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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
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,668 posts
 
Nice post Prs123. I have owned the Hafler and the Philips and lived off and on with the Allisons for almost a year. Have to agree with you on these three, even down to the cartridge on the 212.
kublakhan
718 posts
 
prs123 i agree with dekay - nice post. i have to disagree with the morrison elad recommendation though. i had one and didn't like it at all. i did an a/b with several preamps in its price range (used) and it was the loser just about every time. most notably it got stomped by an arc sp7 (ss full service preamp from the early 80s) although tied the overrated arc sp9 mkII. the morrison also has only two inputs. mine was numbered 350 or so and it was made about 5 months ago...so there aren't that many around. i've been seeing an unusual number of these for sale lately everyhwere i look on; audioshopper, audioreview, global audio mart... i can only assume the owners came to the same conclusion as i did. dont believe the posts at audioreview. i believe there is a reason for the exaggerated stats that i wont get into here.

speaking of the arc sp7 i think this is a great bargin (although hard to find). i sold mine for $250. stupid.

i also recommend www.space-tech-lab.com for amazing bargains on tube preamps. at home i did an a/b with their lowest end model ($300) and the morrison and it wasn't a contest - all 5 picked the space-tech.
kublakhan
718 posts
 
forgot to add acoustats on the menu. model 3s go for $400-$1000 used and are astonishing. they're big and extremely hard to ship so people sell them to locals for cheap.
brulee
564 posts
 
I have seen the Well Tempered TT on this site go for as low as $500. The OTA kit could change your views on wire. What a Bargin!
prs123
58 posts
 
Kublakhan - thanks for the heads up on the ELAD! The other components listed I have actually owned, or at least heard extensively.
I occasionally see deals on older Conrad-Johnson pre's and know this brand more by rep than by audition, especially the older models. Feedbback anyone?

It seems there are a lot of planar and electrostats around $ 500 or so used now. The acoustats, apogees, and even an occasional Soundlab show up. The caveat is that you must have good juice, low impedance capability and lots of muscle to do them justice, with very few exceptions. And some are notorious for arcing(yikes!). I have heard the acoustats and apogees in the past, Loved the acoustats on female vocals and small ensembles. Loved the apogees on orchestral(the big apogees that is), but that was with Rowlands pushing them, so kiss that budget goodbye.
Will a $ 500 Hafler do justice to those used ribbons? H-m-m-

BTW, has anyone heard the $ 250 or so new Dana 1's or 2's?
Are they still in business? Should they be?
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