I have paid as little as $200.00 for a set of Forte 1's that were minty...stored away for 10 years in original boxes...saw the boxes in a garage....Went against my wife's wishes and rang the doorbell....The original owner had passed away...his daughter had moved them to the garage to make room the closet for something else....It cost me around $185.00 to have them shipped home. (sold them to a friend for about what they cost me).....Second was a pair of Forte II's in walnut..I think I paid $300.00 ( wrote about it on forum ...The house of cats story)
Those I still have..... I think the most I have paid is for my latest pair of Quartets ...around $400.00....I love the way they came out.... The $ 700.00 range ...is more inline with Chorus /Chorus II territory....
Deals can be had....just got to take your time....Oh yea ...occasionally go against your wife's wishes.
George