I want to buy new speakers for 50,000 and see it used for 30,000, what should I do?

This is definitely a personal thing. It depends on your personality.

If it were me, I would be planning on keeping these speakers for ten years or more. I would be incredibly disappointed in spending $30K and getting something scratched or banged up, let alone if there was a sonic problem… I would probably slowly realize. For me $50K is a lot of money. Also, my dealer would give me credit for them if I chose to upgrade in five years. He will come and set them up. But that is me. I want absolutely no uncertainty involved in a large purchase like that. If I bought used and they were all scuffed up… I’d end up selling them and buying new ones. That is me.

Some guys would be proclaiming what a genius they were for getting such a bargain and they would love that every time they sat down and listen to them.

Buy what you want; you are not insane.  New or used is a personal preference.  Do you buy a new car or will you buy a 2 year old one with 20,000 miles for this similar discount?  Most nice equipment is actually cared for extremely well.  Look at the entire system, call the seller.   you can tell.  Probably.  :)

PS I bought my nice speakers as demo's, from a dealer who (like GDP says), installed them and stands by them.  This may be the best of both worlds.  Cigarette smoke smell would be a killer for me.

@emergingsoul curious can you share which 50k speakers you are considering?

They are out of my budget, but I am guessing that one can find excellent speakers under your $50,000 budget. If you worry about depreciation or buying used, then perhaps you should adjust your budget to a value that you are 100% comfortable with.

I would get a divorce .............soon

Don't stop at 50k . . . go for 100k.

helpful.

I’d go new. They will immediately depreciate like a car would but should satisfy you for years, decades. Will you be upgrading the rest of your equipment next? You looking at Sonus Faber Amati or Stradivari?

Can you see and listen to them before purchasing? If not, do you trust what the seller tells you about the condition and how well they were taken care of and how hard they were run? If not, then buy new and don’t look back. @tony1954 makes a good point, there are tons of incredible speakers much less than $50k. And to @dwcda point, do you have the associated gear to get the best out of a purchase like that or will you be upgrading the rest of your gear? Buy what you want/like just make sure you’ve thought through where you’re trying to get to.

Would you be buying the used speakers from a dealer? If yes, do they offer any kind of guarantee or have a return policy?

If they are newer speakers, replacement drivers are probably available, but I'd check.  I'd be concerned about buying an old set of speakers.  Drivers go bad with age and replacements might not be available.

I've never bought used speakers, but for $20k, I would consider it if they check out. They may have been owned by someone like me. The used stuff that I've sold was in like new condition. 

I have owned many speakers that msrp’d in the higher end brackets, never lost anything when I rotated them out. I buy such items used, etc or negotiate some cut even price with some dealer/others (helps if you know people). If you are not sure you will hang onto something for life/a long time, try and buy at a ’cut even’ price.

I would suspect 50K speakers haven't had a very hard life. There are very few 50K party speakers.  The other option is to find a used pair of even better speakers for 50K.  You would be less likely to want to exchange them in the future.

$50k buys you a lot of speaker new or used. Call Mike Powell @11stereo.com. His F&F lineup is very good and he always has high end used gear for sale. I have made several purchases from him and he is good people.

@OP - your post does not raise a concern that very nice speakers are too expensive. With very rare exceptions, consumer goods depreciate. Not nice speakers depreciate and very nice speakers depreciate. Actually, very nice speakers depreciate less.  Speakers have a long service life so their depreciation can be amortised over many years. Anyway, that has to be set against the pleasure of listening them, and what price does one put on that.

I don’t believe you are crazy. 
 

I have a good relationship with a local stereo shop - and I go there for all my purchases (new or used). They deliver, set-up and stand by the product. On demos I get the warranty and in some cases manufacturers (e.g., Wilson Audio) have certified used programs. 
 

Good luck!

I would buy the used speakers if and only if I could see/hear/touch them beforehand.

I've never considered the fact that I have a wife unfortunate or unlucky. Guess it all comes down to choices, eh?

If you’re spending that much, go inspect in person, listen, heck even tote your amp and cables. You can afford the flight, a first class hotel, steak dinner with a bottle of Lafite to celebrate purchase with what you’re saving! Unless you hate them, then you’re saving more.

