my $686 stereo system, laugh if you want...

Thanks people for your kind respones. I am on the floor weeping reading about Ncarv and sogood51 systems. In retrospect, I shouldn't have even posted looking at what can be acomplished. Anyway neophytes(like me), you can, however, have a whole lot of fun and some good tunes(Allison Krause) for not a whole bunch of money over what the local stores offer for the same price. Upside: this stuff will NEVER be worth less than what I paid. Actually may go up in value as time goes by?

My friend the enjoyment in your system cannot be measured in dollars...looks like you have already figured that out!!

Laughing with you, not at you!

Great sleuthing for good gear at a great price, congratulations.

I started 20 years ago with 686, now way passed 68600...it was simpler and fun back then ,now it`s a disease..do it again? YES

YES! Someone who gets it!!
This whole audio thing is all about FUN and enjoyment! How many with limitless budgets spend limitless hours agonizing over equipment. There a lot of unhappy campers who spent BIG
bucks;just look thru Audigon.
I prefer to spend my money very wisely, and spend my time
LISTENING to music.
My best buy : found an unlabeled pair of older,well made speakers at the thrift shop. Bought them, did my internet
research and found out they were absolutely Dynaco A25's.
Cost : SIX bucks. Sound? quite incredible. Listening to
CSNY's Deja Vu was a revelation as to how wonderful the
human voice can sound, along with a full,rich, yet extremely
emotional overall sound.
These are so good its silly....Lots of great sound.... and a smile on my face!