QOTD: What is your best audio gear find?

Jstas
Jstas Posts: 14,806
edited December 2009 in The Clubhouse
We all do it. Scour yard sales, thrift stores, eBay and the 'gon. Among other things as well. We all have a story about finding that one rare piece and can't believe we got the deal we did! So what's your best story about finding a piece of gear?



Me? I'll answer later. I'm stuffing my face with a cheeseburger and fries from Five Guys.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire

You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    I don't really have anything rare, but i consider everything i'm running now to have been a great deal. The standout being my amp.

    My amp is the best $75 i ever spent on this hobby. While it's a little sad that it got me out of the "Adcom cool guys club," this thing annihilates the Adcoms that i've had my hands on. (That said, i haven't had my grubby little dickbeaters on the 565 or higher yet.) It's warm, has tons of slam, and seems to be equally at home playing some nice background music, critical listening in all genres, and pounding out some movies at stupid volume.

    I love it. I want to move up, but the emotional attachment may make it hard.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • KASR
    KASR Posts: 450
    edited December 2009
    CS1 for $50 new and shipped!
    Living room:
    Optoma HD20
    Elite Sable 100"
    Marantz NR1501
    Polk RM6750
    Polk Monitor 50 x 2
    Polk CS1
    2 x Polk PSW110
    2x Sennheiser RS120
    Toshiba HD-A20 x 2
    Vizio VBR220
    Sony CDP-CE375
    Xbox 360 Elite
    --
    Bedroom:
    Olevia 242T
    Sony BDP-S370
    Xbox 360 Pro
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  • everpress
    everpress Posts: 862
    edited December 2009
    $50 Thrift Store... My 11TL's...

    ? Harmon Kardon AVR 55 (dead; replacing with Onkyo TX NR-616)
    ? Polk RTA 11TL's (FR and FL)
    ? Polk TSi200's (RR and RL)
    ? Polk CS10 (Center)
    ? Polk PSW-350
    ? Grado SR-60i Headphones
    ? Fii0 E5 headphone amp
    ? iPod touch (8 gig)
    ? iPod Classic (80 gig)
    ? Mac Mini (as media server)
    ? xbox 360
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    This week it's a perfect Carver MXR-130 for $3.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2009
    B&O S45-2, almost mint pair, setting by the trash can on a street in Ankeny IA
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited December 2009
    my Marantz 2270. came with Marantz Imperial 6 speakers. All have been trouble free since 94, when i got them at a garage sale for $25! the 2270 has needed just 2 repairs of wear out items. makes me happy every time i see those blue lights. now, it's 'hot-rodded' with an Adcom 555 amp:cool:
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    My Spectral DMC 10G. Back in the mid '80s I was searching out dealers for my clamp and I gave exclusive rights to sell to a dealer in California as a result he sold me the brand new $3000 Spectral for $1500.
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  • abstruz
    abstruz Posts: 18
    edited December 2009
    I found LSI'S 25 at Fry's one week after my house burned NEW for 399 and the extended 5 yr for 10 dollars extra ! Although I haven't heard them play one note yet that is about to change . Just ordered my last piece to my system this morning , so going to ring in the New Year " LOUD and CLEAR "
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  • domflane
    domflane Posts: 653
    edited December 2009
    Its nothing special, but my I got my PSW650 for $200 on craigslist. My AVR was pretty sweet too, $250 for a HK AVR354 as a floor model with a full warranty.

    BTW,
    (That said, i haven't had my grubby little dickbeaters on the 565 or higher yet.)
    That was the funniest thing I've read all day.
    Home Theater
    RTiA5 - CSiA6 - FXiA6 - PSW650 - Pioneer Elite SC-55 - Carver AV-505 - Sony 46" 120Hz - Monster HP 2400 - Xbox 360 - Playstation 3
    2 Channel
    Polk RTA 15TL - Harman Kardon HK3485 - HK DVD48 - Signal Cable IC's and speaker cables
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    I dont have much but probably my f/x500i's for $55 on craigslist.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2009
    George Grand wrote: »
    This week it's a perfect Carver MXR-130 for $3.

    I googled "Carver MXR-130" and the first hit is -
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9861

    Definitely a good read.
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  • raidersrule76
    raidersrule76 Posts: 471
    edited December 2009
    My 2.3 tl from a club member not a great deal but none the less they were within 3 hrs of my house. They were still a good deal for me tho.

    Mark
    Sig to be updated after dealing with the insurance company:(:(:(
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  • Zitro
    Zitro Posts: 864
    edited December 2009
    Nothing extravagant, but my first pair of nice speakers were a pair of Klipsch SF-1, almost brand new, for $90 on Craigslist. Retailed for $600. Selling them now though as I like my Polks better :)
    - Jeremy

    Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
    Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
    Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    Not one of the finer moments here at Club Polk eh Dave?

    The MXR-130 was the one called The Carver Receiver. It later morphed into The Carver Receiver 150.
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited December 2009
    John,
    I was hoping for something with a little spice from you today :rolleyes:

    The answer or reply to the topic is not a damn thing I keep getting screwed at every turn down and around the hole.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    The Marantz "Esotec" power amp and preamp like new in boxes for $5/pair?
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited December 2009
    Advent 300 receiver for $5 at a garage sale.

