Why is used audio equipment so undesirable?

I have purchased many nice pieces of equipment on the used market. Most audiophiles take great care of there units. I have been able to have Hifi Equipment i would have never been able to buy new. Purchasing through Audiogon or Usaudiomart I have found great products and good people to work with. I would never buy on craiglist or facebook or some platform like that. Just my thoughts . 

You can't force people to learn.

Seems to me that there exists a thriving used market.

I have ever only purchased three audio components new:  a DAC, one pair of speakers that were not available used, and a home theater pre/pro.  Everything else is used.  

With regards to reliability, it differs by type:  digital stuff, electrical analog, and mechanical.  Assuming that is has been well treated, pretty much anything less than 30 years old is not likely to fail, I think.  Good quality digital equipment - things like processors and DACs, are probably going to become outdated long before they fail.  Older electrical equipment, which I have owned a lot of, needs a good recap.  All things electrical go out of spec eventually.  Even then, it's more likely to be amps than preamps or tuners because of heat.  Mechanical items, e.g., speakers, transports (cassette, CD, DVD, phono) are more likely to fail sooner, but still get years of service.

If you're concerned about buying used equipment that is less than 5 years old, it's probably not high quality.  Nothing well made and well taken of should fail that soon.

I mostly buy used, never had a problem. Don't be afraid. Plenty of great bargains especially from those types chasing the "latest and greatest"

I bought an Opera tube SACD player MINT with box and manual etc from a very well off individual. The unit was like new with low hours ( and looks cool and sounds great) for $450 w/shipping.!! $2,200 new. 

As Mr Steve McCormack told me," Newer doesn't mean better" He recently upgraded my vintage McCormack DNA1 -R/1 into a "new" SMc Audio GT22 Plus. So I have a brand new -25yr old amp that probably sounds as good as a Constellation Centaur II Stereo amp for 1/3rd of the price.

Buy used from rich people and you won't have any problems.

OP, “some revelations and they are as follows:”

Those are valid for me as well.

There are some folks that love pursuing and swapping… reselling and constantly changing. There is nothing wrong with this… it is the journey they like not the destination.

For me, it is the destination. After the first few years of learning and finally assembling my first satisfying system I generally had about seven years of really great musical enjoyment and no system changes. Then I would have enough additional income to make an incremental step up. The destination always my objective. Sounds like that may be true for you as well.

@emergingsoul The only thing I gather you ever believed and continue to believe, is that new gear is inherently better than used gear. Nothing will ever change your mind

You've read every post and came to those conclusions?

You need to turn in your Ace Ventura junior detective badge...

As a result of reading through each of the comments I have come to some revelations and they are as follows:

I put the above through Google translate (English > Troll), and this was the result:

"If you didn't understand that I was trolling you with my initial post, perhaps this will clarify the matter."

So it looks like you learned nothing, and you still can't spell. 

As a result of reading through each of the comments I have come to some revelations and they are as follows:

Rather than run the risk of having used gear for sale always stretch to the highest quality you can afford to avoid the costly upgrade cycle. And maybe you'll keep the component until death do you part.

Avoid buying used gear to avoid the constant thinking where u wonder if it would have sounded better if u bought it new.

If I trade in used gear I will likely stretch my budget to buy something even better. 

Maybe I keep the gear and eventually have enough to set up a third listening room that I will never use but it will look nice.

Finally, Selling or trading in used gear Will serve too only reinforce that u lost a lot of money on gear that you didn't have for very long.  Better to store it away to forget about it or give it to a family member who otherwise would never spend crazy money on audio gear, and Hoping they don't talk to you about audio gear whenever you get together and avoid the insanity of wanting better gear and spending a ton of money.

Prices are rising for Vintage, maybe there is a hole in the middle, used/not old that you are dealing with. I sell my used equipment. Money helps me buy 'new to me' old stuff, or new stuff.

I work hard getting it in best condition, get documents photos descriptions, links to OEM info and reviews. That makes a difference. Make the effort, it will go.

Took my 2 McIntosh SS pieces to McIntosh, had them factory certified, new shipping boxes, did very well, easy safe shipping.

Current Fisher 500C, Excellent condition and sounding, many fisher oem tubes. I overhauled it's controls, dead silent, had VAS align the tuner, last step: brass caps need to be polished, then Steve at VAS may buy it, he wants 1st right of refusal! No wood enclosure, will be local pick-up only. That's limiting your audience, however I'm midway between NYC and Phila and can meet someone half-way, so we shall see. Could ship, but the alignment just done would be worthless.

Sold nice Carver Amp, Carver Tuner, Onkyo CD changer ... More stuff on the shelf, I found my SME 3009 II, needs some care, then sell.

IOW, you can do alright, but it takes effort.

