What's your best audio deal ever?

[BottomFeeder]

By that I mean:

1. What's the best $ deal you've gotten on a great piece of gear?
(For me, it's my mint RTA12C's for $75. I know, you've got me beat! Most do; I'm a newbie)

2. What piece of gear made the biggest difference in your system?
(For me, it's my NAD C320Bee. I know, it's entry level, but the difference it made from my 20 year old Denon receiver was astonishing)

Thanks for your input. I think it will really help educate people like me who're really just getting started in this hobby. So thanks!

[rskarvan]

Thiel 3.6's.... $1200 with all new drivers and very nicely refinished cabinets (not even the slightest scratch).

[AndyGwis]

Damn, rskarvan, helluva deal.

I got my Thiels for well under blue book as well. Maybe not the "best deal" I've ever gotten, but close to it.

I got a Carver M4.0t for $60 (guy only wanted $50, but I told him to keep the extra $10). He also had a minty Sunfire amp for $550 (still a great deal) but didn't seem quite a good a deal as the Carver so I passed.

Capecodder and George Grand could probably write books with the deals they've found. . . I'm just a rookie in this all-star game.

[Face]

I've had a few lately. McIntosh MC-7270 in great shape with case, $1200. Triad Silver Onwall Surrounds, $300 NIB.

The best was a pair of Tannoy Saturn S8's and a Saturn S8C, all new in box for $500.

[kkerley33]

Newbie here but this is my best deal.

At an H.H. Gregg in Indiana that was having a remodeling sale I picked up two Acoustic Research 315HO, two AR 308HO's and a matching CS25HO center channel for $750.00. At that time, the retail on the 5 speakers was almost $3000.00. These were end of model year demo's purchased new with warranty and still grace the HT in my Den. The store manager said make an offer and that was the number I threw out.

You would be hard pressed to buy those same 5 speakers today for less than that amount and these were purchased 9 years ago.

They were replaced with the AR1, the AR11 and the AR4C shortly after I bought them, but still a steel.

[heiney9]

In 1987 I bought a mint Nakamichi Dragon from a customer whose wife thought it was too complicated to use. He ended up getting a Yamaha dual cassette deck to replace it. The Dragon at the time retailed for $2200 and I bought it from my customer for $475 and it had hardly been used. I had sold it to him about 9 mos. earlier as a package deal for around $1975. The $475 is what the store I worked for at the time would have given him as used trade in, so that's the price I bought it from him for.

That's the best deal on one of the best pieces of equipment (for it's kind) that I've owned.

H9

[VSOPJ]

Recently, I got a brand new pair of RTi10 for 499$ CAN in a authorized retailer. So, I get to have my cake and eat it. The correct price should have been 1149$, but for some reason, a clerk priced it wrong. It just so happened that I was walking by. I didnt really needed it, but I smelled the bargain. However, It forced me to buy a RMB1095 though...retail. Ouch

[JimBRICK]

My best deal with the Heresy's I got for free for doing an afternoon's work for my dads friend. My nakamichi cdp-2a was a good deal too, 30 bucks and going on ebay for 350 bucks right now
http://cgi.ebay.ca/New-Nakamichi-CD-Player-Compact-Disc-CDP-2A_W0QQitemZ190148971488QQihZ009QQcategoryZ3272QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[appadv]

My best audio deal was on a pair of Definitive Tech BP10Bs from Vr3MxStyler2k3 (aka Trey). Got them for $550.

[Keiko]

100.00 smacks for a slightly used 27" Sony Wega. Second TV for the bedroom.

219.00 for my RTi6's.

[markmarc]

In 1987, I picked up new in sealed boxes the Harman Kardon separates 870 amp, 825 preamp, and the 915 tuner for $600, they normally sold for $1500 as a group.

[McLoki]

$525 for 4 channels of my Cinepro 3k6. (not including the additional $275 to fix the remaining two channels....)

and of course the $30 for my Monitor 10's (series II even).

Michael

[Shizelbs]

$400 for my Carver Amazings.

