I got started in this hobby in March 2009 and bought my last piece in April 2010. When I walked into a hifi shop for the first time in March 2009, I told the salesman that I was not interested in buying $20,000 worth of gear. Little did I know how hooked I'd become after hearing Classe and McIntosh components connected to B&W speakers and end up spending more than twice that amount! I've spent literally 100's of hours in research and checking for 'deals' on Audiogon and Ebay, daily.
Used gear was mostly purchased from Audiogon and a few pieces from Ebay. New gear was purchased from authorized dealers. I've been fortunate to have positive buying experiences with every purchase.
I put together 3 systems; one for my main theater, one for the bedroom, and one for my son. Negotiating with private sellers and authorized dealers saved a lot of money and I made some good friends, too. My next purchase will be B&W 803D floor standing speakers and B&W HTM2D center for my main system.
Main System: MSRP=$51,221 paid $32,953 (36% off)
McIntosh MX136 pre/pro floor demo MSRP $10,000, paid $6000 to authorized dealer
McIntosh MC 205 new amp MSRP $7000, paid $5000 to authorized dealer
McIntosh MC402 floor demo MSRP $7000, paid $5000 to authorized dealer (plus tax on all 3 McIntosh components=$1275)
McIntosh TM-1 tuner module for MX136 MSRP $500, paid $353 (ebay)
Audioquest Columbia XLR IC's (5) new MSRP $1000, paid $625 to authorized dealer
Audioquest Rockefeller double biwire 8' MSRP $1700, paid $575 (MSS HIFI)
Factory Reterminated into two sets of single biwire for $220
Audioquest Mont Blanc biwire 3' MSRP $468, paid $215 (Audiogon)
Audioquest HDM1-3 silver MSRP $225, paid $89 (Audiogon)
Denon 3800BDCI disk player new close out MSRP $2000, paid $579 to authorized dealer (Listenup)
Audioquest Diamondback IC’s (5) MSRP $473, paid $295 to authorized dealer
Grado Gold 1 turntable cartridge MSRP $350, paid $250 to authorized dealer
Technics Turntable new, MSRP $750, paid $450 (Musician’s Friend)
B&W 803S speakers MSRP $6000, paid $3600 (Audiogon)
B&W 805S speakers MSRP $2900, paid $1620 (new, Audiogon auction/authorized dealer)
B&W N-HTM2 MSRP $1000, paid $532 (Audiogon)
B&W FS-805 Stands MSRP, $700, paid $325 (Ebay)
B&W ASW700 sub MSRP $1300, paid $690 (Audiogon)
Panasonic 58" 850U Plasma MSRP $3900, paid $2900 delivered (Best Buy)
Calibration paid $250
Wall mount $195
Component Cabinet MSRP $750, paid $650
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $120
Electrical contractor for installation of 2 dedicated 20 amp outlets $593
Jensen VRD-1FF Cable TV ground isolator paid $50 (Tech Torst)
HDMI cables (3 more) MSRP $250, paid $150
Monster Surge protector $79 X 2, paid $158
Optical cables $135
Radio Shack SPL meter $59
Bedroom System: MSRP=$7550, paid $4357 (42% off)
Rotel RSX1058 5.1 surround receiver new, MSRP $2000, paid $990 to authorized dealer going out of business
B&W 705 speakers MSRP $1700, paid $400 (Audigon)
B&W FS-700 stands MSRP $400, paid $205 (Ebay)
B&W HTM61 new, MSRP $650, paid $650 to authorized dealer
B&W LM-1 speaker surrounds MSRP $375 paid $198 (Audiogon)
Panasonic BD55 MSRP $375, paid $225 (Best Buy)
Samsung LN40A630 HDTV MSRP $1800, paid $1439 (Circuit City)
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $100
HDMI cables paid $150
My Son’s System: MSRP=$8422, paid $5096 (40% off)
Audioquest Sidewinder IC's (5) MSRP $300, paid $106 to authorized dealer
B&W 804S speakers MSRP $4500, paid $2200 (Audiogon)
Marantz SR-5004 Surround Sound Receiver new, MSRP $850, paid $549 (Accessories4less)
Emotiva XPA-5 amp MSRP $824, paid $824
B&W CM Centre MSRP $650, paid $350 (Audiogon)
B&W LM-1 speaker surrounds with floor stands MSRP $500, paid $269 (Ebay)
PS3 paid $499
Definitive Technology Sub paid $199
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $100
Total for all 3 systems MSRP $67,259, paid $42,472 (37% off)
Used gear was mostly purchased from Audiogon and a few pieces from Ebay. New gear was purchased from authorized dealers. I've been fortunate to have positive buying experiences with every purchase.
