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Biggest "bang for the buck" audio gear you have owned(in your history)?

This is very subjective, and your opinion on your own systems/items is all that really counts.

From the beginning to now, these would fit that category for me: (in no order)

Original Large Advents
Dahlquist DQ-10
Conrad Johnson ART pre.
Original Monster interconnects and speaker wires.
Nakamichi SR-3a
AR Turntable
ADC XLM II
Audio Research LS-12
Magnepan 1.6
Magnepan 20
Wireworld Gold Eclipse III
Audio Technica Electret Condenser headphones 
Magnum Dynalab Etude and 108 tuners
Magnum Dynalab Receiver (original)
And in those "early days" special pressings and imported Jazz albums. 

There may be others I am forgetting, but these were very good items along my journey. 





jusam
meiatflask
140 posts
 
Surprised no one mentioned the Advent 300 with the Tom Holman designed preamp section. $279 back in the 70s.  Great foot in the door to high end:  you could add a power amp (I did with a Marantz8) and used it as a preamp. I kept mine for decades, and used the pre or power sections when my primary gear was out for service, or in between upgrades.
Currently, I am blown away by the magnepan LRS.  I have 25k of electronics driving them, but they still amaze me. I feel like I am in no hurry to find my next “forever” speaker, as these make me happy while I look.
bdfar
22 posts
 
Carver or Sunfire.
henry53's avatar
henry53
280 posts
 
So many great bits of hifi, but because I loved them and had them for 20 years my choice is a pair of Royd Doublets bought for AUD$1000 in 1997, finally sold them in 2017 for AUD$450. Thats AUD$27.50 a year, 50 cents a week?
jusam OP
125 posts
 
meiatflask,  thank you for the mention of the Advent receiver and Tom Holman.  At that time I worked at an audio shop that was an Advent dealer and I met Mr. Holman at the CES in Chicago.  Later had his APT pre-amp and of course he went on to much success with his THX used in movies/films.  When I met him he was a very genuine and straight forward man.  He and Henry Kloss were the two of many that I met that left lasting impressions.  I did meet Saul Marantz and other, but many were very quiet people....as in, "still waters run deep", Jim Thiel and others. 

alexberger
863 posts
 
1. Lenco L78 turntable.
2. Croft Micro preamplifier/phonostage.
3. Duelund DCA16 bulk wire as speakers cables. 

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