what are your top "audio bargins" in your system history?


It is great to have all the money you need to have the best and endless upgrading.  But what about the components you've had that were inexpensive that turned out to be favorites of yours?

jusam

I would have to say a Marantz 2265B reciever that someone gave me back in the early 80's  That was the beginning of my audiophile journey 

Recently l bought a used Spectron musical MK lll class D amp designed by John Ulrich and the old beast almost weighs 60lbs 

Years ago I purchased a VAC CLA1 MKII Pre, Counterpoint NPS-400, Clearfield Continental speakers with Synergistic Research cables for $300 and then spent $300 on tubes and a repair. I still have and use the VAC in my second system.

Bought a set of B&K Sonata monoblocks along with matching B&K Pro 10MC preamp for $450 about 10 years ago. Best bank for the buck I have ever come across. 

Wish I still had them.

New Large Advents $150

Klipsch Heresy "Decorators" $300

Infinity RS-II towers $400

ATI 1502 $150

I still have the Advents and the ATI amp.

 

New Large Advent Utilities, $148(?) at Tech Hifi in 1978 as a HS graduation present. Refoamed by Miller sound. Still in my secondary system

Ohm Walsh 2000s for $2800/pr in 2009. End game speakers for me.

A pair of Vandersteen 2Wq subwoofers bought used for around $800 each. Never will they leave my system.

Arion Audio S500 stereo power amp. Got a special price on this one, but even at it’s list price at the time, $2500, it does everything I want an amp to do, nothing I don’t, and I can carry it under one arm if I need to.

Highly modified Beresford DAC by K Works. Only goes up to 96/24 and lacks USB input, but outperforms modern DACs costing much more. I paid $500 used including power supply.

Custom Sound Anchor stands for the Ohm speakers. Solid, effective and affordable.