Hi Tony and nice thread topic.  Hopefully many will join in to share.  
I agree with you on the wonderful Carver C-9.  What a nice find for a couple hundred dollars.  Granted not all recordings sound better with the C-9 but some are just jaw dropping and many seem good with or without it engaged Besides the SQ it keeps me busy getting up and down pushing buttons 🤣.

Another purchase I made this year that is absolutely stunning was getting my first Type 45 Amp.  I purchased 2022 Alan Eaton 45 Mono’s for $1200 with 3+ sets of tubes locally.  I realized this isn’t  necessarily low cost but for mono’s that sound this good it is a crazy deal.  Every time I listen I am surprised how good these monos sound for how simple, compact, light and with only 3 tubes per block.  Music is so real sounding, 3D/holographic and just floats throughout the room.  

Who’s next? 👂

Great thread, Tony! I made one bigger change this past year, that gave big results and that was the Space Tech Labs STR. Otherwise, my purchases have been more on records and different tube types. For me there were three tubes that really had great impact. First was the Mullard EL822/CV2382 output tubes, with Deyans tube adapters, which were wired to convert to similar pinout of a 6P15P, to make use of the Hazen Grid mod. Second was the Shuguang Natural Sound 845T, which has become my favorite 845 and lastly the 4B32 types, including the Philips DCX4-5000.

I had 2 relatively inexpensive purchases that fit the bill of bang for the buck this year.

One being the SDFB (with copper sluggos and Piggy's). Two actually. I was able to buy both used from HockessinKid. Great value (felt good to not pay new prices!) and great performance. The bass really tightened up amongst other things, and the unexpected benefit was the chassis near the IEC outlet on my modified (MWI) streamer/DAC where the fuse is located was cool to the touch instead of pretty warm. I guess proof of the unrestricted flow of power to feed the extra iron in this modded unit. The bang here comes from the fact that I'm able to service 4 components with these two SDFB's. The CSP3 and UFO25 are serviced by one and the Zrock2 and Cambridge Audio streamer/DAC by the other. (3A and 1A respectively)

The other one being the Carver C-9 as others have mentioned. For the relatively low purchase cost and very reasonable refurbish cost from 4krow it is definitely worth the money for the results I got. Just adds the cherry on top of the Great Decware components.

Actually, I'll add a third, and since it cost $0 it may be the biggest bang so to speak. Various music titles sent to me by Paul (red pill sanctuary) when I first bought the C-9 to help me discover what the unit could do. He sent 32 CDs of various formats (LPCD, HDCD, K2HD) as well as FLAC. He copied various titles and genres from his library and since music is what it's all about, I guess that probably should be tops on the list. I still need to elaborate on what I'm hearing with respect to those different formats but that's for another post. I can't seem to pull myself away from the listening sessions to opine ... lol .. Thanks again Paul!

Nice thread and Merry Christmas all. (I hope Santa finishes off the audio year in style for everyone)

It's been an awful year for me in many ways, probably the worst of the decade except three years ago when my Dad died. But there have been some great audio moments I must confess.

I think the most important audio purchases have been my Verafi Audio Line Noise Black Holes and Snub Station Zeros. (I think I ordered them at just the right time, as I didn't have the waiting issues that others have). They have really given me a step towards total silence in my system and have allowed me to move the PS Audio P15 in my main system to my audio visual system, and to sell the P10 that was in that system. I think these may be system dependent as they have not been as successful apparently in some system as they have been in mine--especially after I realized how they respond to isolation treatment and dialed that in--but boy I am happy to have them.

Well dang, Donnie. Maybe that finger was just getting you ready for the next step. I don’t think you’ve built enough speakers yet to leave this world.

But in all seriousness, I’m rooting for you. The medical profession is pretty amazing these days and I think a lot of folks here will have your back.

Donnie,

My heart sank when I read your last paragraph. I wish you nothing but the best in treatment and recovery. Finding it early gives you and us great hope.

Your wit, humor, and determination will carry you through this.

Your insights and contributions on this forum are much appreciated. I look forward to many more in the future.

Excellent post Tony! Purchasing pieces for the gutted DJ rig has to be a highlight for me this year with audio gear. It is now complete and ready for use at the coming party.

Kam sorry to hear of your loss buddy. Time will heal the void created. I do at times look at family photos the parents took. It does bring back good memories and feelings of those times. The sorrow will be short lived. My dad passed in 1998 and mom 2013.

Sorry to hear of your situation Donnie. Wishing you the very best outcome with your fight. Keep your head up and stay strong. Really enjoyed your sense of humor and projects here.

Sorry to hear the news from Donnie and Kamran. I haven't had any direct communication with you two but have enjoyed and learned from your posts for years.

My system underwent some major changes this year including new speakers and a phono preamp. But the one small purchase that gives me a lot of joy is an Ursa Major record brush. Due to the tariffs they are hard to get now (made in Germany) but I found one on eBay. There are probably better brushes or even better ways of cleaning, but this one is robust, compact, and matches the finish of my turntable. The ritual of dusting off an album before playing is one of my favorites.

First, Donnie, I’m so glad they found it early.  Second, I greatly appreciate your positive attitude about the situation and gratitude for your life thus far, that’s a very healthy perspective to have and keep as you battle your cancer.

For me, I’d say the purchase I made this year that had the most impact was my Rega P3 RS TT.  Granted, it was much more than a couple hundred bucks. But like PTT, that purchase started me on the path to the world of Decware as I was encouraged to replace my forty year old Cerwin Vega speakers with a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs.

After hearing the significance of the SQ coming out of the Fortes, I got curious about replacing my forty year old Onkyo SS amp and once I stumbled upon the infamous Steve Guttenberg video of the UFO25, I began my journey with the wonderful world of Decware tube gear!

Long story just a bit longer, I was fortunate to find a previously enjoyed UFO25 and I haven’t looked back!  It brought me here to this fine community of Decware enthusiasts who are so gracious with their advice, suggestions and great deals on gently used gear.

I’ve been on a bit of a tear since April, adding room treatments, speaker cables, interconnects, power cords, a ZP3, ZSB, and have several items on both amplifier lists.  So, maybe my post doesn’t quite fit with your theme Tony, but it’s been such a fantastic journey so far.