Share your best “bargain of my life” story.

[Jeremiah Sheets]

It can be a used item for a steal, or an inexpensive item that outperformed your expectations.

I found these lovely R3 (non-meta) locally for $750, all because of a few scuff marks to the veneer. Sounds absolutely perfect. Very happy to have these displace my aged 602 s3.

(This bedroom setup is temporary. I have a studio they will eventually live in now that my KH 120s are sold.)

$750! Yes please

 

[Snarfie]

Found this Bose Wave Music System III at a thrift store last week at a bargain price 10,- euro. No remote control so only cd was working at a minimum sound volume that you can't increase or decrease.
Luckely enough i found a Remote control app for my phone so the Bose Wave came a live. DAB radio included.

https://imgur.com/ki2b6kB

 

[Penelinfi]

I got a heavy and sought after turntable "thrown in for free" upon collecting other free stuff. Not really a vinyl person, but it's a nice machine

 

[Bleib]

More recently...as a complete list would be way too long
Topping D10s for 35euro
Audioengine 5+ for 50euro

 

[Blumlein 88]

I don't know whether to say Quad esl 63s for $1500 or Fisher integrated tube amp for $3.

 

[antcollinet]

Here is mine:

Your vintage audio bargains. Show us pics.

So of course, I'm making this thread since I've just scored mine. A Marantz CD 52 MKII - roughly 1990/91 vintage. Unbelievable condition for the age. The protective film was still on the gloss plastic over the display and around the upper buttons. Appears to work perfectly : Reads TOC in about...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[SIY]

I don't know whether to say Quad esl 63s for $1500 or Fisher integrated tube amp for $3.

I paid $1800 for my Quad 988 (which were in like-new condition), so I'm close.

The NHT M3.3s that I modded were bought for $500, with two extra left speakers and several extra sets of drivers thrown in.

 

[Sokel]

Neumann MCM 114 for 120 euro (used but practically new)

 

[Vacceo]

My current Marantz SR6010 got home second hand for a couple hundred euros. It has substituted a 20 year old Denon AVR that died after two decades of faithful service. Sure, it's old and limited, but gets the job done.

 

[tw 2022]

i found a pair of infinity crescendo 3006's sitting on a sidewalk , just waiting for me to take them home...very nice vintage 3 ways

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Old story. A work friend, knowing that I was interested in audio, told me he saw a pile of stuff at the curb last night, so he loaded it into his car. He had no idea what it was. From that cache, we divided up a nice pair of a/d/s 2-way metal box loudspeakers (which the finder kept), a shabby but fully functional pair of AR-3 loudspeakers (which went into the shop at the lab) and a lovely Marantz 8 power amp (which I had for decades).

 

[ivayvr]

Logitech Squeezebox Duet that started my streaming career some 8-9 years ago sold by local auctioneer, brand new, sealed for CAD$ 130!

Logitech® Squeezebox Duet

Wireless digital music player

www.crutchfield.ca

 

[Gorgonzola]

A couple of things: hard choice ...

My Zaph Audio ZRT speakers, DIY, which cost me about US$1800 to build. Beats commercially built speakers at at least twice the price.

My VTV Stereo Purifi 1ET400A amplifier with VTV buffer and Sparkos SS3602 op amps; my best amp ever, beating my previous Pass Labs X150.5. The VTV cost about US$1600 including the Sparkos op amps.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Riva Concert $50 refurb. It was in like new condition. List price was around $200. I've been using it as a bedside speaker for about 3 years. It's comparable to Sonos speakers. The company has been in a weird limbo since 2020 or so. The web site and phone number are still in service. They don't answer phone calls or emails. There was as sale on a very limited quantity of speakers last fall. It was the first activity on the web site since I got the speaker.

 

[Power Pop 23]

A combination of a 'U.S. spec' Apple audio dongle driving a pair of TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero 'Red' IEMs for less than $65 in '2024' dollars

 

[Chester]

A new pair of Revel F208s for £2000, just as the pandemic kicked in and dealers here were worried about all the stock they were holding.

 

[Joe Smith]

Fully restored & mint Marantz 2216 receiver, purchased from an audio friend (he'd done the restore) for $130.

ADS L520 speakers, working and in good condition, $70. ADS L420 speakers, working but missing the cloth grills, $60.

(And I'm glad as hell I bought both pairs from the same guy...because in my part of the Midwest, there have been no other ADS to buy for a long, long while.)

 

[napfkuchen]

Adam Artist 5 (Adam A5X for home/hifi use), got a pair with stands for 400 Euro.

Not hifi related, at least it's also electronics: When TFT monitors were new to the market I was really interested in a Eizo 17" model. One day it was listed by a shop for 350 Euro while the regular price was more than 1.000 Euro. Did not hesitate a second and ordered 5. Sold them after a short test, viewing range and response times were awful.

 

[Bucking]

Got a pair of Kef Q350s for 200€ pretty good I guess

 

[HarmonicTHD]

My 911 is now more worth than I bought it for and it sounds great. ;-)