What are/were the best sounding cheap components you have ever had?

NAD 3155 integrated, bought as a floor demo in 1985 with an NAD 5325 CD player (same vintage). Both still performing flawlessly in the third system, what a deal.

Sansui AU-505, bought new in 1974. Amazing sound, currently being rebuilt.

I bought my 1984 Rogers LS3/5a from CBS studios in 1993 for $350.

they're worth more now 

herb

1976, Olm Walsh, new, forget model number, loved them.

1982, Stereo 70, second hand store, $25, worked, rebuilt and mild upgrades, sold years later for $500

1983, ADS (200?) little aluminum housed two ways, filled with sand, bought at yard sale $10, cleaned them out, upgraded caps, offered $500 from a higher end audio shop back then, I still have them.

OPPO bdp 83SE, bought new, going to sell it finally.

Most everything else was bought wholesale or DIY, very nice but moderate cost gear.

----

Car Audio

Eclipse 8443 head unit, had 6 at one time, $50-100 each, still dang fine sounding.

Image Dynamics R2R DAC, $1000, list price was $2500, 20v balanced outputs, blind tested against top line home audio DACs, it did quite well.

Image Dynamics rack mount EQ's and crossover (custom Yamaha built), 20v balanced through them. DAC and above where upgraded after bought as well.

Dynaudio, McIntosh(spelling?), Zapco, Arc Audio, Rainbow reference.....

With the right vehicles, very intense layout and install effort, one can do things in mobile system that are very difficult to do in a home audio system and for very CHEAP, under $2k though I have built a $30k mobile system that of course was better but not 15 times better.

Rick

Onkyo 9110 Integrated. Nothing should sound this good for $300.

Pioneer bookshelf speakers designed by Andrew Jones. Absolutely great and can be had for next to nothing.

I have inherited and been gifted some great sounding stuff, but what cheap things have I bought and paid for?

latest, for my office system: 

1. AR-2ax speakers, buy, ship, restore: $750. total, sound terrific office system. Just bought a 2nd pair to restore. All/any needed parts readily available.

2. DAC, Topping D10s, $110. based on advice here. Was using PC's headphone jack to Luxman 10 wpc tube amp. Now PC's usb out to Topping to that little luxman. OBVIOUSLY Better SQ (exactly what I asked for) 75% typically, now vol at 35% typically, prior needed 75%.

gotta go, more to come