The 25 Greatest Bargains in the History of Stereo...

S Clark · « **Reply #20 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 08:58 pm »

Quote from: WGH on 7 Nov 2013, 04:45 pm

The JBL L-88 speakers I bought for $168 each on July 7, 1972. the speakers were 2/3 of the famous L-100 with a 12" woofer and tweeter. Three years later I installed the LE5-2 mid-range for $56 each which turned them into L-100's. I use the speakers every day in my wood shop and they still rock!

Wayne

I was setting up my first system in those years, and those JBL's were on my short list! Bought the Large Advents instead...all a college kid could afford.

S Clark · « **Reply #21 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 09:01 pm »

18. The RMAF price of the Dodd battery preamp last year... $800?? It's still a great bargain, but dang- for under $1K??
19. Vista phono pre

mlundy57 · « **Reply #22 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 10:30 pm »

NAD 3020 Amp ($320) and Rega Planer 3 turntable ($525 with a Goldring cartridge) both bought in 1981

RDavidson · « **Reply #23 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 10:48 pm »

Quote from: mlundy57 on 7 Nov 2013, 10:30 pm

NAD 3020 Amp ($320) and Rega Planer 3 turntable ($525 with a Goldring cartridge) both bought in 1981

I've been waiting for someone to say NAD 3020. Still a great sounding and very underestimated amp today. Despite technological advancements and other great amps they've made, I'm not so sure NAD has topped its overall (tube-like) musicality.

S Clark · « **Reply #24 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 10:54 pm »

Quote from: mlundy57 on 7 Nov 2013, 10:30 pm

NAD 3020 Amp ($320) and Rega Planer 3 turntable ($525 with a Goldring cartridge) both bought in 1981

I dunno. That's pricey in a year when the average income was less than $17900... doesn't sound like a bargain.

mlundy57 · « **Reply #25 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 11:05 pm »

Compared to the other options it was, especially the amp.

S Clark · « **Reply #26 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 11:06 pm »

Got it.
#20. NAD 3020 amp

tasar · « **Reply #27 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 11:49 pm »

All tube radio, centerpiece of the home, many pieces of art, woodworking masterpieces, some sonic marvels, and all windows to the world. Best of all, priced for the masses.

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #28 on:** 7 Nov 2013, 11:51 pm »

Design Acoustic D-2 Speakers at $179.00 at Shellys Audio in LA in 1980.

Sweetest most natural midrange in the world.

jkelly · « **Reply #29 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 12:06 am »

AR XA Turntable - $78.00

cujobob · « **Reply #30 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 02:25 am »

This thread makes me regret so many things I've sold... that MAD pre, in particular (still own many of the GR/AV123 speakers)

S Clark · « **Reply #31 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 02:57 am »

Quote from: Cheeseboy on 7 Nov 2013, 11:51 pm

Design Acoustic D-2 Speakers at $179.00 at Shellys Audio in LA in 1980.

Sweetest most natural midrange in the world.

I didn't know there was another Design Acoustics fan here. I gave a pair of D6's to a friend, still own the D12's.

21. Design Acoustics D-2 speakers
22. AR XA turntable ( a truly great bargain)

Danny Richie · « **Reply #32 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 02:59 am »

X-LS kits for $109. for the PAIR!

S Clark · « **Reply #33 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 03:28 am »

Quote from: Danny Richie on 8 Nov 2013, 02:59 am

X-LS kits for $109. for the PAIR!

I thought about these, but HAL sort of beat you to it with the introductory price from AV123. However, I'll grant you that these are the Greatest CURRENT Bargain in speakers out there.

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #34 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 04:45 pm »

Quote from: S Clark on 8 Nov 2013, 02:57 am

I didn't know there was another Design Acoustics fan here. I gave a pair of D6's to a friend, still own the D12's.

21. Design Acoustics D-2 speakers
22. AR XA turntable ( a truly great bargain)

To make money in high school for Christmas i used to work in my best friends garage and we would cut MDF for Design Acoustic Speakers. His dad designed them and had the D6 in the front and D12 's in the back of a descrete 4 channel system in the family living room. I think he thought he was Amar Bose. The two way application on the D-2 was stellar.

S Clark · « **Reply #35 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 04:57 pm »

Quote from: Cheeseboy on 8 Nov 2013, 04:45 pm

To make money in high school for Christmas i used to work in my best friends garage and we would cut MDF for Design Acoustic Speakers. His dad designed them and had the D6 in the front and D12 's in the back of a descrete 4 channel system in the family living room. I think he thought he was Amar Bose. The two way application on the D-2 was stellar.

The designer of the D6, D12, and D8 was George Sioles. Is that who you are talking about?

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #36 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 05:14 pm »

Sad but I can't remember. He was my freinds step dad. I only met him once. He kicked us out of the living room and took over the system for himself. Those were very "cloudy times" for me being in high school and all.

geowak · « **Reply #37 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 05:48 pm »

Gotta throw the Vandersteen 2Ce's into the mix. Since he has been making the model 2, I think it's been the speaker that has been bought more than any other model. I have a pair of Sig II's and it's a great bargain. Also the original Rega Apollo CD player!

The 2CE Sig II is less tha 3k with stands and cables, and the Rega Apollo sold for less than $1k.

bladesmith · « **Reply #38 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 05:53 pm »

My AR speakers I bought back in 1983..

Very sweet...

Wayner · « **Reply #39 on:** 8 Nov 2013, 08:03 pm »

Great read! My list includes many products that I owned. They are and in no particular order:

AR-XA turntable
Dynaco ST-70 tube amp
Dynaco Stereo 120 SS anp
Dynaco A25XL speakers
JBL-L100 speakers
AR-4X speakers
AR-2AX speakers
AR-5 speakers
Marantz 3300 preamp
Marantz 240/250 amp
Marantz 2270 receiver
Empire 298/398/498/598/698 Turntables
Martin Logan reQuest speakers (a little spendy, but plenty worth their weight)
Sunfire amplifier (also spendy, but still a bargain)
Advent model 3 speakers
Paradigm Atom speakers
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers
Audio Technica AT440MLa cartridge
Grado Green1
Grado Gold1
Technics SL1200MKII

Wayner