my $686 stereo system, laugh if you want...

YES! Someone who gets it!!
This whole audio thing is all about FUN and enjoyment! How many with limitless budgets spend limitless hours agonizing over equipment. There a lot of unhappy campers who spent BIG
bucks;just look thru Audigon.
I prefer to spend my money very wisely, and spend my time
LISTENING to music.
My best buy : found an unlabeled pair of older,well made speakers at the thrift shop. Bought them, did my internet
research and found out they were absolutely Dynaco A25's.
Cost : SIX bucks. Sound? quite incredible. Listening to
CSNY's Deja Vu was a revelation as to how wonderful the
human voice can sound, along with a full,rich, yet extremely
emotional overall sound.
These are so good its silly....Lots of great sound.... and a smile on my face!

Atomickid: Also had a pair of Dynaco A25 speakers that I found at a garage sale for $10. What a great sounding pair of speakers for their size. Still a good following for them. Sold them for $85. Helped pay for some of my other stuff.

Im not laughin! It is nicer than my rig!
hahahaha

oh so you think you got me beat eh, I bought a $55.00 three disc with tuner and double cassette at Ames before it went out of business. Made by none other than Philips, and it even has a remote.
Cody

you got some great deals and i will bet it does indeed sound good. Call me next time your neighbor has a yard sale!