Question What is your best HiFi Bargain

[Fandango Andy]

What's the best bargain you have ever had when purchasing HiFi? Mine was Free!

About ten years ago I purchased a second hand amp form a well know auction site. When I went to collect it they explained had sold there their old 90's system to buy a shiny new one. The tuner had been sold and paid for, but the buyer had made a mistake regarding the location and no longer wanted it, did I want it, for free? I had never had much use for a radio tuner in my HiFi but thought why not, its free I can always sell it on at a later date. It even came with the original user manual.

I found myself the proud owner on a twenty year old Sony ST-S261, which sounds surprisingly good. Ten years later I still have it and use it all the time. I have made greater savings when getting things cheap, they only sell for about £20 online.

On a side note, the Amp is still going strong and in my bedroom system.

 

[Integralista]

Oh, what an interesting new thread you opened. My lovly bargains were several. Oldest still used are Koss Porta Pro "classic", repaired twice and kept in order since 1995 when I purchased them new. That time Koss celebrated 25 years since introduction, my ones were packed in special very nice Anniversary Paper card box. As mentioned they still work. I love them a lot mainly used with several CC walkmans Panasonic RQ SX55 and Sony WM EX1 were my favourite ones. Later they got intensive use on iPod Classic 160Gb from 2011 which still works perfectly. So I think iPod Classic will be my second bargain still in use. And third piece will a part if my DNA already, my amp Rega Brio mk6. I have purchased Brio mk6 twice. First time it was early "hot" piece immediately after introduction. I got amp and CD Apolo from Germany. But wife was so angry that I created second hifi system (top secret of course) that I had to return it to seller to cool down my wife. Second attempt was some 4 years ago, I purchased Brio mk6 from a friend who was having some 8 to 10 different amps. We did many comparison tests and Brio was very special for it's musicality, energy and how music was communicated to listener. And yes Brio is a real diamond in his class. I truly love it in my small system, I think more than my big 5 x more expensive amp. Greetings from Slovakia.

 

[JoelSim]

Got a 9 month old Leema Tucana 2 in 2010 for £1600 as someone put it on a 3 day eBay sale, I was the only bidder. RRP was £3,500 at the time.

Still have it.

 

[Amormusic]

Mine was a very recent purchase. Some custom made monoblocks which I bought as a bit of a punt really for £500.

I wasn't really anticipating quite how good they would be. They are simply astonishing.

These are them.

Human Verification

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

6moons audio reviews: Acoustic Energy WiFi Internet Radio

Acoustic Energy internet radio - nearly 20 years ago. Got me into internet radio - and most importantly, Radio Paradise.

 

[Cricketbat70]

I have acquired from friends, to the annoyance of Rach, a few bits of hi-fi. An old Denon mini separates system from the late 90’s. I actually replaced my Sonos Amp in the dining room with the denon. A Teac Reference 300 system currently stored in a cupboard in the cellar. My favourite although not yet used a Roksan Kandy K1 MK3 given to me by a friend because it didn't work and he was down sizing. I took it into work and all that was wrong with it was a blown cap' replaced free. Directors at work will probably be annoyed if they ever find out, they sent an email out years ago saying that staff repairs had to be charged the same as customer repairs. I think our service manager just thought ”up yours” when it comes to simple repairs.

*Edit* I forgot my early 90’s era Rega Planer 3. Again, given to me about 15 years ago not working, it sat at work for years turns out our service engineer wasn't comfortable even looking at a delicate turntable, so finally a couple of years ago I took it to Wilkinson's Hifi in Nelson and Andy fettled it.

 

[daytona600]

Mint Garrard 301 with a SME arm for a Fiver in the 1990s from a junk shop when CD was king & you could not give away a turntable
£43,945.00 for one new today

 

[plastic penguin]

Has to be the Leema Pulse. Purchased it in 2010 brand new for £750, reduced from £1300 (clearance stock from SSAV) and still use it and still sounds the dogs.

 

[R2D2]

Probably my B&W FPM speaker package for £4000, I paid £1600 as part of a bundle package from Sevenoaks Leeds in 2008.

 

[Jasonovich]

On a similar thread, I had commented about the second hand Sugden class A amp and B&W BBC monitor speakers I purchased from a junk shop for less than twenty pounds back in the days of my youth. The sound from these 12 watt amps and silky smooth speakers was like a kiss from the angels...
I won't regurgitate it again 🙂

More recently I got my Hifiman HE1000V2 headphone brand new for only ate 'ungred and fifty pounds. I originally ordered from Audio Affairs open box for the same price but they sold the last one to another customer, so they very kindly replaced with a new unopened box.

Last year RMP was £1.3K, and currently reduced to £1K something, not such a crazy deal but one that pleased me very much! 🙂

 

[RoA]

Probably a lovely condition, real wood veneered pair of Mission 752 Freedom's. £90. I travelled to London to pick them up though so add £20. A speaker built like this with the same quality drivers would likely cost ... nowadays.

Closely followed by a couple of Google Chromecast Audio's at a tenner each new.

Followed by the Audiolab 6000A which has seen off more expensive amplifiers I own/owned.

Followed by FiiO's K11 (non R2R). A bargain of a Headphone amplifier which drives both my Sennheisers and Hifiman without sweat. No need to spend more despite influencers telling you otherwise.

There are others.

 

[Jasonovich]

Probably a lovely condition, real wood veneered pair of Mission 752 Freedom's. £90. I travelled to London to pick them up though so add £20. A speaker built like this with the same quality drivers would likely cost ... nowadays.

Closely followed by a couple of Google Chromecast Audio's at a tenner each new.

Followed by the Audiolab 6000A which has seen off more expensive amplifiers I own/owned.

Followed by FiiO's K11 (non R2R). A bargain of a Headphone amplifier which drives both my Sennheisers and Hifiman without sweat. No need to spend more despite influencers telling you otherwise.

There are others.

Some people do prefer K11 non-R2R. I have the R2R version, only because I was curious about the sound signature from ladder resisters.
It's difficult to quantify is it better? I think it's different but do agree with you, it's a bargain head amp and a very nice DAC, and, what a bargain! 🙂