[JimBRICK]

$400 for my Carver Amazings.

hey werent you selling those carvers on here for 800

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56879

[rskarvan]

Oh.... my Monitor 10 series 2's from Scot Trigg were $100 with original Polk stands. The drivers were in need of serious upgrading back to MW6503's. But, still.... There is no better bargain than a set of Monitor 10's on original tilt stands for $100. Even with the four $10 parts express generic plastic drivers... they sounded pretty darn good.

[McLoki]

hey werent you selling those carvers on here for 800

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56879

This kind of stuff has been brought up before.... If you are selling something to other polkies below market value - You are giving them a good deal. If you sell it below market value and it happens to be more than you paid - is it no longer a deal?

Who said profit was bad? If you can get something here cheaper than you can from somewhere else and from someone you kind of know and trust - jump on it. Why would you pay more somewhere else just for the benefit of not knowing how much the original owner paid??

I just don't get it.... $800 seems to be a good deal for a pair of carver amazings. If you don't agree, point out the significant savings that can be had by purchasing elsewhere (via PM please...) and I am sure the price will be adjusted...

[reeltrouble1]

Yea, Shelby is an A-1 member who has done many things on this forum for member's gratis, as in for nothing. 8 Franklins for Amazings is a great deal. 4 is robbery, you going to jail on that one dude.

RT1

[JimBRICK]

This kind of stuff has been brought up before.... If you are selling something to other polkies below market value - You are giving them a good deal. If you sell it below market value and it happens to be more than you paid - is it no longer a deal?

Who said profit was bad? If you can get something here cheaper than you can from somewhere else and from someone you kind of know and trust - jump on it. Why would you pay more somewhere else just for the benefit of not knowing how much the original owner paid??

I just don't get it.... $800 seems to be a good deal for a pair of carver amazings. If you don't agree, point out the significant savings that can be had by purchasing elsewhere (via PM please...) and I am sure the price will be adjusted...



sounds like a different story than when I put my grand wega on here for 1200 bucks and its was retailing for 1500 and everyone jumped on me cause I won it at work? Hows that any different? I got slammed but about 20 members that I was bad Karma

[janmike]

I am not sure I have had any deals that would make you go WOW, but I would have to say the Proac Response 2.5's for $1600 would be near the top. Not a killer dealer, but below the blue book $ for sure.

[Spacedeckman]

$5 for a pair of Stax 3a headphones with the driver box.

Mark

[danger boy]

Over the years i've gotten a few pretty decent deals here and there... not the deals of the century.. but all it all good deals that would have cost me alot more dinero had I not found the deals.

Latest is my garage sale SDA2A's for $40. Good deal, not in the sale league as say a pair of Carver Amazings or a really beefy amp or TOTL pre amp or turntable.

But there are still some good deals out there.. but they are few and far between, at least for me they seem to be anyways.

[danger boy]

$5 for a pair of Stax 3a headphones with the driver box.

Mark

Dang dude... that is a killer find. You are my hero :p

[Spacedeckman]

Dang dude... that is a killer find. You are my hero :p

I was a bit freaked. I saw the 'phones, and pulled the wire, and out of a pile of crap came the box with the owners manual taped on top. Wanted to offer more money, but I didn't know if they worked, and no way to test them. Brought them home, hooked them up, and they didn't work. I just about sheeeit. Thought about electrostat speakers, and decided to let them cook for a bit. Got some sound out of them an hour later, and by morning they were damn good. Got back from work and they made my Grado SR80s sound like dog doo, and SR80s are NICE 'phones.

Mark

[danger boy]

I was a bit freaked. I saw the 'phones, and pulled the wire, and out of a pile of crap came the box with the owners manual taped on top. Wanted to offer more money, but I didn't know if they worked, and no way to test them. Brought them home, hooked them up, and they didn't work. I just about sheeeit. Thought about electrostat speakers, and decided to let them cook for a bit. Got some sound out of them an hour later, and by morning they were damn good. Got back from work and they made my Grado SR80s sound like dog doo, and SR80s are NICE 'phones.

Mark

right on... so what would the value of those phones with the driver box be? I just like knowing this stuff.. :cool:

[greg2350]

free pair of polk RT600 for taking care of a friends dog while he was away in china for four months.

