Best "Bang for the Buck" you have owned?


Yes, the CJ ART, various Audio Research were all great...but I do remember lower priced items that gave much pleasure for their price.

In no order, The Large Advent,  DQ-10, Nakamichi SR receivers,  inexpensive Nordost cables, many tuners giving good vibes vis "FREE" music.  Also, in a different way, the Nakamichi TM radios and SoundSpace systems. 

There was a solid state ARC pre that was very good....ls-12?

And I do  remember "free" listening at some friends homes/systems that were great values. I was exceedingly lucky to have a best friend that bought most of my gear when I was "moving on".  It gave me the chance to listen to what I had had compared to what I currently had....at least once what I had sold to him was better than what my replacement gear was...........the old "live and learn". 





whatjd
Clearwave Audio Duet 6 Monitors. I paid $1000 for these speakers but once I received them one clearly had a bent grill which the driver would vibrate against at loud volume. The seller refunded me $200 and got me a replacement grill so I paid $800 for these.

They use Accuton ceramic drivers, top notch xover parts (mundorf, clarity caps, supra wiring, cardas solder, etc.), and a 2" baffle and rock solid cabinet. They retailed for $3k direct from Clearwave, but if sold through retail channels they would likely be $4-5k. I bought them on a whim driven by Covid-19 boredom/anxiety and once paired with dual REL T5i subs that I also got used they wound up replacing my Salk Song3’s which are now in another room. Total with the subs I paid less than $2k. No way I can do better at that price and based on the value alone I don’t think I’d ever sell them.
RPi 4
Allo DigiOne Signature Player
SMSL SU8
Crown xls 2001 amp

All for under $1,000 and the sound is phenomenal

I'm pretty shocked by the price / performance of the mhdt labs "orchid" dac I purchased this year ( with tube adapter to 6922 ).

Reference  3A Decapo 40th yr Anniversary  edition  has gotten me off the upgrade path. They are incredibly  good music makers  
Also, the Deulund oil impregnated tinned speaker wire is beyond great at the price