Good Stuff Cheap


I thought maybe a thread like this may be useful. How about a listing of equipment that's cheap and performs WAY beyond expectations. To qualify, the item must be under $500 (new or used)for an electronic component and under $100 for wire. Try to include comparisons to other equipment.

I'll start off with the Musical Fidelity X-Can Version 2.0. Not as a headphone amp but as a pre-amp! I was noticing that some headphone amps can double as a pre-amp and the X-Can sounded pretty good thru my cans so I went to Radio Shack, got an adapter and ran the headphone output into the rest of my system.

Oh my! Detail, warmth, dynamics and musicallity like you read about. All for $250....NEW! Replacing the standard wall wart with the MF outboard power supply ($195)tightened things up even further. Looks funky with the "alien rectal probe" coming out the front, cables attached. It only has one input, but man does it sound good! As good as my Transcendance & Rogue 66.
1953
The B&W 300s impress me. I own an older set--$250 retail. The new ones are supposed to be significantly better. These speakers have good clarity, are reasonably neutral, and have amazing bass for such a small package. The molded plastic cabinet is pretty ingenius too. It's cheap and reduces cabinet colorations, by having the back portion with no flat surfaces. What have I compared it to? Well Epos EP12 and B&W 600 and several in wall speakers (Niles and Parasound--don't know the model number). The 300 is not better than the Epos or the 600, but it is better than the in wall speakers. I'm using them to replace one pair of in wall speakers; it's in a location where cosmetics are not a concern. The 300s are not even on stands and and are against the wall and they still sound very respectable.
A power cord for AC, now long discontinued, the Tiffany TPC-60. Came with Hubbell clam shell three pin wall plug and Hubbell IEC . The last of these I bought, I found by running a want ad at Audiogon and other audio sites. I paid $75.00 each for the ones that were offered. This power cable is as clean as an Audioquest, and nearly as warm as Purist. It is not the ultimate in resolution, but has excellent mid bass and good deep base. The highs are faulty only by omission (rather than hash), and has good depth and a wide soundstage. Certainly a bargain at $75.00.
There is a guy named Matt Kim who sells DIY ICs, digital and power cables. His stuff is really great for what he charges. He always has dutch auctions