You show all the signs of one who's completely enamored to all things
high tech. If it's not the latest and greatest you don't want it.
You'll always be caught in that viscious circle of keeping up with the
jones.
Which is exactly where the retailer want you.
I guess that DOESN'T explain why I keep a stockpile of VHS and Beta VCRs and
still use a Sony DVP-S360 DVD player, which is a 1999-2000 year player and was
the low end model for Sony at that time. Still works perfectly, too. No need
for a new DVD player. Although, I have three spare DVD players. Two Toshiba
SD-1700 players, both with the bad caps replaced and one with minor power
supply repair, works perfectly and has their remotes. One Panasonic DVD-A110
with remote. Someone gave it to me when it stopped reading discs. I called
Panasonic and they honored a warranty service on it, even though it was years
out of warranty, so I ended up with a free working DVD player at Panasonic's
expense.
As for getting better things, I'm quite resourceful, and having luck never
hurts.
I got my Sony STR-DA4ES receiver for $300 complete with manual and remote, and
that Elevated Standard model retailed for over $1000 in 2002 and still enjoys a
high price on retail and used markets. I enjoy 7.1 surround sound and superb
stereo sound because of this 44 pound beast! Excellent shape.
My stereo mains are a set of Optimus Mach Threes. Yeah, they're RadioShack
speakers, with one minor detail: they were speakers that RS managed to get
right. The sound is neutral and accurate, but very smooth. Love listening to
stuff from classical and new age to pop and hard rock, and these speakers plays
all with aplomb and very efficiently so there's no reason to replace them with
a set of Infinity or NHT speakers.
Surround and center speakers are KLH, and they're not bad for cheapies. I
place a greater priority on stereo reproduction than surround sound, so I am
more than content with KLH speakers for the surrounds, but would like a better
center channel speaker.
My turntable, a 1983 model Technics SL-7, was purchased for $10. I replaced
the belt for the pickup kicker mechanism and cleaned it up inside and out, and
it looks like it came fresh from the factory with nary a scratch or blemish in
sight. The Ortofon cartridge and stylus were still good. Excellent shape.
My tape deck, a 3 head JVC TD-V711 SuperDigifine, I bought for $15 bucks from a
seller who was convinced it was worthless just because it was a tape deck.
Excellent shape.
My 1994 model Onkyo DX-C106 CD changer I essentially bought for $25. I applied
a slight modification by changing the JRC 4560 opamps with Burr-Brown AD2604
opamps in the analogue section for improved sound quality. Excellent shape.
My primary monitor, a 1999 model Sony KV-27S66, was built from two defective
sets of the same model. Calibrated to THX OptiMODE and is capable of working
with 16x9 anamorphically enhanced DVDs. Not bad for $60 ($30 for the two TVs
and $30 for the remote. Sony graciously shipped me a copy of the user manual
for free, as they assumed I paid a lot to get the set repaired). Excellent
shape.
My primary VHS VCR, a 1990 model Sony SVO-160, was given to me. Power supply
was rebuilt with new capacitors and the capstan bearing problem was fixed. I
spent $25 on getting the remote and manual. Excellent shape. Has the best
picture and hi-fi sound of any VHS deck I've used with only one possible
exception: the Panasonic AG-1980 S-VHS Editor.
My primary SuperBeta VCR, 1985 model Sony SL-HF400, was purchased for $225.
Unit is mint with remote and was barely used. If you don't have a large number
of Beta tapes, then you wouldn't understand why I thought this wasn't a bad
deal.
My primary LaserDisc player, a 1997 model Pioneer DVL-700 with remote, was
purchased for $75 from a pawn shop. Resurfaced the spindle hub friction
material to restore lost grip on the LaserDisc, which fixed the slippage
problem that is fairly common on that chassis, which was also used on players
like the Pioneer ELITE CLD-99 and Pioneer CLD-D704. Excellent shape and one of
the finest LD players I've used.
My PlayStation 2 was bought new. Had to get the TOSLink cable and the S-Video
cable to integrate it into my rig the way I wanted it to.
My Microsoft X-Box was bought used for $120 including two games and two
controllers. Had to replace the optical pickup (Samsung DVD drive with Seagate
HD, IDE cable replaced with UDMA cable) and bought an A/V pack to connect it to
my rig using S-Video and TOSLink.
My Nintendo GameCube was obtained by trading a VCR with a friend. The GameCube
had a faulty optical pickup, but Nintendo honored the warranty, even though it
was over by two months. So, I ended up with a refurbished GameCube for the
price of a VCR.
My CED player, an RCA SJT-200, was bought from a flea market for $10. Cleaned
and rebuilt with a new belt and fresh lube brought it back to life. Stylus has
plenty of life left to play those needlevision discs, to which I have a
collection.
There is a lot more. Anyways, my system as a whole is probably worth in excess
of $3000 and is capable of playing VHS, Beta, LaserDisc, CED, DVD, LP, CD, and
CompactCassette. But, I spent a fraction of that by simply being at the right
place at the right time and I'm quite content with my equipment. Some of my
equipment are simply superior to what's sold new today unless you go much
higher end than what Best Buy sells, and I got almost everything with pennies
on the dollar.
I love high tech, but I don't nosedive into something like that unless I
absolutely need to. Since my current TV/monitor is still working perfectly, I
don't watch broadcasts on it but use it strictly as a monitor, and can enjoy
anamorphic DVDs on it complete with the 30% virtual resolution increase, albeit
with no progressive scan but having a detailed and sharp image nonetheless, I
have no need for a new HDTV at this time.
So much for your theory about me. If anything, I compete for getting the
biggest bang for the buck instead of just getting the best. I usually end up
getting some high end stuff AND saving money. You can't beat that combination.
And, I'm willing to bet that the other techies here have also had great
success, perhaps greater, at building their systems by getting the right stuff
for great prices and using their capabilities to get broken high end stuff for
a low price or for free and to repair them for resale or use. - Reinhart