My tastes are pretty broad - I started as a punk/alternative kid, but later got into soul, jazz, exotica, international, krautrock, early electronic, the more esoteric end of classical, vintage country, etc. I don't think I've ever paid more than $15 for a record, new or used, and the vast majority of my stuff was had for $1-5 each through the salvage operation described above, yard sales, thrift stores, or used bins. As a collector, I'm definitely at the low end of the price scale.

Stick with me - I'm getting to the hardware bit. I met a lot of fascinating people this way, including a guy who'd been a Walter Matthau's stunt double for much of his career, with several thousand jazz LP's collected over a lifetime in Los Angeles (unfortunately, two Japanese investors had flown in a few days before and snapped up most of the Blue Notes, but there was still a lot to be found.) Had an ad for years in the local paper under the head 'Sanford & Son Vinyl Salvage,' and took calls from people enthusiastic for me to rummage through their collections and cherry-pick for $1 a pop. I've been collecting vinyl since I was a teen in the 80's and really went ape in the 90's when everyone sold off their collections for CD's.

Remove clicks and pops from vinyl