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Publish the age of your component when selling (let's discuss)

I've noticed that many sellers don't publish the age of the item or items they are selling on Audiogon.  I believe it should be required that the age or original manufacturing date of the item being sold be clearly stated.  Some do but many don't.  Sometimes you can see the manufacturing date on the back of an item should the seller post a photo clear enough to see it but a prospective buyer shouldn't have to find it out that way.. What is the fear here?  This is especially important when it comes to sources such as DVD and CD players.  No matter how great the CD player may have been at the time, an 8-10 year old unit (let's face it) is worn and the DACs are no longer state of the art. You may think you have a piece of gold but the transports wear and again the DACs are antiquated. 

Opinion now:
I believe that many of the CD players on sale now that are say at least 10 years old are over priced.  To back up what I'm stating here, out of sheer curiosity and with a little extra cash I had, I very recently bought a brand new Onkyo C-7030 CD player for $200.00.  Got it home and in a matter of a few days, OMG, the overall sonic fidelity and extreme detail is produces when playing decently recorded CDs is nothing short of amazing.  Why would I purchase a pre-owned $1,000.00 player when this Onkyo sounds just as great?  I know this is a loaded question and may not be too popular but would love to hear what the members think.  No offense to anyone's machines.  THANKS.  
pdn
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,544 posts
 
It would be nice if all sellers told us how old their gear is, how many hours it has on it, etc. I think most sellers are pretty good at letting you know what you’re getting and if they’re not you may want to just skip that purchase.

Always check the seller’s feedback, ask any questions you have before you make an offer and if a deal seems too good to be true, you know what that usually means.

On a different topic you brought up, that $200 cd player may start to sound a little bright after the excitement of all the new detail wears off. Let us know.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,610 posts
 
Pdn, 

Actually the DAC IC in a older CD player or DAC are preferred to newer types - a Burr Brown 1704U-K Grade is unobtainable today - J Grade commands upwards of $100 per IC - why ? They are of the R2R type and produce better sound - which is why R2R DAC’s with discrete surface mount resistors are being made today.  In an older CD player the optical laser is of much larger concern.

Agreed that age of a component should be listed - however sometimes as a reseller one does not know.

Good Listening 

Peter



jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Component age is a nice feature to have in an ad if you are the seller, but as a buyer, I am so used to doing my own homework that I find it unnecessary.
Even if the seller posts the age, I will still ask for serial numbers to verify age and service history with the manufacturer/distributor. I'll even do this for cables with serial numbers.

Most sellers are honest, but if I'm spending MY money, I'm doing MY own homework.
jl35
3,941 posts
 
very little of my gear has a production date listed on it, and I am the original owner of very little, so often have to go on word of previous owner, who is often not sure...and some of my gear was sold for many years...I have that Onkyo you mention and it is excellent for the price, especially since it is readily available for a little over $100.   My Onkyo changer is 15 years old, though that model is still sold new...
jond's avatar
jond
5,688 posts
 
Agreed with much of what's said above having bought, and sold, lots of used equipment it can be very hard to know the manufacture date. Also I listen to music and rarely with a stopwatch handy so hours are at best a guess. Do your homework as jmcgrogan suggests also it's helpful when the seller posts plenty of pics. Speaking of which two pet peeves, how can you photograph all sides of a component but not the back. And how can you post photos of speakers and never take the grills off?
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