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Guidelines for buying used speakers (as in, are there any?)

HI,

Can anyone offer up some suggestions or guidelines for buying used speakers?

Initially I thought 5 years old max, buy from original (and only) owner, half original retail.

But then ...

Found some nice Zu Omen Defs ($1350) but they've had 2 owners.

Also found some Vandersteen 2c signatures ($900 + $100 shipping) but they're 10 years old and, again, 2 owners.

So you can see my guidelines may be preventing me from getting very high quality speakers at a good price.

The Defs I can listen to and physically examine; the Vandersteens would be purchased online.

Thoughts and comments would be appreciated.
128x128jimspov
Post removed 
jzzmusician
148 posts
 
Yeah, read the feedback.  But that's no guarantee either.  I bought a pair of supposedly super fine Quad 2805s and one of the speakers arrived with a damaged panel.  A month trying to work it out, ( not really good, but I got some compensation) and 1k in repairs. 

Feedback is everything and if I did it again I would not only look at the feedback here, but elsewhere as well.  If there is even a hint of a problem, go away.

bob
bcgator's avatar
bcgator
355 posts
 
I don’t care how many owners a pair of speakers has had, as long as they’ve been treated well. If all of the previous owners have taken great care of them, and they’re coming to you in near-mint or mint condition, what does it matter if they’ve been in 3 houses previously or 5? It’s speakers - not underwear.

There’s so much flipping going on, people buying gear just to try it and then move on to something else, it’s not uncommon for a perfectly good (and possibly heavenly sounding) pair of speakers to go from home to home until they match up with that person who says "THAT is the sound I’ve been looking for".

I'd love a pair of Wilson Benesch Endeavors, but the cost is a tad high ($50K)...so I'm waiting for a pair that have had 18 owners and are discounted enough for me!

I’m with Coli - price to condition, that’s all I need to know.   
dentdog's avatar
dentdog
482 posts
 
Zu speakers last.
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,503 posts
 
I cannot speak to any of the speakers but the Vandersteen 2s. That speaker model line has been one of the best selling, most successful speakers for many years for good reason. A very good design and the sock enabled Richard to cut costs on cabinet wood and place value in the speaker by including quality drivers and components instead. His speakers are not gimmicky, just good design. I have the 2CE Sig II and I had listened to about a dozen different brands before I settled on them. Also, since so many of the 2 series were sold, that is part of the reason you can find them at a good price. They were sold new at a good price and there are many out there used which drives the price down a little
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