Denon avr2500 $10 blown fuse replaced fuse works great

psw404 sub floor model $200

[treitz3]

"The clamp". SACD. Sorbethane Risers.

[1422]

New in the boxes RTi10's for $299.00 CAN for 2 yesterday at Future Shop on a clearance sale. They had a total of 3 sets the day before (according to the salesman) but I didn't notice the sale untill I went back into the store the next day and by then there was only 1 set left which I scooped up immediately. Also got a demo set of RTi6's for $89.00. Happy, happy, happy! 1422

[JimBRICK]

New in the boxes RTi10's for $299.00 CAN for 2 yesterday at Future Shop on a clearance sale. They had a total of 3 sets the day before (according to the salesman) but I didn't notice the sale untill I went back into the store the next day and by then there was only 1 set left which I scooped up immediately. Also got a demo set of RTi6's for $89.00. Happy, happy, happy! 1422

awesome,thats over 1500 bucks worth of speakers retail

[dane_peterson]

I just picked up my Energy Veritas 2.3s for $700. :D

[BottomFeeder]

Over the years i've gotten a few pretty decent deals here and there... not the deals of the century.. but all it all good deals that would have cost me alot more dinero had I not found the deals.

Latest is my garage sale SDA2A's for $40. Good deal, not in the sale league as say a pair of Carver Amazings or a really beefy amp or TOTL pre amp or turntable.

But there are still some good deals out there.. but they are few and far between, at least for me they seem to be anyways.

Gotta disagree w/you here, DB! $40 for a pair of SDA2A's sure looks incredible to me!

[landry_p2000]

Svs pb10-isd for $250, and I think it retailed for about $429 on the svs website at the time. Still enjoying it.:D

[danger boy]

yes.. but i reallly only find a good deal about once a year or so.. i'm not complaining about the $40 SDA's. but if I could find more of those deals.. i'd be a happy happy guy.
selfish i know. ;)

[BottomFeeder]

Keep'em comin' boys & girls!

(aka "bump!")

[hearingimpared]

Brand spanking new SME V tonearm, $1,080.

[ViperZ]

Probably my Adcom GFA-5400 for 120.

[cmy330go]

Through a sales promo I got all my LSi speakers with sub for free. Then a year later got the same deal again and then sold the first set. (insert evil laugh)

Besides that, my best deal would probably be the Sutherland PH-2000 and PH.d phono stages that I bought earlier this summer. Only $2750 for both!:D

[hearingimpared]

Besides that, my best deal would probably be the Sutherland PH-2000 and PH.d phono stages that I bought earlier this summer. Only $2750 for both!:D

I wish!

[capecodder]

I wasn’t going to bite on this one since this topic has been the “theme” of many of my posts about my yard sale finds. But, I couldn’t resist. Kinda in reverse chronological order. I appologize to those that have seen these items posted before. Items with * are in active use.

What was the best “deal”? Hell if I know, you tell me.

All exc cond.:
Polk Model 7C Series2- $7 *
Polk Model 7-$7 *
ADS L470/2 speakers- $15 *

All the following for $30:
NAD 3150 Integrated Amp- Exc Cond
NAD 4150 Tuner- Exc Cond
NAD 6125 Cassette Deck- ultimately didn’t work
Linn Kan small bookshelf speakers (repainted cabinets and 2nd pair I now have) *

All following for $1,400 and in exc cond (most I’ve ever spent at one estate sale, original receipts (most from 1988) for this equipment was almost $7,000):
Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Ittok tonearm and Linn K9 mm cartidge *
Linn Kan cherry bookshelf speakers-mint
Naim NAP90 amp (45wts/chnl)
Naim NAC62 pre-amp with Naim interconnects
Creek T-40 Tuner
Niles SI-1200 12 channel zone amp
Denon DCD-1290 cd player *

