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What has been your costliest mistake in this hobby?

For example :I recently learned a hard lesson- I accidentally ran voltage thru my $3000 MC cartridge (kiseki purple heart).  I have a TT with 5 prong connector and a phono cable with a 5 prong connector.  I accidentally swapped where they plugged into and ran electric thru the tonearm into the cartridge.  It was a stupid - not thinking- hasty mistake. When I corrected the problem the cartridge was fried.  An avalanche of four letter words followed!

So what has been your biggest and/or costliest mistake?
polkalover
limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,487 posts
 
Well years ago I had a fight with my exwife I came home to find my audio system destroyed and thrown out side only about a grand. I have bought used equipment that was no good about 600 and a nice preamp that listed for 6000 new,that I got cheap like 500 of course it lasted about 4 months .Hey it's only money.

tyray
690 posts
 
I buy albums off of Discogs and didn’t notice that this one album was warped. Put it on my turntable and my JICO (Shure) VN5xMR stylus snapped like a dry twig. I was crestfallen....





calvinj
2,538 posts
 
15 years currently a 50k system. Love the sound hate my pockets!
geof3
1,129 posts
 
@tinear124. I’ve got one that is similar. I was replacing a blown woofer in a set of “expensive” speakers. Removed without issue with a powered screwdriver... then upon reinstalling, the screwdriver slipped and yep... straight through the woofer. There have been a few others, mostly along the lines of spending too much money on cables etc... but the screwdriver through the woofer stands out.
kairosman's avatar
kairosman
295 posts
 
50K in the red and counting, but each time I set aside solitary time to listen, I get goosebumps, especially if the tracks are well recorded. 

40% of that was in retrospect unnecessary, but I remain convinced the cash was better spent than some guys I know who spent/spend similar coin on drugs/booze/women/poker/super bowl tickets etc.

Although I must confess, women sometimes I can almost understand.
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