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  3. 189544-90040

Should we care if a piece of equipment comes from a pet-free, kid-free, smoke-free home?

I agree that I do not want a preamp or speaker coated with a film of smoke, but I am confused as to what a child or pet could do that would not be otherwise visible. You would see the cat scratches on the speaker grill, the dog chew marks on the rack, the iguana turds in the amplifier cooling vents. And what's a little dog hair among friends? As a 3 year old, I supposedly put my finger through my grandfather's new DIY speaker but I'm pretty sure he replaced the drivers so even that doesn't really matter. Most things will be visible and/or easily remedied.  Maybe the price will even be a little lower because of the cosmetics. If it doesn't mess with function, not a big deal to me.

What concerns me more is does it come from a drunk-free, drug-free home.  I think befuddled owners are far more worrisome than pets or children.

 

tcutter
motown-l
169 posts
 

I have a 15 pound Poodle mix rescue mutt that doesn't shed. I used to imbibe in a bit of bud in my listening area, but I managed to quit some time ago. We are empty-nesters but have constant visits from grandkids. So when I have sold or advertised items on CL, I never say smoke, pet or kid free. The equipment, however isn't really affected by any of those three detriments. 

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,478 posts
 

I would buy anything used except headphones. Fido would disagree!

dog in headphones is listening to the music — RISMedia

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
993 posts
 

I prefer to buy used equipment that has been broken in, burned in/walked in, or even lived in over a "trophy" piece that’s been polished with a diaper every day of it’s pampered life. Give me a turntable that’s been through rehab a few times, speakers that have rocked so hard they’ve fallen over (and can’t get back up), and an amp that’s been used as a chew toy for a Doberman on occasion. Just file those bite marks out of the (preferrably metal) faceplate, wrap it in well-worn oily Levis, toss it on the UPS truck and send it my way.

Oh yeah, it’s a bonus if it comes from a house with kids that smoke.

Everyone should know what "woke" is by now.  Example:

"Woke up. Got out of bed.  Dragged a comb across my head ..."

rcm1203's avatar
rcm1203
68 posts
 

 kids free can actually be important since kids come in all sizes. One size is the know it all teen who can't wait for his/her parent to vacate the premises so they can crank their favorite noise full blast and drive amps and speakers well past their limits. Think Tom Cruise in "Risky Business". At least his choice of music was good!

chocaholic
189 posts
 

We may have this all wrong. Perhaps someone has done an A/B SQ comparison with/without cigarette residue, with/without pet hair or dander, with/without sippy-cup drippings on the knobs and cabinet So many details to test!

There may be another business opportunity here. I can see it now. Mpingo St. Bernard dander in .005 oz packets, $350 per packet…and 6 packets proven to lift the “veil” from your audio experience. Or perhaps .2oz bottles of Cuban cigar flavored mist to reveal detail and transparency at a new level.

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