Per my experience with Taobao, it is quite safe. Never had a bad experience. I let my friend here in Zhuhai buy for me then I just pay when the item arrives. Or if I have time, will go to Shenzhen and buy at Huaqiang Bei.
For old school amplifiers I suggest old school CD players or DACs. I am also using old school amplifiers and I use mostly old school CDP or DACs based on old school architecture - R2R ladder, segmented DAC etc. Most of the CDP I bought at the Pier or from Surplus stores.
Have tried newer type architecture DAC - eg 1bit, Sigma Delta etc but I am forced to do extensive modification - change Op amp, change output capacitors, etc just to be able to get the sound I like. I I am using the SMSL SD-1955 DAC I bought at Huaqiang Bei and I had to change the op-amp to get the sound I like. Although right off the box it already sounded quite good.