2. misc-audio
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God, I hate to ask this…

Recent conversations with the oncologist have been replete with phrases like ‘stage 4’,metastasis’ and unappealing statistics applied to survival rates. While my real and financial affairs are well settled I am most perplexed with how to approach this large pile of audio stuff e.g. 3 secondary systems in addition to the primary one, several thousand lp’s, a similar number of CD’s/SACD’s, a closet full of cable etc. I am utterly confident that I am not alone in this. While I am comfortable that my wife will love and care for my dog I am less confident that the Avantgardes will elicit such emotional investment. Although my immediate inclination is to cling desperately to these treasured objects it seems patently unfeeling to expect someone else to deal with all of this. My wife will have enough to do. I could just divest myself of much of it and depend on the collection of headphones that I began to amass during the first illness. I really don’t want to do this. I would also like to pre-bequeath much of it to friends assuming that they wanted it but all of them have been adamant in their refusal to discuss this with me and probably will remain so until the 11th hour. As childlike as it seems, I am emotionally invested in these fruits of a lifelong passion and want them to end up where they will be respected and loved . This seems to be a juncture that we will all come to. I would be grateful to hear the contemplations that all you have had in this, admittedly, sobering matter. 
To all of you, good cheer and good health.

 

williamjohnston

Showing 1 response by whart

whart's avatar
whart
3,223 posts
 

Sorry to read of your health, I think this is something we all have to face and you are right, leaving it to a spouse or partner puts a greater burden on them. I bought pieces from a friend’s estate after he passed, in part to help out his widow. 

Maximizing return, for the sake of your estate, would require far more effort than "one stop" deals, like working with TMR or Sky-Fi. I also have Avantgardes (Duos) and they are a bargain today used, compared to the current new market prices.

Same with records, you can either try to maximize which involves more effort (or finding someone like I did, who was willing to take unwanted LPs (about 12 thousand at the time, leaving me with around 5k LPs)), removing them from my place, listing them, selling, shipping, and sending me 50% of the net. 

Yes, any dealer is going to give you far less than market, but the one key thing is to get them to take all of it (if that is what you want).

Other alternatives, with physical media and possibly gear- donate to a music school or library if they have the facilities to actually support such a gift.

I appreciate that part of this is peace of mind and not introducing more stress into your life. 

I wish you the best, 

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