I can tell you, for sure, that it is *much* easier now to buy/audition used gear. Back in the day - and I'm talking late 60s, early 70s - you usually hung out at the nearby audio salons looking for bah-gains. Being near Washington, DC, I frequented Audio Associates, Audio Buys, Dixie Hi-Fi (later to become Circuit City!!) and many others, always looking for good deals on used or newly marked down new equipment.
But the advent of the internet has radically changed that. I can now peer into the basements, attics, equipment racks of guys who are thousands of miles away from me and scoop up great deals on (gently) used gear. But you must do your homework up-front and know exactly what you want and what you are willing to pay for it.
I built virtually my entire 5.1 AV system this way. And I saved a lot of coin doing so. Audiogon has been VERY good to me...
-RW-
But the advent of the internet has radically changed that. I can now peer into the basements, attics, equipment racks of guys who are thousands of miles away from me and scoop up great deals on (gently) used gear. But you must do your homework up-front and know exactly what you want and what you are willing to pay for it.
I built virtually my entire 5.1 AV system this way. And I saved a lot of coin doing so. Audiogon has been VERY good to me...
-RW-