And then some random yard sale grabs:
Polk SDA CRS+ (and why I follow this forum): $30 *
Polk Mdl 4 speakers-$20
KEF C15 speakers-$10
Denon DP 52F direct drive turntable w/ Signet cartridge- $10
Sony TA 2000 (Top of line vintage 1968 preamp)- $40 *
NAD 218THX 225wt+/ch amp- $75 *
Adcom gft555II tuner- $35
Nakamichi Music Bank 8 cd player- $30 *
Magnepan 1.5QR speakers- $125
HSU HRSW10 subwoofer w/ amp- $50 *
Technics D205 TT (w/ nice B&O MMC 20CL-B cartridge worth used upwards of $250)- $15 *
AGI Model 511 vintage Preamp- $40*
Dynaco 410 200wt/ch amp- $50 *
Sansui TU-999 tuner- trade to a dealer for a $20 plate he wanted *
Pioneer SX-1050 receiver- $25 *
Vintage Electrovoice 15TRX (15” Alnico triaxial speakers in custom cherry cabinets)- $25 *
H.H. Scott 222C tube integrated amp- very clean $20 *
Vintage Sansui AU and TU 517 amp and tuner- $40 pair

[McLoki]

Damn - my hat goes off to you. Just goes to show folks - you create your own luck....

Excellent grabs all....

[hearingimpared]

I wasn’t going to bite on this one since this topic has been the “theme” of many of my posts about my yard sale finds. But, I couldn’t resist. Kinda in reverse chronological order. I appologize to those that have seen these items posted before. Items with * are in active use.

What was the best “deal”? Hell if I know, you tell me.

All exc cond.:
Polk Model 7C Series2- $7 *
Polk Model 7-$7 *
ADS L470/2 speakers- $15 *

All the following for $30:
NAD 3150 Integrated Amp- Exc Cond
NAD 4150 Tuner- Exc Cond
NAD 6125 Cassette Deck- ultimately didn’t work
Linn Kan small bookshelf speakers (repainted cabinets and 2nd pair I now have) *

All following for $1,400 and in exc cond (most I’ve ever spent at one estate sale, original receipts (most from 1988) for this equipment was almost $7,000):
Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Ittok tonearm and Linn K9 mm cartidge *
Linn Kan cherry bookshelf speakers-mint
Naim NAP90 amp (45wts/chnl)
Naim NAC62 pre-amp with Naim interconnects
Creek T-40 Tuner
Niles SI-1200 12 channel zone amp
Denon DCD-1290 cd player *

And then some random yard sale grabs:
Polk SDA CRS+ (and why I follow this forum): $30 *
Polk Mdl 4 speakers-$20
KEF C15 speakers-$10
Denon DP 52F direct drive turntable w/ Signet cartridge- $10
Sony TA 2000 (Top of line vintage 1968 preamp)- $40 *
NAD 218THX 225wt+/ch amp- $75 *
Adcom gft555II tuner- $35
Nakamichi Music Bank 8 cd player- $30 *
Magnepan 1.5QR speakers- $125
HSU HRSW10 subwoofer w/ amp- $50 *
Technics D205 TT (w/ nice B&O MMC 20CL-B cartridge worth used upwards of $250)- $15 *
AGI Model 511 vintage Preamp- $40*
Dynaco 410 200wt/ch amp- $50 *
Sansui TU-999 tuner- trade to a dealer for a $20 plate he wanted *
Pioneer SX-1050 receiver- $25 *
Vintage Electrovoice 15TRX (15” Alnico triaxial speakers in custom cherry cabinets)- $25 *
H.H. Scott 222B tube integrated amp- very clean $20 *
Vintage Sansui AU and TU 517 amp and tuner- $40 pair

Will you marry me?:eek: :D

[capecodder]

Will you marry me?:eek: :D

Please don't take this the wrong way Joe, but, uhhh, no I won't.;)

[Ricardo]

Excluding the many karmas I've been lucky enough to win, I'd have to say that the best deals I've had were the SRS and 1.2TL's I got for $800 and $1,300, both from the same seller.

