what are your top "audio bargins" in your system history?

Von Schweikert original Vortex Screens (bought in 1991)

Blue Circle BC21 preamp (bought in 2000)

McCormack DNA-1 Amp (bought in 1991)

I have a friend who was visiting another out-of-town friend and noticed he was propping up his garage door to get more ventilation with a shiny metal object.  Upon closer inspection, it was discovered it was a McIntosh amplifier chassis.  When the owner declared that "he only used it to prop up the garage door" my friend made him a proposition.  He then went to the local Home Depot, bought a couple of blocks for $4 and swapped him out.  I'm sure they chassis needed a little TLC after that, but this guy restores vintage gear and probably had a big smile on his face through the entire process.  I know this sounds "a little out there", but this is a stand up guy who wouldn't have made this up.

$125 Crown PS-200 from a little church in Virginia and the $280 full service from AE Techron on same.

$199 right off the shelf value for Audifi WiFi streamer and free 4Stream controller app.

Duelund DCA16GA tinned copper multistrand wire in cotton and oil speaker cables

fo.Q tape on capacitors

Oops, forgot about the Clear Day Double Shotgun Speaker Cables. Pure silver, 8ft. pair, used for $300.

Schiit Audio Freya (outstanding), Loki, Bifrost 2-64, Magni +, my Pass XA-25 (not cheap, but a bargain), Dennis Had Firebottle SEP, my ancient Linn Basik/Akito (500 bucks)...Kimber 8PR (newest version) cables...used and inexpensive REL subs...I could go on...

Wolf von Langa spekaers!!!!

Tekton Lores - $1200 

VanAlstine SET 120 Power Amp $1200

Schiit REKKR Power Amp. 2 watts for a desktop or horns. $150 

Audiolab 6000CDT, Denafrips Pontus II DAC, and Buchardt Audio S400 MkII speakers......all perform at double their purchase cost

I once picked up a used Bryston .5B preamp for $300.  Because it was 18  years old, it was still under warranty.  So when it developed a problem in the phono section, I shipped it off to Bryston.    Just a few weeks later, they fixed it at no charge, gave me a new power cord, new shipping box AND paid the return shipping.

It was a fine preamp.  I replaced it with a VTA tube preamp which I love.  There wasn't anything wrong with the Bryston.  I just wanted to go from solid state to tubes.

Sony TA-ZH1ES headphone amp! Got it for $900 used but basically new from a guys summer home.

Have an unnamed $3500 new headphone amp that hasn’t impressed me much after listening to the Sony with my Z1R’s. Can’t say enough good things about theTA-ZH1ES.

As far as other gear goes....

DAC: Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200. $500 and love it. Its just a great DAC and scratches the MQA itch for cheap. Powers my in ceiling and outdoor speakers along with my Stellar PS amp. However a Bluesound Node is still a better bargain since the streamer function is there.

Speakers: JBL 4309’s got them new for $1200 on sale and OMG love those sealers immensely. Paid double for speakers and haven’t enjoyed them half as much.

Amps: Schiit Aegirs in mono! $1600, mono amps and an incredible sound. Again, super enjoyable! But two new Azur 851w’s for 3k is a close second.

Integrateds: Technics SU-G700MK2... Not really cheap ($2,900), but really is a product that just wowed me start to finish. Sound, looks, tech (LAPC), etc. I remember having 4 integrateds in my house and the Technics outshined them all (Yamaha, Rotel, CA).

Headphones: Austrian Audio HiX55’s for wired headphones ($350) incredibly detailed and neutral sound.

BT headphones: Technics A800 for $275 new are a steal IMO.

Hifi at price point really does something. I honestly love hunting down pieces for certain price points and feel it adds to the experience.

Forgot about my "Elcaset" deck Made by Technics in the late 70s it took a huge cassette that had three colors of quality.  Blue was the lowest and all you would ever need.  The unit automatically sensed the tape type.  I pulled and pushed the tape which was the size of reel-to-reel tape and it ran at twice the speed of a regular cassette.  

I had a guy at the stereo store going on and on about the Nakamichi Dragon how it was the best and highest quality cassette deck ever made.  So I lugged this monster into his store....game over.   I think retail was close to $2K back then and I got it on the base PX in the Philippines for $200.  Format never caught on and eventually sold it but it was a stud!

