SonographTT with Sumiko arm and Talisman S cartridge. $550 1983 Still own TT and arm.
B&K ST 140 with B&K Pro10 $850 1985 sold both in 2011 for $425 (the pair)
BEL 1001 MK5 $1200 2011 Sold it for the same price in 2021.
Biggest "bang for the buck" audio gear you have owned(in your history)?
This is very subjective, and your opinion on your own systems/items is all that really counts.
From the beginning to now, these would fit that category for me: (in no order)
Original Large Advents
Dahlquist DQ-10
Conrad Johnson ART pre.
Original Monster interconnects and speaker wires.
Nakamichi SR-3a
AR Turntable
ADC XLM II
Audio Research LS-12
Magnepan 1.6
Magnepan 20
Wireworld Gold Eclipse III
Audio Technica Electret Condenser headphones
Magnum Dynalab Etude and 108 tuners
Magnum Dynalab Receiver (original)
And in those "early days" special pressings and imported Jazz albums.
There may be others I am forgetting, but these were very good items along my journey.
From the beginning to now, these would fit that category for me: (in no order)
Original Large Advents
Dahlquist DQ-10
Conrad Johnson ART pre.
Original Monster interconnects and speaker wires.
Nakamichi SR-3a
AR Turntable
ADC XLM II
Audio Research LS-12
Magnepan 1.6
Magnepan 20
Wireworld Gold Eclipse III
Audio Technica Electret Condenser headphones
Magnum Dynalab Etude and 108 tuners
Magnum Dynalab Receiver (original)
And in those "early days" special pressings and imported Jazz albums.
There may be others I am forgetting, but these were very good items along my journey.