[brodiem]

Pair of Polk RTA-11TL + pair of Paradigm Mini-mk3 - $100 for all

Outlaw 750 (5x250@4,5x165@8) - $120 (although one bad channel)

[Robc in WI]

Old newbie. Bought my stuff at the base exchange in Japan 20 years ago. Brand new Polk SRS 2's (Walnut)$1400 for the pair, demo Yamaha C-2X pre-amp $400, new Denon POA 2200 (300 watts per ch. into 4 ohms) $300. The real steal was the C-2x which sold stateside for about $1300 retail and is considered to be a collectors item in Japan these days. The SRS 2's are bone stock and are the earlier version that isn't bi-ampable. I had no clue that people were doing the kind of upgrades to the SRS that I have read about here. I would love to stumble across a cheap pair of Monitor 10s.

[bdaley6509]

Mint Infinity SM-152's for 50 bucks at a garage sale.

[steveinaz]

Probably when I got my first MF A3CR for $625 shipped. It was only 3 months old and in mint condition.

[AndyGwis]

Capecodder and George Grand could probably write books with the deals they've found. . . I'm just a rookie in this all-star game.

Looks like I was right about Codder. Great post, great snags. GG, where's your list at?

I emailed a guy on Austin CL this morning about some Carver AL-IIIs for $300, but they were already spoken for. Would've made the list for me. I once had a Rotel RCC-945 for $46, resold for $260. Or, a Sony SCD-C222ES I got for $61 + $20 shipping.

[lanion]

My Totem Mites in mahagony for $350. Not a spectacular deal, but the best bang for buck I have gotten yet in audio.

[W WALDECKER]

I bought my Balanced Audio Technology VK60 tube power amplifier for $1099.00. the seller said that it worked perfectly but that he was selling it "as is "because the rivets around the transformers had worked loose when he moved it across the country. the so called rivets were actually #10 torx screws which only took me a few seconds to tighten :D . I bought eight Brand new Russian 6C33C-B power triodes for it from a guy on E-Bay in the UK for $14.99 each plus shipping.Music Direct and BAT want $115.00 each for the exact same tubes.life is good! thanks....WCW III

[hearingimpared]

I bought my Balanced Audio Technology VK60 tube power amplifier for $1099.00.

That is a nice snag. I've been wanting to get a listen to BAT gear and will get an opportunity at Ted's next month.

[snow]

Ok here goes.... SDA SRS 1.2tls $600.00 JBL-L112s $65.00 JBL-L100 centurys $75.00 Marantz-2270 $5.00 Pioneer HPM-900s $40.00 Pioneer F-91 elite tuner $40.00

REGARDS SNOW

[hearingimpared]

Ok here goes.... SDA SRS 1.2tls $600.00 JBL-L112s $65.00 JBL-L100 centurys $75.00 Marantz-2270 $5.00 Pioneer HPM-900s $40.00 Pioneer F-91 elite tuner $40.00

REGARDS SNOW

my goodness you theif you!!!:D :p

[Lainar]

My best deal is not as good as some here however I did recently aquire a Parasound 1205A Power Amp for $195 in mint condition. Pretty good deal and my first foray in Power Amps.

[snow]

My best deal is not as good as some here however I did recently aquire a Parasound 1205A Power Amp for $195 in mint condition. Pretty good deal and my first foray in Power Amps. GOOD DEAL!!!

2 thumbs up.


REGARDS SNOW

[snow]

my goodness you theif you!!!:D :p Yes I was going to offer him $500.00 for the 1.2tls but I figured he might shoot me :eek: :D :eek:

Or even worse not sell them to me at all and kick me out of his house lmaooooo.

REGARDS SNOW

[analog97]

To me, my 1.2TL's at $1800 (+ new tweets) are my all-time best deal. This is the best spent 2 grand in the 2-channel audio world. Apart from that, I built a Hagerman Audio Cornet2 phono pre-amp (4-tubes) w/upgraded Auricaps (total under $600). These components are just unbeatable for this kinda dough. But, the "choir" here already knows about the big SDA's. If anyone needs a phono pre-amp, look at the Hagerman product.

[Jonesy]

These first two may be cheating as they were from friends but I got a pair of incredibly minty Polk Monitor 5jr+ gratis and a nice Carver PM-175 for $1.

