Best bang for the buck

Lil Feat mixtape I made for my future wife - ) sticking around 36 years on….  

Just in case anyone thought I was being serious...

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 .

...and the Softone Model 4 tube phono stage. Not pretty, but it is really good. A ridiculous bargain at $650 ($800 including shipping to the USA from Japan). The pair of NOS Mullard's added $450. Still a bargain. 

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Monoblock 25 amps. Absolutely is on par with my 5x the price tube amp. Different but equally satisfying. Highly recommend. 

@thecarpathian  great find. I need to redefine the bargain. 
Unheard of

$600 Vanatoo Transparent One - demoed several times at AXPONA before ordering. Don’t need but was a sonic bargain.

12k Linn Klimax DSM/2 with Organik DAC upgrade- same DAC used in their 40k system. My shot at a top DAC within budget, and not worrying about a separate quality streamer (replaces my Zenith mk3, Terminator, Mscalar). 

22k Audionet Humboldt used- cheapest top SS Pre+Amp that competes with top SS systems. I’m a Magico and YG fan, but accompany electronics was a tough budget challenge. It replaces Constellation Inspiration Pre+Stereo which is on TAS top 50 bargains list.

Snake River Audio Takshaka Power cables - completes well with Masterbuilt and Audioquest Dragon cables (both out of budget), but much more affordable. Purchased 2 with AXPONA discount.