlein

07-30-2020, 02:51 PM	#3
RogerGodahell Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Cardboard Enthusiast Posts: 20,783 RogerGodahell	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.

07-30-2020, 02:57 PM	#5
whoaitsg33 Banned Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 769	Not a fan of select and spectra RPA’s. keep it simple, eye appeal should be on the autograph and patch.

07-30-2020, 02:59 PM	#6
cboog3105 Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 1,146 cboog3105	Spectra rpa is more like a prizm rpa than anything else

07-30-2020, 03:03 PM	#8
blinkme323 Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Philly Posts: 1,886	This year was a big improvement, but still no one really cares about Spectra, so no. (I for one like it though).

07-30-2020, 03:17 PM	#12
RogerGodahell Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Cardboard Enthusiast Posts: 20,783 RogerGodahell	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.

07-30-2020, 05:29 PM	#20
Ra3 Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 825	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.

07-30-2020, 05:31 PM	#21
ninjacookies Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: All the girls see the (boi)/ Look at his flips / Look at his kards / All they say is (oh boi). Posts: 57,333	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. __________________ #5 world ranked Ledell Eackles superclection as recognized by Tuff Stuff junior managing editor, Barry McCaulkinner. Somethin' like a cross between Teddy Aguhob and Kaboom Mystery Packs. I got that Givenchy denim flow.