This may not be a deal now that the new 600 series has come out but I got an as new pair of B&W 604s3's delivered from Milwaukee for $900 ($1400 retail) a couple years ago.

[BottomFeeder]

Man! Great deals everyone!

I'm inspired to look for / work for more deals!

Just knowing that these great deals CAN be had motivates me to get more of my own!

Thanks, my peeps!

[Spacedeckman]

right on... so what would the value of those phones with the driver box be? I just like knowing this stuff.. :cool:

These date from the early 70s, but the new version is $1300. Very comfortable, can wear them all day

Mark

[heiney9]

Almost forgot.

Monitor 5b's gotten from a local Polkie for $35 with nice stands. I use them in my office rig.

H9

[avguytx]

Let's see. These are my better deals. Some I kept, some I sold to fund new things.

Pioneer SX-1980 for $10 (sold this after a few months for an "undisclosed amount")
Carver C-2 pre and M-1.0t amp for $17 at a garage sale last summer
Polk Monitor 10B's for $3 at the same garage sale as above.
Altec Lansing Valencia 846b's for $200. Tried to like them...didn't. Sold 'em.
Polk SDA SRS2's for $200 (yeah, recent)
Polk SDA 2.3's for $500 (yesterday)

TONS more vintage stuff that I clean up, use for awhile and either give it to friends or flip it to buy some stuff that actually stays in my main setups.

[danger boy]

I scored a pair of very minty looking SDA 2B the real wood ones.

I had to drive freakin 6 hours each way for em.. but call me crazy. ;)

no scratches, no snags, minty I tell you.

no for the bad part.. some of the drivers are DOA. I knew it before I got em.. so it wasn't a surprise or anything. but for $100 they need some drivers replaced, then they should be good to go.

Ok I'm done.. last month it was a pair of SDA 2A's, now the 2B's is what I wanted and I now have them. These came with the interconnect cable and the users manual :D

[BottomFeeder]

Yo DB!

Another hot score!

Now you've got 2A's & 2B's! What're you gonna do w/all those SDA's???

Can't wait to hear them!

[Lasareath]

Brand new Pair of Polk SDA CRS+'s for $399.99 in 1987. The local stereo store near me was selling out the older CRS's at half price and the stock boy knew me and he gave me the new speakers instead of the ones on sale.

[kuntasensei]

My audio deal for the year: I bought an Onkyo 705 receiver for $679+tax at CC. Three weeks later, a guy over at the AVSForums screen-capped a 4 hour long price drop to $549. Using his scan, I got $136 back.

So I got a THX Select receiver with Audyssey MultEQ XT for $549+tax. Can't beat that with a stick!

And I took the money I got back and bought a Harmony 880 to replace my Radio Shack 1994 remote.

[danger boy]

i replaced the SL2000 tweeters in the SDA2B's and used a mid driver from the 2A's and fired them up.. wow.... very nice sounding... much better sounding then the 2A's. :)

[billbillw]

I usually get good, if not great deals on everything I buy, otherwise, I don't buy it. So, rather than go into every deal, I'll just post what I think worked out to be a couple of the best deals.

My Denon AVR-4802. Bought it used for about $450 (was $2000 new in 2002), which was a great deal by itself. No remote, so I forked out about $90 for a brand new one. I also wisely paid about $20 for a Squaretrade warranty. Turns out there was a minor problem with the receiver. On first powering up (from cold) it takes about 4-5 minutes for the digital coax to work. After that, it works perfect. I lived with it for a while, then contacted Squaretrade about the warranty. Took it in to get diagnosed and was told it needed a new DSP board at the cost of about $600 installed. Zoiks! Squaretrade "settled" with me and I ended up getting the full purchase price back, and got to keep the receiver. Its been more than 2 years now and the problem hasn't gotten any worse. Just takes 5 minutes to warm up! So, I my deal is an almost perfect 4802 for the cost of a remote and an SQ warranty!

