An Homage to Long Term Ownership

I have a SPL800. It's on it's second amp board and according to Velodyne that's the last one. I love the little thing and it sounds great in most systems. Good stuff.

My story sounds like yours. After a very hectic first six or eight years I slowly migrated into 7 or so year cycles between upgrades. Makes for great enjoyment in between.

I have equipment here, some in use, that I've owned since the early '70s including a Technics SP-10 table and a pair of original Quad ESLs ('57) (all sympathetically restored), other stuff that just needs a little attention but playable (ARC Dual 75a that I bought new; have fresh tubes that I bought from ARC well over a decade ago-probably needs a recap after 15 years since last tune up) and some stuff (my old Decca ribbons) that will need more serious attention to come back into play. 
I can rationalize my attachment to these pieces beyond sentimental value, but you gotta respect a product that is still delivering what it did new some decades later. Even if those products have been bettered for the most part. I have a special fondness for the original Quad Loudspeaker, currently running with restored Quad IIs using GEC 66s. While not the "last word" there is something special about these even by today's standards.

My longest held component is a Decca Super Gold. 34 years! Bought it in 1987 and had it retired three times. As long as records are kept very clean, the stylus is good for years.
@whart I run ESL57s with tubes and love them.

6 year itch?

I have a Velodyn. It's foam surround disintegrated. It is now or was at last sighting, a fish tank stand. 

I did have a Sota Sapphire for 40 years. It is now happily spinning in someone else's system.

I've owned some of my components for decades. I have no plans to upgrade my Infinity IRS Betas or my Mac MR-80 tuner, for example.

I still have the Ariston RD11S in use that I bought way back in 1977 for $270 new. Present tonearm is a Grace 707 with a Denon 103. Original belt gets an occasional wipe down with Armor All - still works fine! Bearing gets a few drops of oil every now and then. 

Come to think of it I still have and use the AT record weight that I bought around the same time!

1961 MC240, Dad’s….

My longest running piece was a Sota Sapphire that I used from 1992 to 2020.  Next was my Pass Labs X350- from 2002 to 2021.  Now it sits in my son's house.  I have had my Thiel CS6 speakers since 2005.  The one thing in common is that these were very large purchases for me at the time and also were, and still are very satisfying components.  The only piece I have left going back to the 1980s is my VPI Magic Brick.  It now sits on my Power Conditioner- just because.