Best purchase you've ever made

A best purchase could be because you bought a piece of equipment that was so amazing it was a paradigm shifter or could be because of the amazing price you paid. I'm sure there are other definitions of what's been your best purchase.

For me, my first pair of Magnepans were paradigm shifters. The most amazing preamp I've owned was a CJ 17LS2. My first CD player that made total sense musically was a Meridian 508.24. The best buy I've ever obtained was for my Pass INT-150 which is also a stellar product.

I guess I'm lucky as I've never put serious money into any product I later viewed as a dog.

 

My AR 3A's for $16.00 a pair.

 

My Oppo 103D - 2 years ago right around now - $500.

 

My Esoteric K-03 CD/SACD player. It has transformed the sound of my recordings.

 

A wedding ring.

 

I've been building my modest system over the past year. I think I've chosen pretty well and enjoy all of it. But the best purchase? My Nitty Gritty. That thing works wonders. I can say for anybody who listens to vinyl, get a record cleaning machine. So worth the money.

 

In terms of sheer bang for buck, it's gotta be Auralex speaker isolators.

 

My VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine. No other upgrade gave as much back as this one.

 

Magnepan MMG speakers.

 

My Klipsch Cornwalls....love these things!

 

Harbeth 7ES3

 

Me too.

ER..UH I mean mine.

jerol

 

My Pro-Ject Tube Phono Pre Amp. My system was already in place and this thing lit it up.

Im deathly afraid of what the $2000 - $3000 pre-amp units sound like.

 

My Hafler DH-500. Built from a kit in about 1982. A major purchase for me at the time, first and only electronics I ever built. Still going strong.

 

Fisher 500c. Even better after it was fully restored at NOS Valves last year.

 

My humble Jolida JD 102b tube integrated stereo amp sporting the wonderful EL84 power tube. Just amazing sound for under $500 at the time(about 10 or so years ago). I just discovered synergy between this amp and the Denton (Wharfedale) recent acquisition. Very warm sound-get out the Pavorotti operas on lp and enjoy!

 

My newly improved time machine:

 

A VTL TL5.5 Preamp and a ST85 Power Amp would cost 50 000 shekels New in Israel.

Picked up both units and a full set of spare tubes for 11 000 Shekels payable over 36 Months with no interest.

 

I agree completely with the VPI 16.5 recommendation upthread. Nothing else has given me a greater sonic bang for the buck than my record cleaner. The fact that I bought it used for $275 just makes it better, although it was an early model and I've spent maybe close to $200 over the years upgrading the machine to whatever was then the current standard. If you have any depth in your record collection, you need to buy a VPI 16.5. I'm sure there are better record cleaners on the market, often discussed here, but for around $600, you can't beat the VPI 16.5 with a stick.

That said, my B&O Beogram 8002 turntable runs a close second. Again I bought it cheap but now have more than $1,000 into it with various repairs and a new Soundsmith cartridge. It's worth every penny as a constant companion, sounding great while playing records with a touch of sophistication. It isn't even the best turntable in my stereo but I've been listening to it all morning, putting on record after record, pressing start, walking away, confident it will turn itself off at the end of the album. I bought it in 1986 and have enjoyed it thoroughly ever since. It looks good, sounds even better, and operates flawlessly. What more could I want?

 

I need to get one of those record cleaning machines, though I buy mostly new records.

KEF LS50 has to be the winner for me. I'm of the opinion that finding the right speaker and building around it is the way to put together a system. These work great for me and my room.

 

My Audio Research Ref75, I had swore off tube power amps because of the maintainence and heat but the Ref75 is a game changer. All the benefits with none of the hassle of tubes.

 

Revolutionized the way I view vinyl?

1. Like many others, a VPI 16.5. Never knew about wet cleaning a record and vacuuming the liquid could work.

2. The Vinyl Flat and Groovy Pouch combo. Practically got my money back on the first day I owned it by flattening a couple of Classic Records 45 rpm releases. Amazing.

 

That AR amp is certainly well liked.