Superphon Revelation Dual Mono.

The Dynaco tube system --- FM3 tuner, PAS3 preamp, and ST-70 power amp, without a question....still not off today's best systems with fresh tubes and critical components updated with modern capacitors.

The second best: KLH ORIGINAL (not new model) Loudspeakers ..... still very competitive with my Thiel 2 2's and 3.5's.

Job 225 amp $1,300 in 2017

HH Scott LK-72 $500 in 2019

McIntosh MC240 $1,000 + $1,000 for total refurb including tubes in 2022

Buchardt S300 “C” stock new $850 in 2018.  Pristine condition not sure where the “C” stock comes from!

@alerrico 

The original Rega Kyte bookshelf speakers that were £200 sometime in the early 1990s.

If it wasn’t for their lack of bass I’d still be using them.

They had such natural timing and coherence that they made most others at the time sound somewhat messy and blurred in comparison.

@cd318 I feel the same way about the Rega RS1. The driver stores almost no energy so everything sounds so fast and natural. There are only a few crossover parts so there is less there to color the sound. I would love to hear the old Kyte. Most that I see for sale are in pretty rough condition. 

Silver Solids pure silver interconnects -
After seeing a review here at Audiogon I bought a 1 meter pair. Was blown away at how good they were, then replaced all my more expensive Audioquests with Stager Silver Solids.

From another user: "I have been an audiophile for over 30 years and have been through cables that cost so much more; Kimber Select, Siltech, Audioquest, Monster, Moon, etc. 
Stager Silver Solids cables bested them all."

Audiogon review:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/stager-silver-solid-interconnects-2.html

Check them out here:
https://silversolids.com

@curiousjim sent you a PM. 

+1 (more) for the Large Advent speakers ... a worthy competitor to the Epi 100

1. Epi 100 speakers ... $140/pair on sale in 1978... still going strong, after a woofer refoam and putting in a new simple crossover capacitor. A timeless classic from Epicure that puts many larger and far more expensive speakers to shame, to this day.

2. Onkyo Integra TX88 receiver, from 1986. NYT magazine’s "Best Receiver of 1986" ... bought it for $80, used, fifteen years ago. Still going strong: rich, powerful, clear... real knobs and a tuner, too.

@dinov ,

What Ethernet transmitter did you get? I’m interested it giving it a try.

Thanks.

Oops, forgot the pair of Infinity RS1b I bought from Brooks Berdan (his personal pair) for two grand in the late-90's. Sold them back to him and got the superior Eminent Technolgy LFT-8b.

Forgot these!

Directly from Bruce, got to know him quite well. Edgarhorn Slimline with upgraded huge oil filled caps and higher end Foxtex tweeters, demo set so needed recovered, $800 shipped. Still have them though not likely to work well going to try them in the RV I spent several hundred hours adding to the length and area mods to do so.

Too much work to recall it all but a few stand out.

Early 80's, ADS aluminum cabinet mini car audio speakers, $8. They felt way to heavy, opened them up, filled with sand! Cleaned them out, upgraded caps and resistors, offered $500 for them a week later at local audiophile shop.  I still have them, used in several different garages and shops for decades.

A couple of years later a little passive subwoofer with crossover, used with the ADS and good car audio head units as above. I still have it as well but do not remember brand.

ST70 in very good condition for $25 at the Navy base thrift store, refurbished it, used a few years, sold a couple of years later for $500

Mostly into car audio for a long time at a level many believe impossible to achieve but I can setup an incredible system far less costly and less work than a home system. Lots of deals, including sponsorship when competing, best speakers were Rainbow Reference, retail was $7k, I paid $4500 which was below what the distributor paid for them.

Everything I own now was bought wholesale or used at great prices though getting back into DIY speakers, I used to build quite a few.

I do have some little KEF line arrays I got for around $300 I really like with a decent sub, going to sell as no place to use them.

Best current deal was Martin Logan Vision X sound bar, dang fine and perfect for our full time RVing remodel until I get a proper system setup in it, $225.

A pair of JBL 4430s (Dollys) in a pawnshop for $450.

Marantz AV7701 for $100. I’m still using it. 