I've started buying used from dealers and trading in old equipment to get better price reductions. Selling MIT cables and a BAT tube amplifier brought me to that conclusion.   The ads for the gear had reasonable prices based on market research, but buyers negotiate much lower.  I don't know what I'm going to do when I eventually sell everything.  The equipment I enjoy isn't desired by a lot of people (I.e. MIT, Spectral, EglestonWorks).

Due.

Do diligence. The only two things I bought used and kept was a pair of Sennheiser 595 ear speakers and a Yamaha T-70 tuner. Both arrived safe and sound and still work  A Yamaha C-4 preamp stopped working through the speakers w/i two weeks, though it did work with ear phones. A guy who repairs Yamaha equipment took it off my hands. I lost a nominal amount of money.  Buying used can save you a lot of money, but it can also cause you much grief. Know what you're buying. 

Because he just enjoys starting threads with unsupported assertions and then disappearing.

emergingsoul:

Checked and you have zero marketplace feedback here @ A’Gon.

Just a thought, but why don’t you try listing all the mentioned spare gear here?

Then, you could could start a new thread about how it went.

DeKay

My first car, at age 20, and my second car at age 22 was also used.  However, since every car was new.  I can't help but ask, why is this person selling this gear.  Is there something wrong with it, or was there something much better?  For that reason, I would purchase Hi-Fi gear new.  Besides, what if there is something wrong with it and you cannot get your money back.  I always feel someone who is selling something used there might be a reason why.  However, maybe audiophiles are different because I feel most of us take great care with our gear.  

I always feel it appropriate that my dealer can make a living… so he has to make money. The margins are not as high for dealers as it used to be. Getting 20% would violate most agreements to be distributors and cause the dealer to lose rights to sell… and they probably would not make a penny on the stuff. Margins are not 50%. The audio dealer owners I know drive Toyotas not Porsche.

A good dealer will earn every penny he gets from you… by steering you towards equipment that satisfies your audio taste.

Is selling used audio gear to a dealer via trade-in when buying something new worthwhile? Goal is to get 20% off list when you buy something new, but then throw in a used piece to trade in and it confuses the process. The dealer has to make 30% for the used item if he’s lucky and he may evaluate it, which is always iffy.

And then selling a used piece to someone by way of a classified ad like audiogon is not ideal. I’ve seen fairly good stuff sitting on audiogon for a long Time. And then you discover it’s being sold by a dealer at a price that’s a lot higher than it should be. Who are they kidding?

Selling speakers and amplifiers that are extremely heavy makes sense to sell back to a dealer from a convenience standpoint. They deliver something new and they take the old away. Very similar to buying a mattress or a refrigerator.

Must be working with the wrong dealers.  Many of us are happy to take trades vs. new gear.  It does depend on the item as really obscure stuff is hard to sell or we take on consignment.  But if it is mainstream gear, even expensive mainstream gear, definitely.  

@mayoradamwest sums it up quite well. Total troll post. 

 Troll posts on used gear site that stays in business through used gear sales that no one wants to buy used gear. People reply. What a world we live in. 

In 15 years of this hobby the only thing I have bought new was 2 CDPs

The only hifi equipments I bought  new  was Michi P5 Preamp $4k-$5k and it was disaster the worst preamp ever full distortion noise after two replacement I end up selling it move to Hint6 for preamp duties only Parasound was much better

I almost always buy used. I couldn't have the system I do new.

Cut the OP some slack. He's just emerging...

As for old equipment not sounding as good as new. Total nonsense, certainly digital has made great strides, but many nice old pieces, even vintage that will always maintain their status in hierarchy. Maintain and replace consumables, these are lifetime pieces, perhaps end game pieces.

One doesn't need to endlessly replace components. Feeling one's system inadequate up until death or total disability would be great failure to my way of thinking.

I scored a pair of ($11,000) Martin Logan, Summitt speakers that were in what I would call very good condition for $3,152. They're absolutely gorgeous, and perform flawlessly. And associated gear, but that's my best deal yet.

Buying used a bad idea?

Whatever.

I love the way people get called out here by others who know what's up. This is a great site, there's just too much censorship. 

I just purchased SimAudio moon evolution P8 Preamp it was retail for $16K new

i pay $4k and is one of the best $4k ever spent in my entire life 

the improvements and joy this preamp brings is unbelievable 

imagine I was using  Parasound Hint6 as preamp only technically P6 

Another stupid thread, and the OP always disappears...

The speakers and amp and CD transport that I have now, are the first new pieces I’ve bought since the 80’s.  Never had a problem horse trading.