My personal experience is this: I have purchased speakers used that I could not afford new. In my case I was happy with the used ones and the 11K I saved- which went into a good DAC. I was happy with the allocation, Additionally the mfg. warranty transferred. No issues arose and I use them to this day. 

I have also purchased new. (times change, wealth changes, etc.) and I was not especially bothered or impressed by "brand new" although the speakers were and still are impressive. 

It's totally an individual thing. To me my AMG 63 was a steal 18 mos. old. I saved 35K. It felt new to me. So did the used speakers. Because I'm a number nerd I consider how much 25K or 35K is worth in a decent investment multiplied by 20 or 30 years, As Warren Buffett says "It soon appears indefensible".  I'm 62. That wealth will get used either by me or my heirs. That's defensible. Meanwhile I have luxury for "relatively cheap". 

Spend the $30,000 used then use the $20,000 to feed A LOT of malnourished kids...

Who doesn't love instant depreciation? Buy new!

For that kind of money, and potential savings, spend the money to visit the seller and get a demo. 

If you want to pay 30k for used then look for used speakers online. 
Email some retailers for demo models 

should be pretty easy to find $30,000 speakers used 

To save $20k, buy a $500 airline ticket and go see/hear them.

Offer 25k for half price on the used pair. Never once had a problem buying used speakers. I only buy from sellers with a perfect rating and a good amount of sold items. Also depending on your payment method you should be covered should the item not be as described. 

You never answered the question. What are those $50,000 speakers?

Given speakers having moving parts if want to see them 1st and know how old they are.

Some people will only buy new cars, then they are afraid to use them or move for fear of getting a mark or ding on their new vehicle. Others prefer to buy their vehicles used and pre marked for a substantial savings and they immediately enjoy their car, going everywhere and doing everything. Everything depreciate, new or used. New drops faster initially but levels off soon enough. The coin is yours to do with as you please, which of course makes the choice between new and used yours alone. Are you a new pristine item only person, no matter the cost, or are you a pre owned person to obtain the same kind of item at a good savings? Rather than asking online I would suggest you have a good long talk with the guy in the mirror. After all only you and he know your budget, your wants and your preferences.

I saved 13k on my current used speakers. Only reason I did it is I was able to drive to the seller and check the speakers out before purchase. But getting them shipped without checking them out, count me out. Items under 5k maybe.

Not a good feeling paying 50g for something that your expected to realize a 20g opened box devaluation. Given today’s market not even caring what brand or model I highly doubt they were worth 50 when new. At that price one would think you’ve spent Considerable time listening and like what you hear. If the money is there and cost doesn’t matter… It doesn’t matter. If you’re feeling pressure and sitting on a shaky fence perhaps that budget is telling you something. Definitely a personal thing, good luck with that.

Cheers

If the product is available on the used market you'd be a fool for not looking at least. 

1. WHAT speakers? You never said.
2. Everything depreciates. And speakers at that price level are boutique, not appealing to very many consumers. Most people buying them are rich enough that they are NOT "stretching" their budgets to buy them, so they’ll buy new, sight unseen and likely they’ve never even heard them. They are buying them on some dealer’s recommendation. I recall the story on here of Elon Musk blowing the hell out of some speakers or amps because he didn’t have a clue. He was just wanting good sound for playing video games.
3. If you want to save $20K, spend a day and go see and hear them in person. Play them well with music you know at various volumes. Examine drivers, cabinets, smells, grilles, everything.
4. How will they be shipped to you? Buy the damned insurance and insure them for $100K, just in case.
5. Everyone has price ranges they are comfortable with. If you were considering $50K, but now have pauses because in 18 months they are only worth 60% of new, then I wouldn’t buy them.
6. Does depreciation really matter? If you bought them at $50K and kept them 10 years, what is the problem? Will these be your "end game" speakers?
7. I often see old 1980s and 1990s "vintage" speakers going on Reverb for MORE than they cost originally, factoring in inflation. People are dumb or too nostalgic if they cough up that money for something 30 years old with questionable crossover components.
8. OK, so you found ONE seller asking $30K for them. That doesn’t necessarily mean there are 20 people out there that would sell them so quickly for that amount. You don’t know the person’s reasons for selling them. Maybe their dog peed on the drivers. Or, maybe they are going through some tough times and need cash and are willing to take a hit to get that cash. Maybe there’s another "plaything" they want to buy more important to them than these speakers.
9. Life is short. Make a decision and go with it. Either way it isn’t the end of the world. Enjoy.