Seems like the best stuff I naturally no longer own. 

-SpeakerLab K's- Corner horn kit- built all-in for $450 in 1973

-Oppo BDP93 $17 with remote from Goodwill 2020

-Audible Illusions L Preamp brand new $2,000 2018

But I do still own:

-Fritz Carrera 7BE Speakers $2,200  in 2022

-SolidSteel tables $350 in 2023

-Innuos Zen Mk3 Streamer,Ripper,Storer $2,200 new in 2019.

-Pass Labs INT25 $5,300 3 months old in  2020.

Silverline Boleros. Bought about 10 years ago and have used them exclusively since. Excellent combination of clarity/resolution and musicality. Easy to drive, perfect for tubes. Unfortunately (for others) they are rarely for sale used and a tad expensive new. They replaced a slew of panels/electrostats, and boxes. And, FWIW, they actually look quite nice (for boxes).

as a forever loser - at least in the buying and selling stuff, how about the opposite:

bought new LSA speakers for $1400, and sold them at $500 a few months later - nobody wanted them for a penny more. 

My Gustard R26. Now that I have owned this for 4 months I would still be pleased if I had paid $6000 for it! $1600 makes me feel like I stole something or am missing something!

Oh Boy, Nearly Everything

I'm 74, Then and Now, spurring some great memories:

1. Inherited

a. Fisher President II from Uncle Johnnie (1958 components, free firewood)

b. Speaker Drivers currently in new enclosures

c. Fisher Mono Amps 80az for many years (Sold to Steve at VAS)

d. Viking Tape Deck, 2 track stereo, used for years, downstairs somewhere

e. Fisher 500C from Henry, still loan to friends when their equip in shop

f. Thorens TD124 TT with SME 3009II, from Henry, fixed, used for years

f. 4,000lps from Rod

2. GIFTS (mostly from clients whose offices I designed)

a. McIntosh MC 2250 Amp (CBS)

b. McIntosh C28 Preamp (CBS)

c. 8 Track, Columbia House (CBS)

d. Velodyne Sub (JP Stevens)

d. TT in Drawer, Linear Programmable Pioneer (wife's twin sister))

e. Sony Blu-Ray Player (niece)

f. DAT recorder (Sony)

3. SWAPS

a. Fisher 800C for Mitsubishi Vertical TT, LT-5V

b. Thorens TD124 for Fisher 500C

4. BARGAINS bought

a. Harvey's Used Shelf (tips from Wayne)

1. Tandberg 2080 Receiver

2. Technics SP-15

3. Nakamichi Dragon Cassette Deck 

4. Carver AM/FM Tuner

5. Carver m-200T amp

b.. Leonard Radio (tips from Phil)

1. JSE Infinite Slope Model 2 Speakers

c. eBay/marts/ads

1. Tube Testers, Accurate 157 & 257

2. Fisher 800C (component and free firewood)

3. TT in Drawer with Shibata Cartridge (Sony)

4. TT Linear Programmable. Microline (Technics SL-33)

5. Yamaha CR-1040 Receiver

6. Teac Reel to Reel X2000r, (only needed cleaning and belts)

7. Three ARM Turntable, $5.600 total for:

JVC 2 arm plinth CL-P2

JVC TT 81 (plus120/110 v transformer)

Fidelity Research SUT with 3 Inputs

Three Tonearms

Three custom Phono Cables

Three Cartridges

5. Bargains, except for shipping costs

a. 2 pairs of Speakers, AR-2Ax

6. Store Closings

a. 6th Ave Electronics, DBX Soundfield 100 Speakers for Video Use

b. J&R: Stereo Rack

c. Crazy Eddie: Super Audio VHS

d. Tech Hifi (match any price, closing, a few things)

e. The WIZ (match any price, closing, a few things) 

7. Near Full Retail:

a. Luxman Tube Amp for my office

b. CD Player, Sony xa5400 (used price same as ancient original price)

Trading my DQ-10’s for a pair of Acoustat Model X’s.  I also was able to sell my Hafler DH-220’s!  Still have the Model X’s, but I don’t listen to was much as I should.

Audio Research Classic 60 (2 years old), ARC 3 meter litz speakers cable. ARC 1 meter RCA IC and ARC 1/2 meter RCA IC. All for $1600 in 1992.

