Your best ''outstanding'' products in last 5 yrs?


I have been reflecting on my biggest surprises and value-for-money purchases in the last 5 years - the ones that were truly impressive for the money, here are mine, and would like to find out about other maniac's choices! Stick to what you have actually purchased please! My top 5 (so far).

1. Yamaha AS2000 integrated amplifier.

Totally off the charts. This is an absolutely outstanding amplifier for the money - I cannot think of anything under $ 3,000.00 that is more refined, powerful, and full-featured all at once. Gracious looks and battleship build are a bonus.

2. Shanling MC-30 receiver.

It may look like a toy, but it sure isn't one. Wonderful musicality with a whopping 3 watts of power, sounds much more powerful than that. A steal at the price. Amp, cd, tuner, with the magic of tubes.

3. Yamaha AS1000 SACD player.

Only the second (along with the AS2000 amp) Yamaha component I have owned in my lifetime. Ridiculous price, amazing quality with the smoothest-operating load mechanism south of 5K. Someone told me that Yamaha's marketing mistake is that they should have invented a sister brand (like Pioneers TAD or Teac's Esoteric) for the AS series so that they could charge more. I agree, but in the meantine, the consumer wins.

4. Music Hall MMF-7 turntable.

No REGA or VPI bragging rights, but this is a BEAUTIFUL table worth every penny and more. Decoupled motor, classy acrylic plate, double-deck plinth, decent Pro-Ject tonearm, it just screams ''buy me''. Now updated to 7.1 - I listened to both, could not detect a sonic difference with the same cartrige.

5. Cambridge Audio combo of DacMagic and the new ID100 digital transport (check my review on this one). Roaming hundreds of free digital Web radio stations has become very enjoyable with not-too-shabby sound. Pocket change as far as audiophile budget goes for these 2 items.

Special mention to TT weights and their Classic model. Where else can you get a CNC-machined product from an avionics supplier for 60 bucks?

That's it for now - after mega-buck tube amps, cables, preamps and cd players - these top 5 are it for me, and have given me a break in my pocketbook with no regrets.

Let's hear your choices!
sonicbeauty
For me, the best value for money items that I have bought in the last several tears are 1) Klipsch Epic CF-4 speakers 2)LAT International IC-300 interconnects (presently awaiting arrival of their SS-1000 bi-wire speaker cables) 3)Starsound Technologies SP-101 speaker platforms.
I also wasted plenty of money on various components that didn't work out well in my system. A Reimyo DAC is the first one that comes to mind.
1 Reference 3A Grand Veena
2 Modwright 9.0SE preamp
3 Sophia Baby Amp
4 Wyred Dac-1
5 Magnepan 3.6/1.6
Eminent Technology LFT-8b hybrid ribbon speakers. An absolute steal -- best loudspeaker I have ever owned and a fraction of the price of some that have crossed my doorstep. Fabulous.
I think I will give this a shot:

Jeff Roland model 6 Monoblocks-just had to give this a try;and will never sell them;on my system these are the best solid state amps I have owned.

Audio Valve Challanger 180 monoblocks-these replaced Cary Slam 100 monos;they do everything I was looking for in driving a very demanding speaker.

Soundlab M2's - I bought these as I wanted to experience the planar/electrostatic setup;they replaced Dunlavy sc3's and may never get rid of them unless the old folks home won't allow them in my suite when that time comes;they are a fantastic speaker as were the dunlavy's.

Audio Research ls16 mk2 preamp - this replaced a Klyne 6lx3p as I needed a home theater bypass loop and always wanted to try a AR piece;to me it is a equal of the Klyne
and performs well for its price range.

Integra DHC 9.9 - this unit is the heart of my home theater system and does everything I needed and also has a high waf as extra added bonus.