2. misc-audio
  3. 1008768695

I don't get it

I breeze through the Agon classifieds every few days and am absolutely astounded by the number of listings of equipment that is "less than 1 year old" and in many cases less than 3 months old. The implied financial hits are staggering. I have developed a number of theories:

1) The equipment is being bought by store/distributor employees at or close to wholesale and being flipped at no loss or maybe even a profit.

2) Audiophiles have some sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder that forces them to continue to change out components irrespective of need or cost.

3) Audiophilia(?) is like being addicted to herion, every day you need a new fix because whatever the last addition did for you, it wore off and something new is needed.

4) Some audiophiles have way too much money.

Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the chance to buy equipment at a discount as I generally can't bring myself to pay retail for most of this stuff. However, I'm curious why all this nearly new equipment is here.

Thanks
wstritt
gregm
3,021 posts
 
All of the above + 6 (?): mismatches. We buy cause it's a good deal, w/out auditioning cause it's well nigh impossible... no friends, friendly dealer, etc, to try out a piece...

Not sure about 4, though. I'd rephrase to, "Some audiophiles SPEND way too much money" !
smwdrtwin
25 posts
 
I used to wonder about the same thing until #2 and 3 took hold of me and I became a seller of some new barely used expensive equipment. Then I understood the ads that claimed "10 hours use" "barely broken in", etc. Ultimately, I was able to build a system that I am very happy with after trying new, demo and used equipment at home in my system and then selling what I didn't need or want. The overall cost to me still represented a savings over retail when I add up the cost of the purchases that I kept.

There is no way that a retail store would have allowed me to have extensive home demos of all kinds of equipment, so I am happy with the process and happy that A-gon exists for crazy people like me (us).
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lak
3,516 posts
 
I vote for all of the above! Some people have more control than others! I do believe many items are overpriced.
blkadr
731 posts
 
I took months comparing two preamps and finally put them both up for sale, keeping the one that didnt sell because the other one I wanted sold before I could sell. I still like the one I have but will be ready next time I see what I want. After an initial outlay you can work your way up the food chain for less money. Especially if you can get most if not all of your money back out of a piece. Some of us dont have "way too much money". And I dont think I need a 12 step upgrade, I mean program.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Another point that could be added to your list is: 5) mistakes are made. Putting together a really good sounding stereo system is to some extent a trial and error process. Some of my purchases-- both new and used have simply not worked as I had hoped they would, so I sold them, but they may work very well in someone elses system.

I have come to the conclusion that in-store demos are almost a worthless exercise because the room is so important to sound quality/character, as are component and wire inter-actions, and of course set-up is critical(sorry dealers, but it's true).

So, one way or another, you have to audition each piece in your own room and system. Some dealers will allow home trials, but many either don't have what I want to hear, or simply won't let me take their demo for a few days, or they have too many "conditions" attached to home trial. I'd rather buy used, and if the piece doesn't work out sell. Cheers. Craig.
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