    A pair of Vandersteen 1's for $50, actually the owner offered them to me for free, but after much negotiation, I insisted he take $50 to take his family to a fish fry that night (a Wisconson Friday tradition).
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    The Apt Holman preamp for $10?
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    The entire NAD/Yamaha rig, minus speakers for $2?
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    The AR-4x I just recently got that have never been out of the boxes? I'd post a price, but I just can't.
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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited December 2009
    That would have to be the mint full SRT system I picked up, traded a desktop pc I had sitting around for it. :D

    I tell you that was Karma at work because a few months earlier I drove all the way to Reno for an SRT system and it was beat to hell with a loose flapping spider on one of the bass modules woofers. I passed on the deal after driving 300 miles one way ( At least we stayed gambling in Reno ) , but a fellow forum member went and grabbed the set .

    A few months down the road I was at a friends house , and a client of his that lived on the same golf course as my friend said she had some big ugly speakers to get rid of that were her late husbands. It was like opening the garage door and seeing an original Shelby Cobra staring you in the face....I asked her how much and she said she needed a computer.

    They were the polar opposite of the beat to hell set in Reno, these were in a storage bedroom...covered ...and looked ( And smelled ) like they were just taken out of the boxes. The ones in Reno looked like they spent a week in the back of a pickup loose driven around town.


    That would have to be my alltime best audio score....a close second would be my 2 pairs of mint big boy SRS's ( One set oak and the other walnut ) I got for 600/oak and the walnut pair for 500.
    The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
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  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited December 2009
    Club Polk is my greatest audio find.

    Not even lying.
    MrNightly wrote: »
    "Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
    My System:


    TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
    HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server.
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2009
    RT55's black in mint condition for $50 on Craigslist.

    or my Rotel RC-972 for $6 from the thrift store.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,536
    edited December 2009
    Probably my $20 Toshiba DVD player doing CD duties on the patio rig.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • suprafantx
    suprafantx Posts: 249
    edited December 2009
    This is what I scored like 4 years ago.

    2 Monitor 40 speakers.
    2 Monitor 30 speakers.
    1 CS1 center speaker.
    1 PSW10 sub.

    All brand new for 225 bucks.
    Living room
    Speakers: McIntosh XR100 Fronts, LSIM707 Fronts, LSIM 706 Center, LSIM 703 Surrounds, LSi/FX Surround backs.
    Player: Oppo 95.
    Amps: Bryston 4B SST, B&K Ref 200.7 S2.
    Pres: B&K Ref 50 S2, Paraound P5.
    Subs: Dual Rythmik F15HP subs.

    Man Cave
    Speakers: Martin Logan Vistas.
    Player: OPPO 105.
    Preamp: B&K Ref 50 S2.
    Amp: B&K Ref 125.2 S2
    Sub: Rythmik F12.
    Sub management: SMS-1.
    Headphones: HD800, HD380, RS220, SRH-1840. Headphone amp: Woo WA2.
    Room treatment: GIK Room Kit #1.
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  • gtu2004
    gtu2004 Posts: 620
    edited December 2009
    not much at all

    i don't have such luck w/ audio equipment

    but i did get an acurus 100x3 for $120 shipped...

    and i'm probably gonna be flamed for this but i consider my MFW-15 for $450 shipped a great deal as well...
    Onkyo 805, RtiA5s, Csi5, Rti6s
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited December 2009
    Back in the early 80's I picked up a used Kenwood KA-9100 integrated amp.

    kenwood_ka-9100.jpg

    What a gem that was....I should never have sold it! :(

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • woodsman10b
    woodsman10b Posts: 408
    edited December 2009
    A few to tell...1st my Onkyo a7022 integrated that I just got last week for $71, then my Monitor 7's series II for $50, and some JBL 2600 bookshelves for $7, and last my Mirage PS8 prestige sub for $52 via ebay(seller only had it listed as a Prestige sub without Mirage anywhere in the listing).
    Most of them only hear how loud it sounds, and the rest of us hear everything else - :rolleyes:
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    woodsman10b wrote: »
    A few to tell...1st my Onkyo a7022 integrated that I just got last week for $71, then my Monitor 7's series II for $50, and some JBL 2600 bookshelves for $7, and last my Mirage PS8 prestige sub for $52 via ebay(seller only had it listed as a Prestige sub without Mirage anywhere in the listing).

    Arg. I want that sub. Bad.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited December 2009
    For now, it's the $99.00 NOS (new old stock) Sony TA-S7 integrated amp that I found in a TV/appliance store about 2 years ago. Here're some internet pics (amp pictured is not mine)

    632490_1.jpg
    SONY-TA-S7_3.JPG

    While the amp doesn't have an "ES" designation in its model number, the warranty that came with the amp does indicate "ES" pedigree. Since the store was an authorized Sony dealer, I called Sony to see if they would honor the warranty of a "new" 20 year old piece of audio component....and Sony would indeed stand behind its product!

    I also got the matching CDP-S7 for the same price (again, another internet pic - not my player).
    278864_1.jpg
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