Any regrets in selling gear?

I have, on occasion, sold something that turned out to be more engaging than the thing that replaced it. It usually takes me a while before I notice whether I’m present with the music or drifting away, or wanting to read a magazine. 
 

I think my path has been zig zag, with some good choices and some choices that were not so hot. But I think I’m in a good spot, with equipment that makes me focus on the music and how it makes me feel. And I have no doubt that I’ll replace some of it down the line with something that doesn’t work as well on my heart. It’s okay - I mostly like the journey.

Quad 57’s. 27 years ago, my (then new) wife encouraged me to “get rid of those room heater looking things”.

We are still happily married but I regret daily, the loss of my beloved (non-WAF) Quads.

Just sold Klipsch rc64 center and replaced it with a much smaller and older rc62…older rf82s too…happy buyers, no regrets at all…have TOO MUCH STUFF…need to sell more

I miss my PSB M2 Platinum.     Great speakers that i made the mistake of selling while looking for it's replacement.  I sold them and bought Revel M106, a nice speaker but those PSB were better.   They were the last PSBs to be made in Canada.     Probably one of the few things I'd buy again.  

Sure! As an incurable audio nut, I'm always searching for the next "holy grail." Selling my all McIntosh system was painful and regretful but fell victim to a divorce along with my Ranger Bass boat. Took it on the chin in that deal and haven't forgotten it 20+ years later....

I bought a Sony TA-4650 V FET Amp for $27 and sold it for $150. I needed the money at the time, but what an amazing sounding amp.

My B&W 702 S2.  I love the tweeter on top look in the rosewood trim.  They were too sibilant for my old guy ears but I still stop when I see a pair for sale.  My new speakers sound much better but they’re eye candy to me.  It’s kind of like thinking about an old girlfriend.  You moved on for the right reasons but there’s still a bit of nostalgia.  

Regret getting rid of my Sony 707 ref cd player and my proton d 1200 amp. But can’t turn back time 

@tksteingraber 

the list of regret purchases is another story.

That would be an interesting thread.

Decooney:

I have  Bottlehead Paramours  paired with vintage Elac S517 wide band drivers in Acousticraft cabinets.

DeKay

Oh, sure...had rationale at the time...but sellers' remorse just grays your day.

(1) Mint pair of Avalon Eidolons in maple finish. 

(2) Siltech Emperor speaker cables

Only reason I sold the gear was that I bought a new house / was moving, so cleared out the whole system.   The gear I have now i objectively better, but I still miss that pairing.

+1 on the z28 was a wicked car in my time always wanted one like the burmister amps

68 z28.

I sold a PrimaLuna HP Dialogue integrated amp with 8 KT-150’s. Had read so much praise for Hegel that I now have an H390 that pales compared to that PL…at least in my room. Nice feature set but the PL was absolutely holographic by comparison.

Yes some cars,some speakers,some amps.no cabels.enjoy the music and stay healthy

@dekay "...but much prefer DH/SET to them (mainly miss the PAS preamps when running tape/line through them - phono was so-so)."

I still have one DH preamp and let go of all of my higher power DH/Cary and lower power DH/Inspire amps. Came close to Dennis building  me a pair of KT88/6550 monos but the build-deal fell apart.  Which DH/SET do you still have?

I sold my Conrad Johnson MF2550SE amp because I had new CJ tube amps.  Make no mistake, the tube amps are superb, but I have wished over and over that I didn't sell the solid state amp.  It was spectacular.

I was thrilled to get rid of my Musical Fidelity CD, which everybody loved, other than me.  But, it doesn't make up for selling the CJ amp.

Oh yeah. Bought and sold lots; some I re-bought later. Many components I regret selling; others I sold off and never really desired again (learning experiences). Then a few times I bought/sold the same damn component 3 times (or more) - that’s generally a good indication I like many things it does, but can’t live with it long term. The audiophile equivalent of a toxic relationship lol.

Many components only shine when used in conjunction with the right partners and right system. I’ve had huge swings in opinion on a piece due to this. So that’s my justification to keep a few (or several) of each component on hand at a given time lol. And also in being hesitant to let go, in general. 

Some components get harder to find as time goes on - as interest wanes it becomes forgotten and drops out of general trade (they’ll probably hit circulation again when the last owner dies and it hits estate sales in the next 10 - 20 years). But generally, most lose value in the long run. The exception to this was some of the really esoteric headphones in the 2000s. I definitely regret selling many of these for "too low" prices back then. I mean like Sony MDR-R10, Sony Qualia 010, Audio Technica ATH-L3000, Grado HP-2...

A few items that are pricy to replace now (some would require refurbishing).

Roger's LS3/5a's purchased in 1978 for $500 + the cost ($130 ?) of a 1-way plane ticket from London to LAX for an X-Girlfriend.

Nakamichi 700ZXE that I paid $75 for in perfect condition and sold 20 years ago for $600, or so, as we recently unearthed two large boxes of my wife's cassette tapes.

I do miss my  vintage Dynaco and Mac tube gear, but much prefer DH/SET to them (mainly miss the PAS preamps when running tape/line through them - phono was so-so).

DeKay

Sure, however it opened opportunities to try others. As some have indicated here, after they cycle through a bunch of stuff over the years or decades - sometimes , they go back and repurchase that lost piece of gear to tray again to see if its as good as they recalled the first go-around. Sometimes it is, and other times it might not be.

I just remembered another item I regret selling- a mint Nakamichi BX-300 that had been serviced and had a factory update done. 

Selling my pair of Quad 57’s after 19 years of daily use. After twenty years I now have two pairs! The Quad 57’s are not the perfect speakers but what they do they do perfectly well!

I guess it depends on your approach.
 

My approach is very deliberate and careful. Each purchase is intended to be a significant step forward and is preceded by lots of research and often auditioning. Over the years I developed rules like never invest less than 2x or more for the next component, and work towards a new system at an optimized higher level… so no weak links. Then I stay there for many years. With this strategy, what I leave behind is always far inferior to its predecessor. 
 

There are many other approaches like just swapping around… checking out different stuff. Etc. My objective is to get the best possible system I can afford… moving in a straight line towards it.

Fortunately none…but the list of regret purchases is another story.

The only thing I wish I had held on to was a Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp. It wasn’t my only headphone amp so between the one I kept and the Bryston, I sold the Bryston. 

@testpilot Great point! 

Sometimes you change equipment for the sake of change……this mindset can lead to regret selling.  Be happy with what you have.

The only piece of equipment I regret selling is a Thorens TD-320 turntable back in 1993. I turned away from albums over to digital but I still wish I had that one?!?