I put together 3 systems; one for my main theater, one for the bedroom, and one for my son. Negotiating with private sellers and authorized dealers saved a lot of money and I made some good friends, too. My next purchase will be B&W 803D floor standing speakers and B&W HTM2D center for my main system.
Main System: MSRP=$51,221 paid $32,953 (36% off)
McIntosh MX136 pre/pro floor demo MSRP $10,000, paid $6000 to authorized dealer
McIntosh MC 205 new amp MSRP $7000, paid $5000 to authorized dealer
McIntosh MC402 floor demo MSRP $7000, paid $5000 to authorized dealer (plus tax on all 3 McIntosh components=$1275)
McIntosh TM-1 tuner module for MX136 MSRP $500, paid $353 (ebay)
Audioquest Columbia XLR IC's (5) new MSRP $1000, paid $625 to authorized dealer
Audioquest Rockefeller double biwire 8' MSRP $1700, paid $575 (MSS HIFI)
Factory Reterminated into two sets of single biwire for $220
Audioquest Mont Blanc biwire 3' MSRP $468, paid $215 (Audiogon)
Audioquest HDM1-3 silver MSRP $225, paid $89 (Audiogon)
Denon 3800BDCI disk player new close out MSRP $2000, paid $579 to authorized dealer (Listenup)
Audioquest Diamondback IC’s (5) MSRP $473, paid $295 to authorized dealer
Grado Gold 1 turntable cartridge MSRP $350, paid $250 to authorized dealer
Technics Turntable new, MSRP $750, paid $450 (Musician’s Friend)
B&W 803S speakers MSRP $6000, paid $3600 (Audiogon)
B&W 805S speakers MSRP $2900, paid $1620 (new, Audiogon auction/authorized dealer)
B&W N-HTM2 MSRP $1000, paid $532 (Audiogon)
B&W FS-805 Stands MSRP, $700, paid $325 (Ebay)
B&W ASW700 sub MSRP $1300, paid $690 (Audiogon)
Panasonic 58" 850U Plasma MSRP $3900, paid $2900 delivered (Best Buy)
Calibration paid $250
Wall mount $195
Component Cabinet MSRP $750, paid $650
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $120
Electrical contractor for installation of 2 dedicated 20 amp outlets $593
Jensen VRD-1FF Cable TV ground isolator paid $50 (Tech Torst)
HDMI cables (3 more) MSRP $250, paid $150
Monster Surge protector $79 X 2, paid $158
Optical cables $135
Radio Shack SPL meter $59
Bedroom System: MSRP=$7550, paid $4357 (42% off)
Rotel RSX1058 5.1 surround receiver new, MSRP $2000, paid $990 to authorized dealer going out of business
B&W 705 speakers MSRP $1700, paid $400 (Audigon)
B&W FS-700 stands MSRP $400, paid $205 (Ebay)
B&W HTM61 new, MSRP $650, paid $650 to authorized dealer
B&W LM-1 speaker surrounds MSRP $375 paid $198 (Audiogon)
Panasonic BD55 MSRP $375, paid $225 (Best Buy)
Samsung LN40A630 HDTV MSRP $1800, paid $1439 (Circuit City)
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $100
HDMI cables paid $150
My Son’s System: MSRP=$8422, paid $5096 (40% off)
Audioquest Sidewinder IC's (5) MSRP $300, paid $106 to authorized dealer
B&W 804S speakers MSRP $4500, paid $2200 (Audiogon)
Marantz SR-5004 Surround Sound Receiver new, MSRP $850, paid $549 (Accessories4less)
Emotiva XPA-5 amp MSRP $824, paid $824
B&W CM Centre MSRP $650, paid $350 (Audiogon)
B&W LM-1 speaker surrounds with floor stands MSRP $500, paid $269 (Ebay)
PS3 paid $499
Definitive Technology Sub paid $199
Cooler Guys cabinet fans $100
Total for all 3 systems MSRP $67,259, paid $42,472 (37% off)
