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". 





whatjd
Bought a set of Linn Keilidh for $120 in excellent condition 4yrs ago. Purchased from a big Linn Fanboy - guy had Kabers and Keltiks too all running Aktiv. Have been very nice little towers running with a variety of integrateds. So just got my Cary, 808R back from NC getting totally run through and brought back to spec. Paired it with a Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 and a Rega DACr for streaming and plugged in the Linns. Man, the tube stuff really brings out the absolute best of these little wonders. If u can find a set for $400-$450 I’d say grab them especially if your into tube gear. The Cary in Triode @ 30x2 pure “A” is a very good amp but, the integrateds I’ve used by Tandberg and Perreaux have been a good fit as well. Point: Linn Keilidh for $120 easily the best Bang for Buck story I have to share
My 1983 aiwa ad f770 cassette deck. Paid $550 for it brand new 38 years ago, still kicking like day one! Only thing I’ve had to do was change belts....not fun, but worth it. I play it all the time. A beautiful machine, and back then, before it’s time. It will never be sold. Bought a back up f660, just as good a machine, works wonderfully. Sold my f990 as it was worth more, plus did not do anything that the other two decks are not capable of.
Secondly, my discwasher system, also from the early 80’s. I’m still using the same record brush and stylus brush included In the kit. I still have some of the original fluid left. Loaded up on original discwasher stuff when available on ebay. I got enough to last me until I’m dead.
I think the one piece I will never part with is my 1974 Pioneed SA 8100. It is such a great piece, no it does not sound as good as my tube gear, it just never disappoints and never quits, at the moment it is running outdoor speakers for my pool. Everything else I own I am already planning their replacements. 
My best "bang for the buck" actually wasn't my purchase, but my wife's. Somehow, before we met, she had attended the closing of tech hifi in Durham, NC and purchased a JVC TV, amplifier and cassette deck (1984 by the way) and a pair of Ohm Walsh 2's. All for less than $1,300. The MSRP for the speakers in 1984 which was around $700 per pair. 26 years later and they still sound great. I know they can be upgraded, but I actually like the way they sound now that I have a proper amount of the right kind of power.