My VPI HW-19mk2. Bought it, there was some damage in shipping. At first it looked like it needed a new tonearm, as well as a dustcover. I ended up fixing the tonearm (it was just loose) and snagging a used dustcover for pretty cheap. Also found out it needed a bearing, but that wasn't related to the shipping damage. Prior to fixing, I filed a claim with USPS. I got a repair estimate from a local shop. Their cost to repair was about 90% of the cost I paid for the table. Eventually got a check back from USPS. Net cost for the VPI, which had a new motor and a nice Sumiko FT-3 arm, was about $250 after I put the dustcover and a new bearing into it. I have to live with some fairly minor cosmetic damage though. Most of the damage is on the back side, so I don't notice it.

[warlocks1]

I have received some great deals over the past year. Below are a few:

1.2TL's for $1100.00, seller threw in a bunch of Pioneer Elite components that I sold for $1,000.00. Ended up paying $100.00 for mint 1.2TL's

SDA SRS2 for $400.00

Martin Logan SL3's for $250.00. ($3600.00 retail) Owner said they were broken. All it was one solder joint failure. Sound terrific

Last week I bought 2 Martin Logan Fresco speakers for $300.00, (retail 2400.00 a pair), 1 Martin Logan Gratto Sub for $100.00 (retail $1200.00) and a Denon 3806 for $425.00 (retail $1300.00). Seller moved into a condo.

I am using on of the Fresco's as a center and will sell the other one.

I now have the joy of deciding where to hang out. I can go into the basement HT room and listen to the power and soundstage of the 1.2's or hang out on the main level and listen to the perfect sound of the ML's. They both sound totally different but equally as good.

[lightman1]

Pioneer 707 rtr (and the counter still works!!!!!!) and two carver M-200t's. $400. Almost pissed myself.
Any 909's out there?

[Tred]

My best audio dollar went to a fair condition 1987 Linn LP12 turntable with no tonearm and dust cover for just $175 last year. All it needed was a new motor and a thorough tuneup. I ended up with a perfect running LP12 for the final price of $350.

[hearingimpared]

Now you're talking steal!

[ilikesound]

300 smackers for a pair of RTi8's, CSi3, FXi3's, AND 200' of Monster XP. I also got my Martin Logan Dynamo fresh outta the box for 150. How insane...

[lightman1]

Just scored a pair of flawless moni 5's. $40. The guilt alone will haunt me.

[Zero]

ilikesound - what part of VA are you in ?

[danger boy]

why do I even look at garage sales anymore?? :rolleyes:

today's lovely finds..

1. Pioneer silver faced TX-7800 tuna - $5 (8/10 on condition)

2. Pioneer Elite A-88X integrated amp 120wpc, with rosewood side panels $15 (8/10 condition)

;)

[lightman1]

why do I even look at garage sales anymore?? :rolleyes:

today's lovely finds..

1. Pioneer silver faced TX-7800 tuna - $5 (8/10 on condition)

2. Pioneer Elite A-88X integrated amp 120wpc, with rosewood side panels $15 (8/10 condition)

;)

Bonus Round!!!

[danger boy]

a couple pics of the Pioneer Elite A-88X integrated amp. 3 transformers, 7 power supplies. and I think dual mono amps, 120wpc. 40 lbs of full throttle muscle ;)

[billbillw]

danger boy,
Those pre-elite Pioneer reference are very nice units. Very good build quality and nice sound from what I've heard. $15 for that amp is a steal! If its working good and cosmetically clean, you can easily get $200 on Ebay for that.

[George Grand]

Mr. Codder sure does pay top dollar for his stuff.

I don't really feel like making a big list again. A good standout would be the Marantz "Esotec" preamp and 100wpc power amp combo. Both flawless, in the orig. boxes with manuals and wrapping. $5 for the two.

Does it count when people just leave tube equipment on your desk at work?

[BottomFeeder]

Mr. Codder sure does pay top dollar for his stuff.

I don't really feel like making a big list again. A good standout would be the Marantz "Esotec" preamp and 100wpc power amp combo. Both flawless, in the orig. boxes with manuals and wrapping. $5 for the two.

Does it count when people just leave tube equipment on your desk at work?

Ah, yeah! Our judges say they'll accept that!

