Best bang for the buck

VPI HW-16 record cleaning machine when they first came out.  Serial Number 15.  I put the .5 upgrade package on it when it first came out also.

Had this unit for well over 40 years now.  Has cleaned thousands and thousands of records.  Still going strong.  Never any problems.

Needless to say...paid for itself many times over...

@mofimadness definitely got your money’s worth. I also have a VPI machine- they are sturdy 

Bought a used Heybrook TT2 table in 1985 with a Linn Basik tonearm. Upgraded. to an Alphason HRS-100 tonearm 10 years later for another 500$ (new) when analog was declining . Sold the table and tonearm separately last year for more than 1500$. Got my money back and more while enjoying a great turntable for 40 years. The lesson I learned over the years are 1) buy used if you can and 2) buy quality brand products in the first place that can resell fairly well.

I picked up a used Denafrips Hestia preamp for $600 a few days ago. It has toned down my system's occasionally bright side of neutral character and shifted it toward a warm-leaning neutral presentation, without compromising detail, resolution, or dynamics. So far, it has been the best bang-for-the-buck upgrade in my system. 

Today, with the help of my neighbor, we made 6 cable lifters out of hardwood blocks for $6 plus 1 hour to cut and  stain them.

They look cool and the sound stage is wider, blacker background, and the bass is tighter.