Cheap Stuff That Keeps Up?


I know that the old maxim, "You get what you pay for" is often true -- but what about those exceptional instances when it's not?

I own a few products that are so relatively cheap compared to the competition that it's digusting, while providing equal or near-equal performance. I am going to list some of my favorite overachievers and I'd like to hear from others who have found similar products.

If the owners of very expensive gear find this thread upsetting, I can't say I blame them. It is sort of unsettling to find products that cost 10% to 50% of what you bought that sound about as good!

1) Origin Live Rega RB 250 tone arm -- keeps up with some arms 3 and 4 times its price, albeit, VTA-setting is tedious and inconvenient. But when it's set right, look out!

2) ART DI/O DAC (about $200) offers performance as good as most $1000 to $2000 DACs, especially when used with Monolithic P3 power supply.

3) AR S112 PS subwoofer (16" cube, 120W powered 12" down-firing sub). I bought one on sale at 6th Avenue Electronics for my HT system for $150. Liked it so much I bought another for use with my B&W CDM 9NTs. It blends beautifully and has plenty of punch and very good articulation/definition. Does not go quite as low as my Paradigm Servo-15 -- does not cost $1500. AR also makes a powered, down-firing 15" sub for a little more money. I bought the 12" version because of it's more compact dimensions. Solid to below 30 Hz.

4) Z-man ASE tube line buffer. Want your sub-$1000 solid-state preamp (or inexpensive CD player) to sound like an expensive tube unit (and in some cases better!)? Add the Z-man ASE ($199 MSRP), change the stock Sovtec 12AX7 to a premium-quality 12AX7 (like a Mullard) and you will be there. The unit is especially useful because it will drive long cable runs due to its low output impedance.

That's all for now. What are your giant-killer picks?

Happy Holidays to All!
plato
A NAD 3300 PE integrated amplifier - I've had mine since 1986 or 87 and it still performs great, at least four hours a day, almost every day. It's sound is limited only by what is connected to it.
Dynaco ST70 amplifier(Some of the Scotts too) that float through here for $200-450. True entry level hifi if you are smart enough to give them a little TLC. Reminds you how far the industry hasn't come in 40 years.
NAD C-370 Integrated Amp and Cambridge Audio D300 CDP. I got the NAD new for $530 and the CDP new on sale at audio advisor for $175. I love them bolth very much and would love to do an A/B test with some higher end gear Like arcam and Rotel.