I'm a bargain hunter, the good deal, low price, I restored it, is part of the enjoyment every time I look at those pieces, combined with necessity: many years with little disposable income until I started my own business.
NEW
Our 1st decent stuff with Wedding Money: Receiver, TT, Speakers
A few odd new pieces over the years, mostly long ago, VCRs; TVs; Receivers. I helped put Tech HiFi out of business with their 'match any price' policy.
Remember the DAK catalog, fancy equalizer ...
Once, I received a surprise inheritance of $8,000. I bought a new Onkyo Integra Package: Receiver (1st one with a TV Tuner as well as AM/FM); Dual Cassette; CD Player (with Dual Burr Brown Processors).
My DBX Soundfield 100 Speakers "I'm just looking", "where do I pull the car around to pick them up?"
My long tonearm from Russia (chakster said "don't do it", but ....)
Cartridges, .... up to AT440ml and Shure V15VxMR, then off to CD's for many years until back to LPs.
Small stuff from Amazon, AliExpress
Sound Cards in Computers I had built or built myself back in the day.
Furman Power Controller
USED
I was lucky to inherit or been given many very good used items, some I restored. (I have given a lot to others over the years).
Wayne, a friendly salesman who worked at Harvey's, NYC alerted me when good stuff traded-in was coming out of service to their small used shelf. I kept some, mostly just such a good deal I would buy things to give to friends.
Phil, another friendly salesman at Leonard Radio who alerted me to a used pair of JSE Infinite Slope Model II speakers they got as a trade-in. He knew I loved them.
Traded with a member here a used Receiver for used Vertical TT project needing completion.
Bought much used from eBay; Reverb; US Audio Mart; Canuck Audio Mart; Yahoo Japan Auctions;
Restored much, I'm a Mr. Fixit type, fix/adjust mechanical things, not electrical, I have a multi-meter I don't know how to use. Many R2R Tape Recorders, for myself, family and friends, re-coned woofers, complete restoration of 2 pairs of AR-2ax speakers.
My pride and Joy, my TT with 3 tonearms: Plinth; Spinner; 3 Arms; SUT: all used, total cost just under $5,500. (began in 2019 when I joined this forum) (I'm forever grateful for all the help and knowledge I have gained here).
Used Cartridges, some purposely bought broken planning on having VAS upgrade them to MicroRidge on Boron Rod. Others primarily to get cantilevers otherwise unobtainable: Sapphire Tube; Beryllium Tube; Beryllium Rods ....
I think I'm done with 3 systems, but I've thought that before.