[WilliamM2]

I think the best deal I ever got was my SDA-1C's brand new for $1550. Might not seem like the best deal anyone has got, but they have kept me smiling for almost 19 years now. How can you beat that?

[bondslex]

I got a pretty good deal on a demo Velodyne spl1000 for $688 from Tweeter about a week ago. The retail was $1299.

I also bought a new pair of lsifx speakers for $599 from Onecall.

[capecodder]

Mr. Codder sure does pay top dollar for his stuff.
Yeah, some of my finds are pretty good but there have been a bunch of others listed that make me envious.

That score by danger boy is very nice. That would be a wonderful start of a vintage 2 chnl set up. There is an amp just like it on ebay right now with a start bid of $299 and BIN of $345. The TX 7800 tuner should also be pretty good. It got a nice write up on the fmtunerinfo web site.

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/pioneer.html

[danger boy]

I cleaned up the outside of the Pioneer A-88X amp last night.. and today i'll hook it up and take her for a test drive. The guy I bought it from had it since new.. so i'm only the second owner... he had it hooked up to some Pioneer speakers while I was there.. and I tested the buttons and knobs and didn't find any static or crackling going on.. all lights work. It needs a good inside cleaning now...

this may be one piece I end up keeping and not selling, depending on how well it drives the SDA 2B's
not that this is a big deal.. but the RCA phono inputs are gold plated it looks like.. while the rest of them are not.

[ka7niq]

I have SOO much stuff, so I wont go into every deal.
Tops on my list would be the used JVC 200 disc CD changer I gave 35 dollars to a pawn shop for.
I PLANNED to only use it in a spare room system.
However, when I compared it to TWO high end transports I learned something.
There is NO, zero, none, NADA difference.
Jitter MAY be happing in a "changer", but you can't hear it
Several blindfolded test we did among hard core audiophiles proved it to ourselves.
I dumped both the Krell transport and the Cal Audio Labs too, and use the JVC CD changer, with a great external DAC, of course.

Second would be the 100 dollars I spent for Parasound P/SP 1000 pre amp.
It has a unique feature, remote control of sub woofer output level.
ONCE you get bass level exactly right on EVERY recording, there is no going back IMHO.
I have two huge 9.5 cu ft 15" corner mounted subs that are powerful and go way down.
The Parasound is a surprisingly decent sounding preamp amp, not QUITE Tubes or a Klyne, but still decent.
The remote control of the bass level is now a MUST for me.

Third would be my two Ashly FET 500 amps, bought em for 100 each on Ebay.
Bridged, they do 1500 watts into 4 ohms!
They are old can type Mosfets amps, warm and sweet.
Built like Tanks.
Bulletproof.
I use em on only my subwoofers because I have so many amps and they are a pair.
I NEED the power.
A real shame to have em doing subwoofer duty only.
They are a REAL sleeper of an amp, easily as good or better then most so called "high end" amps.
Unfortunately, they are the ONLY pair of amps I currently own capable of this kind of power.

Fourth would be my LITE Audio DAC 72 Tube DAC.
Bought it new from China off Ebay for only 300 bucks delivered.
With NOS Mullards in it, it kicked the shit out of any and all Dacs I had.
ONLY it remains, out of 4 Dacs I once owned.

[55LS70]

Back in about 1980 or 1981 I picked up a working Marantz Model 8B for $50. I later sold it for $375.

[George Grand]

I think the best deal I ever got was my SDA-1C's brand new for $1550. Might not seem like the best deal anyone has got, but they have kept me smiling for almost 19 years now. How can you beat that?

By getting a pair of Carver Amazing Platinum Mk.IV's delivered brand new to your home from the Carver factory for $1,156, in 1991. NEXT!

[George Grand]

Or how about a NAD receiver, B&O turntable, Yamaha cd player and cassette deck, all mint, for $2.50?

I may have overpaid for that one.

[hypertone]

$2.50? What crackhead did you by that from!

[George Grand]

My favorite one.

[TroyD]

Guys, compared to George......you are all rank amateurs.

Even El Roma's mediocre deals are better than yours (and mine) best deals.

BDT

[Face]

$200 for a Camelot Arthur v3.0 new in box.