What should my heirs do to dispose of my vinyl and CDs?


I am typing up a document with all details of my system components and cables with approximate values.  No one else in the family knows anything about high end audio.  I suggested they sell the gear at US Audiomart.  What should I suggest they do with the vinyl and digital discs in my reasonably large collection?  I want them to get to others who can enjoy them when I no longer can. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

128x128hifiman5

My system worth over $100k and not easy just to pack up and sell. At least for my family. I would tell my family to have my dealer to pick up everything, I don’t care how much less my family would get. At least they don’t need to deal with it. 
 

as my vinyl & CD collection, they are precious to me and worthless to most ppl. Even I have a lot of special editions and collectibles, I would give them to charity. 

@richardmathes there are cheap bar code scanners that can be used with different software products.  I used a $20 one for a program called Readerware Music.  I found it much easier to scan into a queue and then let the program go find the listing on discogs or amazon, rather than manually enter them in discogs, which still has no bulk upload function as far as I have seen.  This program can export as well.  This does not guarantee a match though, as imported albums or cds will not always match upc codes and older records ('50's-'70s) generally don't have one but a publisher/label id instead.

I like the idea of selling to a dealer.  There are a couple channels on youtube that are store owners that sometimes report "good hauls" and actively buy and sell off collections.  But it would still be worth it to leave someone a rough estimate of value if we are talking collections with a built in value, limited audiophile releases and the like or rare pressings that were or became investments.  cheers

Easy pathway here. Enjoy it as long as you can. "Don't worry, be happy." Your kids don't want it. Fine. You can't keep it. So, fine again. Be useful with it after you can no longer use it your self.

My kid listens from his phone through cheap earbuds. He's happy with his apple music and spotify - and I'm happy to see him happy with it. And grateful when he wants to share a tune or two. He has other ways to spend his time for fun beyond fretting over what wire might sound better....that's MY kind of fun!

"It" (your collected goodies) can still be useful when it's no longer useful for your enjoyment even if transformed into something else.....like cash. Sounds like you probably have an estate executor (I'm guessing here). I've seen gear auctions as part of an estate plenty of times. Just leave directions in your will and have your lawyer or audiopal or whoever take care of it for whatever cut they want if you're in some other environment. Make a list of what you think they're worth - should be pretty quick and easy. Especially if you keep in mind it doesn't matter since you'll be dead and your kids don't care.

It seems pretty solvable and definitely not worth fretting over. It's just stuff afterall - BUT, it's stuff that can benefit somebody or organization.

Keep it simple - what's the beef here? Why not donate the music to a a school or library? Or a nursing home? They can keep what they believe others will enjoy and sell or discard the rest. Same with your 100K system - have the executor auction or sell it off and give the money to an organization or entity that is in need an desire and wants to (and will) make use of your unwanted things.

For crying out loud.

And, if nobody wants your guns, break them into little useless pieces. You never know, you might save a life.

@hifiman5 

One idea is to search your area for donation options.  Check out what a collection sparked here in Memphis.  They continue to accept donations. They keep new additions that are in good condition and have sales of the rest to help fund their operations.  Egglestonworks has their speakers in a dedicated listening room and the stations all have VPI turntables.  
 

https://memphislisteninglab.org/

 

@hifiman5 I’m intrigued by the fact that you are seeking some of the source material.  I part because I’ve been contemplating selling much of my cd collection because so much of it is accessible via streaming services. Even hiRes services (I use Qobuzz). There are, however a number of CDs that I can’t find on streaming services, such as Pale Fountains - Pacific Street or other parts of their catalog.  Therefore I have been ripping them onto my HiFi Rose streamer (and computer).  I love the accessibility and ability to create digital “mixed tapes”. 
 

Once ripped, other than perhaps a few collectibles I’m left staring at a wall full of discs that just gather dust.  
 

I had read that CDs are beginning to see a small uptick in sales as they are becoming nostalgic to a generation born in the mid to late 80s.  I just don’t see the demand for them becoming anything like early-print vinyl.  
 

Does anyone have first hand experience selling a CD collection and what people are getting on a avg price per disc?