The used HEA market is the best barometer for what is a worthy component. There are exceptions like the KEF LS50 flooding the market due to many of the buyers not having proper system(quality) matching. For a 2-3 year period I was looking for a KEF 205/2 in sycamore/rosewood veneer was willing to pay top dollar none appeared? That ship has sailed but there are several items I check on a daily/weekly basis. Bottom line is the vast majority of components are bought due to hype from various sources without the buyer putting in study time. After the hype has passed the truth of the component has been revealed.

Buying used used to go against my grain.  Not anymore.  Buy wisely.  Take care of the piece. Sell it for what you payed for it.  It's a great way to play for nearly free.

It’s easier just to box it and store it away and give it to someone if a situation ever arises. Selling it is ridiculous as I’m lucky to get 30 or 40% Plus all the hassle negotiating when selling, so I keep it.

I know exactly what you mean but lets face it, used gear depreciates fast, how much depends on brand and category, unless vintage where you can sell at a much higher price compared to original retail.

On the other hand the best values are found in used gear market for many users look after their equipment. So if within budget go for it.

And yes buying second hand car is more risky.

This is a weird post. I buy used often with usually no issue and when there is one, no issue returning it. I also have no issue selling used gear at usually 30 to 40% off what I paid for new. Only items I can't seem to move is headphones and cartridges.

My system would definitely not be as good if I didn't buy used or demo.   At this point most of my gear is new, but if not for buying used gear I would not have moved up the food chain.   The only thing I have purchased recently without using money from the sale of other gear is the Toolshed Amps 300b I'm having built. 

Not sure if I'll sell my Quicksilver amps and one of my spare preamps,  but if I do it will put $2500 or so back in the Toy Fund.   If not it will be the foundation for a second system.   Not sure on that yet. 

Virtually manufactured goods depreciate, though some may go through a depreciation valley of death and emerge the other side as appreciating classics.

Quality audio gear is actually relatively good in terms of value retention and resale.

Compare it to cars, cameras and computers, and that is readily apparent.

I buy used all the time. A no brainer on saving money. Markups on some products are really high and buying used makes sense. Your not the one taking the hit on depreciation. 

who is saying that?  Some old gear is better built and better sounding than some new gear like BEL amplifiers.

I don’t know if used audio gear is particularly unloved.  If you compare it with other household appliances, I bet the resale value would be higher than that of a washing machine (who buys used washers?).

Because some of the parts in my gear are vintage and collectable, I can get more than I paid for them.  The midrange compression driver and horn (Western Electric 713b\12025) have nearly doubled in price in the past 15 years.  I am sure the Western Electric input transformer (618a) and output transformers (171c) in my amp has also gone up in value. Everything else has probably lost some value, but I’ve gotten plenty of enjoyment from them.

OP must be a troll.

Buying used is a no-brainer at his stated discount of 60-70%.  People who buy new are just burning bills.

All my gear - except for some phono cartridges - was bought second hand at a  fraction of the new price. Rarely have I had problems with the gear being defective. Same for my collection of CDs, LPs and RTR tapes. An example: I bought a pair of Rogers LS3/5A's from an eBay seller in Lithuania for $900 - they typically sell for $1800. Where else but the used marketplace can bargains be found?

I’ll add to the general nothing wrong with the right used product. So it might need repairs given time what doesn’t…don’t be a wuss. I’ve bought serious older high end which back in a day was impossible, now to buy that level of sound new today…a new house is cheaper. Doesn’t help there is a lot of over priced cosmetic, fad, here today gone tomorrow junk out there. So put on the big boy pants spend what ya can new or old and enjoy.

Cheers 

What have you got to unload. Used gear is my forte. 

I would be happy to help you reduce your inventory

If by any chance you have a decent CD player

Regards, Joe

First of all, new equipment is generally marked up about 90% so if you get 40% of what you paid for it, that's about all you can expect. 

Second of all as others have said, used equipment is the best value for your dollar. I have a Kenwood receiver made in the late 70's that is still working fine with only a few bulbs replaced and I expect it to last longer than I will. 

When possible, used is the way to go. It’s a no-brainer. I’ve always gotten a massive discount for gear that looks and performs like it’s brand new from the factory.

Just sell it on commission at TMR Audio.They'll even pay shipping to them. Unless it's low end stuff from a big box store. In that case donate it or give it away.

I used to buy good used equipment that was sometimes a few hundred $$$ off the retail price to 1/2 the retail price. Most of these pieces have been sold for sometimes more than what I paid for them to a few hundred $$$ less. Anything new (audio piece, car) will depreciate the minute you bring it home.

As for vintage equipment, been there decades ago but will never go back except for a couple of model separates. I used to own top of the line equipment 45 years ago, have repurchased some of these pieces for secondary/third systems and they just don’t cut it compared to todays technology, except for a couple of pieces which go for many thousands today, then you have to worry about failure rates/parts which are very rare. IMO of course

I'm with you Batman, it really is a silly thread.