I have bought almost all of my speakers used I made a trip throughout the United States and listened to them .for the ones I got cold sight unseen I go to reputable  dealers like the music room upscale audio crutchfield that have a return policy .the problem I have is fed ex put thier forklift through my wilson maxx and that's sad they still have not paid. Enjoy the music.if your old is worth extra cash then do it you worked hard for it .I fiberoptic scope patients  who want to be at peace  just knowing they don't have cancer.to them it is worth it.stay healthy

Wow. Ever hear of periods or punctuation?

Unless you have a very large room I think you reach the point of diminishing returns around $25K.  

@incorrigable Can you explain this belief in greater detail?

If you want to play with gear at that level but have to seek internet advice about taking possible financial  bath...

You can't afford it.

JUST MHO.

Used gear is negotiable. Get the $50K speaker for 1/2. They just won't be current, but still relevant. 

@emergingsoul   Come on buddy!!!  This is one that you'll just have to go figure out for yourself.  Who in the world can answer all these personal preference questions for you?  You'll just have to get up off your rump and do the legwork, research and auditioning for yourself.  Also, who cares how much you spend on speakers?  I mean, come on, buddy.  Why are you asking us?  Just go get it done!!!  Happy listening.   

1. capture picture of speakers you want to purchase

2. stick it to the door of your refrigerator with magnets

3. wait for sometime looking at the image daily and your dream will come true.

I got my perlisten towers very lightly used at 40% off list. If you like saving $, it’s the way to go. 

@willywonka was it a serious question?

I'm more concerned about whether the rest of your system warrants these speakers.  Are they a good match to the rest of your rig?

Unless you have a very large room I think you reach the point of diminishing returns around $25K.  

I would be curious about a blind test result for sure. I would 100% fail to name the more expensive speaker in a small/mid-size room.

Maybe analogous to considering a used car.  Check over the item in person, do all of the features perform properly, how are the cosmetics , dings, dents, scratches,etc.  Was the item exposed to tobacco smoke.  As more specifically to used speakers remove covers and inspect the drivers, cones, surrounds, etc. Then take it for a test drive (listen).  In the end as we say here often, buy what makes you happy.

I’d say go for closed back headphones given your previous complaints about noisy weed wackers distracting your daily listening.

Spend the $30,000 used then use the $20,000 to feed A LOT of malnourished kids...

Hmm, indeed...., if he had a Mofi sourcepoint 888 ($5000) set up on high caliber electronics and some 50k speaker sounded a bit turdy thereafter (i.e., in audit comparison), there is a decent probability that $45,000 could make it to some unfortunate young lads.

MORE?????

@deep_333 the general consensus here is that if one has a zillion to spend on a piece of audio equipment, stones in a box, diamond cable lifter, etc. it doesn't matter how meaningful or meaningless it is. The scope is burn that zillion 

@emergingsoul so many questions have been asked yet radio silence from you. So tell us more about what current electronics you have? Are you into vinyl or just digital? What's your current speakers? And biggest question is what 50k speakers are you considering?

@emergingsoul - this decision is personal as both have positives and negatives, only you can decide if “new” is preferable to “used”+ save 20k.  What we would do based on our budgets and preferences is not important to your financial situation and preferences- it’s your money to determine what “you” should do.  Only you can decide if spending an additional 20k for brand new is worth it.

For myself, I’d be tempted to buy new if it was at a deep discount , plan to keep long term or endgame, or there aren’t much quality used offerings.  Otherwise, I try to buy used to stretch my limited funds.  

I love the responses to these questions they make me laugh and I find humor.alot of medical literature is full of laughter helps the immune system .keep safe and healthy.