Depends on how much profit you make. If you buy gear for $50k and sell it for $60k, you'll owe taxes on $10k, perhaps minus some expenses.
If you sell it for $40K, you won't be able to write off the $10K loss unless you claim stereo selling is your business.
But you won't owe any taxes if you lose money or sell at the same price you bought.
What most people want to avoid is the headache and the risk that that the IRS may ask difficult questions. It is best to just avoid the need to deal with it.
Jerry