My purchase in 1991 of a one-owner pair of KLH Nine full-range electrostats for $500! Designed by Arthur Janzen and Roger West, who later started Sound Lab. Found them through a NY Times Sunday classified ad by Hi Fi Classics in Far Rockaway, NY. At the time I was using Quad 57's since 1981. Well, the Nines sounded so much better in bass and dynamic range that they became my main speakers!
Best "Bang for the Buck" you have owned?
Yes, the CJ ART, various Audio Research were all great...but I do remember lower priced items that gave much pleasure for their price.
In no order, The Large Advent, DQ-10, Nakamichi SR receivers, inexpensive Nordost cables, many tuners giving good vibes vis "FREE" music. Also, in a different way, the Nakamichi TM radios and SoundSpace systems.
There was a solid state ARC pre that was very good....ls-12?
And I do remember "free" listening at some friends homes/systems that were great values. I was exceedingly lucky to have a best friend that bought most of my gear when I was "moving on". It gave me the chance to listen to what I had had compared to what I currently had....at least once what I had sold to him was better than what my replacement gear was...........the old "live and learn".
In no order, The Large Advent, DQ-10, Nakamichi SR receivers, inexpensive Nordost cables, many tuners giving good vibes vis "FREE" music. Also, in a different way, the Nakamichi TM radios and SoundSpace systems.
There was a solid state ARC pre that was very good....ls-12?
And I do remember "free" listening at some friends homes/systems that were great values. I was exceedingly lucky to have a best friend that bought most of my gear when I was "moving on". It gave me the chance to listen to what I had had compared to what I currently had....at least once what I had sold to him was better than what my replacement gear was...........the old "live and learn".
156 responses Add your response
I have 2 Ric Schultz EVS 1200: class D dual mono 600wp module @ 8 ohms (sadly not being made anymore) $2300 Emerald Physics 3.4: Open Baffle 12' carbon fiber midrange with a concentric one inch polyester tweeter 96dB $4495, but they blew out a small remaining inventory. I saw a pair on USAudiomart for < $900 |
| Post removed |
The first VMPS 626R w/ most of the upgrades for $1200--new territory for sound in my system. They had tremendous clarity, yet were not hard on the ears, then added a VMPS 215 sub w/ VSS upgrades for just $600. The sound just got that much better at the mid and even high frequencies in addition to the much better bass. Getting the Sistrum SP-3 shelf rack for just $900 used. Then got 3 RTS couplers to clamp the components to the shelf for just $140. Each of those used deals increase the live quality of the sound along with more dynamics and clarity. Each of the PPT products that I had added to the system in the last few years--caused a massive uptake in realism and tone. Bob |
Walked into a local hifi shop in 1976 to check it out. Talked to the owner who had terminal cancer. He only opened the store for his bucket list. Asked him what were his favorite speakers. After spinning some Little Feat I went home with a pair, JansZen Z-410's for $240. I still use them for the front of the sorround sys with a Raal ribbon in the center. One transformer and two surrounds in 44 years +$60. |
I have very fond memories of the Apt-Holman preamp that I owned for many years. You youngsters won’t recall it, but was a superb component that represented terrific value back in the late '70s and ’80s. It was designed by Tom Holman, the inventor of 5.1 audio and the inventor of THX motion picture sound. Read about it here: https://kenrockwell.com/audio/apt/holman-preamplifier.htm |
@moofoo i have fond memories of my acurus dia-100 from the late 80’s... very well built unit, sounded great running a lovely set of spendor sp1/2's i had back then for several years... then i made a mistake and switched to totem 1’s after reading all the glowing reviews... the totems and dia were painfully harsh and sibilant... ugh... |
| Post removed |
Purchased a used Rotel amp off Ebay, went in to pick it up at a local speaker manufacturer store. Eventually talked myself into some speakers trade for a website I built him (it paid for itself in sales in three weeks). And then managed to get a great job from it. And ultimately made a friend for life and got hooked into proper hifi! Lucky sod, if your Pamela was half as hot as the couple of Pamelas I’ve known... yeah that was a freakin’ bargain allright. |
| Post removed |
In a way, this is a difficult question since, after 50 years of upgrades, I am, thankfully, very satisfied with my system. However, it is an easy choice... Quad 57s! I joyfully lived with them for 10 years and miss them to this day. True, they are frequency limited but they draw you in in a unique and wonderful way. With the complete rebuild, they cost me about $2.5K. |
@nypd26 Yea! I had a B&K 125.2 I picked up and fell in love with, and sold my Adcom 535 without hesitation. They made great sounding equipment, and well worth the money used today. Hated to sell it, but did after I purchased my old Belles 400A. No slouch either, but over twice the cost of the 125.2. |
The AR XA table, bought new in ’69 for around eighty bucks, I believe. My first Decca cartridge, the Blue, new in ’73 for a hundred bucks or so iirc. Changed my life! QUAD ESL’s/pair of model II power amps/Dahlquist DQ-LP1 x/o, in the early 90’s, all for $800. Bedini 25/25, $400 in early 90’s. Townshend Audio Elite Rock table, $650 in early 90’s. Still have, use, and love it. Eminent Technology LFT-8b loudspeakers, $2499 five years ago. Seriously under-acknowledged and appreciated (in the U.S.A., at least. In the UK it enjoyed a very warm reception. VPI’s Harry Weisfeld also sung it’s praises.). Electron Kinetics Eagle 2A, $400 a couple of years ago (found here on Audiogon). The best woofer amp ever made? A favorite of JGH, and now I. Zeta tone arm, $500 just recently (I already had one, but for five hundred bucks?!). Great arm for Deccas/Londons. The Townshend Rock actually came with it’s armboard drilled for the Zeta. |
In 1993 while stationed in Germany got a new pair of Klipschorns from the CANEX (Canadian Exchange) for 3999.99 German Mark's, or at the time, just under $2000 CDN. An American Colonel had ordered them while stationed at Frankfurt and was sent back to the US, we were having our annual electronics show and they were about to unbox them when my exwife, who happened to be our Shipper/Receiver with CANEX snagged them for me. She got the 93 slanted Hersey II's out of the divorce, Khorns were to big for her...HA... |
