Best bang-for-buck purchase you have made?

Best bang-for-the-buck, that's easy. I paid $1100 for a pair of Sony SS M9 speakers. I have been saving for a pair of Wilson Watt/Puppies or a pair of Soundlabs. I had twice that money saved but after hearing the Sony's I'm not sure I need them anymore. These speakers sound so much better than I thought they would. I had the smaller SS M7a and I liked them, but the difference is not subtle. I'm glad more people don't know about these. If they did I would not have been able to get such a great deal.
The only thing I don't like about them is the finish so it's hard to complain! Sound is more important than cosmetics!
I also bought an SCD 777es from a guy whose store was out of business. I paid about 1/3 of the asking price.
I still think a pair of Purist Dominus IC would rank up there regardless of the price because they sound so amazingly good!!!

Without a doubt, for me it has to be having a McCormack DNA-0.5 amp upgraded by Steve McCormack (SMc Audio) to their Revision A-Gold. This amp will easily compete with amps in the the $5000.-$10,000. range, and total cost (assumming new purchase of a 0.5) was $3100.-3200.

The other item that really makes my system "sing" is NOS 6922 Sovtek tubes (w/Hal-O tube dampers) in my Line 2SE pre-amp-- and at $25. ea., they're inexpensive! Cheers. Craig

It is a toss-up, either:

Nueance platform to use under my SACD player or,

Pure Note Sigma power cords.

Richard

Denon 103D.......had one I bought in Japan in 1984,
sold it, and bought two new ones 18 years later.
Best cartridge under $1000, and better than some
more expensive than that.

Polk SDA SRS speakers!

$650 paid for a near mint pair
a few years ago, right after selling a $30,000 retail
speaker (wont mention brand) and no they were not
as good, but I was more suprised at how little
I was actually giving up!