What are/were the best sounding cheap components you have ever had?


It is easy to like the best of the best, so to say.  However it is always satifying and memorable when an inexpensive product turns out to be very good to great. 

Some that come to mind from personal experience"

Large Advents (original)

Early Nakamichi SR receivers

Original Monster interconnects and speaker wire

Pioneer Pl-12 turntable

Shure M-95

Early Stax and Audio Technica headphones

MoFi "special" pressings

Magnum Dynalab Etude.  Yes some were better, but a real value

The Absolute Sound mag in the beginning 

Early Conrad-Johnson and Audio Research tube electronics

Early Classe integrated amps.

The original Sony Trinitrons

And there are others....but part of this hobby is enjoying the journey.

Have you had cost effective items that were successful for your enjoyment?

jusam

I don't like the word inexpensive either, I prefer inferior.

Purchased a Marantz 2235B receiver with Apollo speakers at Dow Sound in California 1970s. My friend purchased a Marantz 2275b and he thought my receiver sounded better even though it was less watts per channel.

some nova 6 [RS] speakers, mellow and surprisingly non-resonant [compared to their other speakers] first order crossover acoustic suspension design. a 1973 pioneer sx-737 35 wpc receiver which paired very well with the radshack speakers. a used akai 250D reel tape deck, solid tone with extended trebles. a technics sl-5 compact linear-tracking turntable with a shure m97HE cart on it. 

iFi Zen Stream What a killer

Belles pre-amp I bought used $199

Home built jam kings based off Electro Voice SP12B BAM!

NAD moving coil cartridge

Grado G1+

Denefrips Ares ll DAC

 

Easy. The current Sangea HDT-20 HD radio fm tuner. Unbelievable sound with attached indoor antenna for under $200!