ARC Classic 60 amps (30 years old) sell for this today.

Empire 698 turntable (store demo) for $150.

Bryston 4B3 (store demo) for $2750.

Klipsch La Scalla II (as new) for $5000 + free shipping.

The one that got away: Box full of assorted Black Diamond Racing cones, squares, gizmos. Easily 20 pieces. $100.

In my admittedly small amount of gear over the past ten years or so I would have to say the near new Maggie LRS I picked up for $550 a few years ago.  Even at retail they are a fantastic deal IMO.  

Reference 3A MM deCapo i speakers. After decades of a parade of speakers from ProAc, Thiel, Merlin, DeVore and others, the de Capos are the ones that most often surprise me with what I’m hearing. And, a Nelson Pass designed Amp Camp Amp in my office system. Remarkable sound at a silly cheap price and a weekend of fun building it.

All the Dunlavy speakers through the years and most recently the Doge Dac 7 Mk II. This DAC is nowhere close to broken in but is already the best I've ever heard.

Mad Scientist Audio's Graphene Contact Enhancer

Aerial 10t speakers purchased for $1000 in 2005. Still keep these. They're champions

Thorens TD125 all original turntable in the og box $150 at church yard sale

Krell Duo 300 XD found on Offer Up for $3,000.  Guy purchased a random pallet and just wanted to make his money back.  It was on its way back from the factory for an update.  The amp retails for $13K.  That re-kicked off my audiophile journey.  Got some open box Forte IV's from Safe and Sound for $3K ($5K retail).  Freya + for $600 ($900 retail), an SVS PB4000 sub for $700 ($1,800 retail), package deal for various Shunyata Research cables and Danafrips Ares II at well below retail from OfferUp.

I would have to say my entire system except my DAC. Everything was acquired selectively used so I have great quality components for much less than retail price.

+1 on the Spica TC50

I found a Pioneer Elite CD player at my local Goodwill store for 5 bucks, sure I spent 11 dollars on a remote on EBay but it’s still a great deal, thing is built like a tank

Mine wasn’t a component at all, it was the about the $98 or so I spent buying a fiber transmitter receiver and cable to install in the Ethernet line just before my bluesound node. Wow what a difference! If I’d spent 5 times that much it’d still be a bargain. Now I’ve upgraded to an Esoteric Network Player and still use the fiber. Still wow, just a bigger wow! 

About 5 years ago I had a search bot app for Craigslist.

I had it watching for Magnepans.

After about 6 months the right deal came along... a pair of mint, SMG's with magnariser stands for $250.

Although the app had done it's job, I left it to continue searching. 2 months later a pair of mint 1.7's had popped up, so I grabbed them for $500. The owner had gotten a promotion that required he move to Chicago immediately. He was selling a spacious house and moving into a tiny, expensive condo in downtown Chicago.... no place to put the Maggies.

A Gustard R26 I paid full retail for ($1600) last year was the best bang for buck I've yet experienced in my system.

I was stationed in Germany where we could buy audio equipment at a substantial discount.  I bought a pair of Infinity RSIIb speakers that were simply superb.  Sadly, on a subsequent move in Germany—a decade later, they were destroyed when the  mover’s truck had a hole in the roof and they were soaked to the core.  I wanted another pair, but my lovely and very supportive of my audio addiction wife wanted something less dominating in the room, so I went for the Infinity Modulus satellite subwoofer system in 1992.  Just replaced them last year with Fyne F702s.

Little Feat Time Loves a Hero test pressing with white label. 50 cents at a thrift store. I have over 2500 LPs and this is still the SQ champ. Runner-up is a set of Bowers & Wilkins DM 110i. $50 thrift store. These were cheap speakers to begin with so there's no way they should sound as good as they do. I think it has to do with the synergy I run them with Quicksilver and Prima Luna monoblocks

2 pieces I acquired on used market

A used McCormack DNA 1 amp cica 1995

Great piece that I intend to have upgraded at some point by the designer Steve McCormack 's company.

Also a used pair of Reference 3a L integre floor standers. I find my self listening to them more often than more expensive SSM 6 Salk Sound stand mounts which I bought new