I got the inspiration for this idea from reading the Klotz / MS Audio thread. I'd like to start a list of products & manufacturers that produce or have designed fantastic products at amazingly good value for money. So here's my nominations
AMPLIFIERS
* Croft Mircobasic Preamplifier - The only amp where you get a MM phonostage probably worth more than the amp!! Fantastic value if you can get 2nd hand.
CABLES
* Yannis Tome (
www.backbeat.co.uk) - An amazing guy who produces amazing cables. His tonearm cable displaced a Nordost cable at 4 times the cost.
* The Klotz MC5000 / MS Audio RCA IC's - Two products when combines produces an excellent set of IC's. Very good SPPV.
DACs
* Bushmaster II / Caiman II DAC - Beresford Audio, these come up quite regular and offer excellect SPPV, even better with SFW upgrades and battery powered PSU.
SPEAKERS
* RFC Extrinsic Tannoy Cross Overs - Fantastic Tannoy speaker designs and Reference grade XO's are simply superb.
TURNTABLE ADD-ONS
* Ebony Armboards - Magna Audio AKA Speedy Steve! His ebony armboard was a very cheap and effective upgrade for my 1210.
* The Analog Audio Crystal Mat - Harking back to the 70's when the big Jap TT's had glass platter mats, for me this is the best 1210 platter mat available.
I'd like this idea to work and ultimately this thread/sticky can be seen as a reference for other AOSer's who don't want to spend stupid amounts of money on Foo.