Best purchase you've ever made

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Nate, Dec 7, 2014.

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  1. Spitfire

    Spitfire Senior Member

    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    My NHT VT-2.4 speakers. I've gone through a bunch of other gear in the last 10 years or so but I still have these.
     
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  2. timind

    timind phorum rezident

    It's a tie between my Meadowlark Audio Kestrel HRs or my Resolution Audio CD50. Both were fantastic deal through ebay many years ago.
     
  3. MonkeyMan

    MonkeyMan A man who dreams he is a butterfly?

    How long did it take you to acquire such choice examples of all the most desirable vintage audio equipment on gawdz green irth?

     
    crooner likes this.
  4. crooner

    crooner Tube Marantzed

    It took me 22+ years overall to assemble this system. I started pursuing vintage tube hi-fi in 1992 when I came across a McIntosh MC30 and C20. Never found a mate for the MC30, but my love of vintage tube gear started there. I researched everywhere for information. Had a local library donate their High Fidelity and Audio Magazine collections to me in the mid 1990's. It was around this time that I became intrigued with Marantz. Their Model 9 monoblocks were elusive and virtually impossible to find in the pre eBay days. And in later years I could not afford them. Luckily this year a pair came across at a price I could actually afford so I took the plunge. This is the most I have ever spent on audio, but worth it.

    The Model 7 I have is the finest I could find after going through 2 previous ones. Any Model 7 working to specs is wonderful, but there is something special about the early ones.

    The Model 10 took me about five years to find. I am fascinated by the 10/10B designs and having a super early Model 10 was high on my list.

    I can positively say now that my search is over...
     
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  5. craigh

    craigh Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Germantown, MD
    My Rega RP3 turntable & Odyssey Khartago power amp.
     
  6. Warren Jarrett

    Warren Jarrett Audio Note (UK) dealer in SoCal/LA-OC In Memoriam

    Location:
    Fullerton, CA
    Best purchase I ever made was my first step-up transformer for MC cartridges. The brand is not important (but it was an Expressive Technologies). When I got away from transistor head-amps (e.g. Klyne) into full-function tube preamps (e.g. CJ and CAT) and high-gain/low-noise transistor or "hybrid" phono stages (e.g. Krell and ARC), into a passive MC transformer step-up with a tube MM phono stage, real music came forth to my ears from vinyl like I had never heard from recorded music before.
     
    Shiver likes this.
  7. gojira

    gojira Active Member

    Location:
    Kathmandu, Nepal
    Indeed and well-deserved at that! In the present world of instant gratification and quick fixes, I must give you kudos to your virtues of patience and determination. Though my search into the realm of vintage gear is just beginning( i.e. late!), I am truly inspired so thanks for sharing.:tiphat:
     
    crooner likes this.
  8. GuildX700

    GuildX700 Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Probably my Empire 698 turntable. I bought it new in 1976, & it is still working perfectly in 2014. Their ads used to say "the last turntable you'll ever need to buy". I think they were spot on.
     
    Colin M likes this.
  9. oxenholme

    oxenholme Senile member

    Location:
    Knoydart
    1. Gibson Les Paul Deluxe lefthanded in 1980
    2. Linn LP12 turntable sometime around 1990
    3. Oppo BDP-105 a couple of years ago
     
  10. crooner

    crooner Tube Marantzed

    You are most welcome!
     
  11. mike catucci

    mike catucci Forum Resident

    Location:
    PA
    It is a tie between the Ascend Sierra 1 NrT speakers (who are responsible for the damage to my jaw each time it drops) or the Peachtree Nova who's DAC continues to blow me away after almost 3 years.
     
  12. chrism1971

    chrism1971 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Glos, UK
    My second house. Allowed me to listen to music without constraint, and almost trebled in value within 7 years.
     
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  13. Musically, my recently-acquired Nak RX-202. Got it on the cheap from eBay and is in immaculate condition, complete with original box and owner's manual. Was relubed, rebelted, caps checked, etc etc and is a really sweet little deck.

    Otherwise, our condo in Florida. Like chrism1971, bought it on foreclosure and has increased in value over the past few years. On the Intracoastal and about five minutes from the ocean. Real BLISS!!
     
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  14. rogertheshrubber

    rogertheshrubber Senior Member

    Location:
    Freehold, NJ, USA!
    Easy. My original Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 (since replaced with Logitech Squeezebox Touch). Opened me up to whole world of ripping all my cds (and later acquired vinyl rips) to my dedicated music server. No more fumbling for cds - instant access to whatever I want, flexible search engine, etc. GREAT!
     
    rodentdog likes this.
  15. DR.J

    DR.J Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago Suburb
    PS Audio Direct Stream. Paid too much and it will obsolete pretty quickly but damn it sounds good!! I also have the bridge and love scrolling throught my collection so easily. I rarely play records anymore!
     
  16. russk

    russk Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse NY
    Hahahaha. Those are wayyyy more costly then any stereo system ever made
     
  17. russk

    russk Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse NY
    My Fisher 500c that I decided to get after reading posts in this Forum. Once restored it smoked my modded B&K gear and got me into tubes and vintage audio. Plus I got a sweet deal on an absolutely mint condition one.
     
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  18. Jim G.

    Jim G. Geezer with a nice stereo!

    I've always had good luck with stereo equipment. When I came home with a new... and my wife would moan, I would point out the cost per day of stereo equipment and she would usually relent and say ok. She is a big music fan, and that helps. Over the years I had, an Advent 300 receiver that i drove a SAE 31b with. A NAD 3020, Nakamichi tape decks, Klipsch hereseys and then La Scalas. Now Magnepans, Audio Research, etc. Really, just pennies a day over the years. The best bargain in entertainment. IMHO
     
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  19. tricka

    tricka Member

    Location:
    Sydney
    Hmmm. my Spendor SA1's or LS3/5a's, which seem to survive all the comings and goings of hardware, and never fail to put a smile on my face. For when I want to listen to music and not worry about hi fi.
     
    Gordon Johnson likes this.
  20. Nate

    Nate Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I had a 16.5 for a while. I then sold it for very nearly what I paid.

    Fast forward a few years I see one on A'gon in my area described as a mint demo. I looked at it- looked new and bought it for less than I sold my 1st 16.5

    Definitely ranks as one of my better purchases
     
  21. gojira

    gojira Active Member

    Location:
    Kathmandu, Nepal
    I have one of these that I had inherited from my father. He bought his new when visiting Japan. It still is in mint condition and a great deck. Was going to include my SAE Mark XXXIB amp and XXX pre as best purchases but the amp blew the left channel last year and given my current location, remains inoperable.
     
  22. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    You have a point. ;)
     
  23. gojira

    gojira Active Member

    Location:
    Kathmandu, Nepal
    hey-meditation helps me to forget or as my guru would advise-become 1 with the music.........:D
     
  24. Archimago

    Archimago Forum Resident

    Yup. This. Got into computer audio server and never looked back! Using Transporter these days with a Touch in storage.
     
  25. tomd

    tomd Senior Member

    Location:
    Brighton,Colorado
    My Coincident Audio Dynamo 34se El34 single ended headphone amp.Got it at the introductory price of $999.Have it running just the mid/tweeters of my VSA Vr4jr mrk3 speakers.Midrange to die for with great immediacy ,looks Fantastic too!
     
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