what are your top "audio bargins" in your system history?


It is great to have all the money you need to have the best and endless upgrading.  But what about the components you've had that were inexpensive that turned out to be favorites of yours?

jusam

The biggest bang for my buck was buying a Linear Tube Audio Micro ZOTL or MZ2. This high-quality headphone amp, preamp, and class A 1-watt power amp makes this the Swiss Army knife of Audio.

Pair of Carver Silver Seven 900.. for waaaay less than $32,000. With all new KT-120s.

I bought a new pair of Thiel 2.7 when they were clearing out the a- stock after their closing was announced. Nearly 75% off, they were the stunning birdseye maple. 
probably the most beautiful wood finish I’ve ever owned. Even my kids were impressed. 

Inexpensive is rather relative term... Any of this is not an necessity and not "must have", like food - which can, like right now, get unnecessarily expensive. While I am not wealthy nor rich, my understanding of a bargain in this hobby is directly related to the ratio of enjoyment to the price paid. Shorter period I kept it, less of the bargain it was.
Listed are components that I had, or still have and enjoy. And by my definition above, my system is the real bargain. Nordost cables included, and they are not cheap by any measure...

For the money:
Thorens TD160 with SME 3009
Audio Note CD1
Bel Canto S300iU with Dynaudio X12
Ortofon Quintet Black MKI

Overal:
Jelco TK series tonearms; I have 850
Koetsu Black Goldline
Capriccio Continuo Auralea 309
Martin Logan Motion series (HT only)
Any vacuum record cleaner; I bought my VPI 16.5 more than 20 years ago, and it is still doing great cleaning.

Nordost knockoffs cables from China: DIY HiFi store. These I tried on a lark and would up replacing all my WireWorld expensive Series 8 cables and power cords