Used Market Savings vs. The Dealer Experience


Hi all,
I’ve asked a couple questions on these forums and have always gotten great advice, so I’m coming back to the well. My fundamental question is: how do you reconcile (or balance) the auditioning value a dealer provides vs the absolute dollar value you get from buying on the used market?

I bought a McIntosh MA252 recently, and it’s so great it’s convinced me to commit and invest in a serious hi-fi system. I’d drop $30k for something that put my jaw on the floor. Right now I’m running Goldenear Triton 2s, a Marantz TT-15 TT for analog, Mytek Brooklyn + Bluesound Node 2i for digital, and just replaced a Marantz PM-8005 with the Mc. Silnote cables all around. The Mc gave me my first taste of actual holographic imaging and sound you could reach out and touch. Now I want more of that, as well as greater/faster/more pronounced dynamic shifts.

I have a dealer nearby that’s been a joy to work with (bought the Tritons and Mc there). They let me listen to their 200k Wilson setup with D’Agostino amps and sweet little baby Jesus -- it was like trying to box a feral animal in the complete darkness. Lashes of sound just came out of nowhere, smacked you upside the head, and were gone. I was dumbstruck. The Sonus Faber Olympica IIIs, by comparison, were a smoother, more musical sound signature but far less of that arresting clarity.

I make this point because, had I not been allowed to audition this gear, I would have had no idea about any of that. In doing my due diligence to shop for a setup, I know I want to hear Focal Sopras, Olympica IIIs again, Goldenear T-Refs AND maybe a Wilson Sasha for good measure. I want to hear Mc separates, ARC separates, Rega TTs, Linn TTs, etc. To me, my dealer provides real value in auditioning, optimizing, and being confident that what I’m buying is what I like best.

Unfortunately, with new vs. gently used prices, the $ cost of that experience is massive -- $10k+ quite literally. On the used market now I can get Olympica IIIs for $7k instead of $13.5k, a Rega RP10 w/ Aphelion for $6.5k instead of $9ish, Mc C1100 + MC275 for $13k instead of $20k, and a pair of Sasha’s at $15k is within striking distance. New? They’re $30k. I also live in a high sales tax (10.1%) area, which doesn’t help anything.

For those with more purchasing experience, or even dealing experience, how do you square the value of auditioning gear with the exorbitant relative cost of then foregoing the used market? I feel definite guilt sucking my dealer’s resources to then just go buy it all online. That’s bad business, and if everyone did it, there would be no dealers, and heck, no new gear being made.

Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks,
Ben
bfjones01

pwhinson


PM sent.  I enjoy reading about your love of the Pass Labs power amp.


Happy Listening!

stereo5

were the guys from Spearit Sound able to find jobs after the closing?

A shout-out to Jack Tozzi.   Happy Listening!

I buy a mix of new/used/demo, based on the relationship I have with the dealer and the price of the gear.

Goodwin's High End treated me very well on my pair of monoblocks.

Spearit took great care of me for my previous set of speakers and my current preamp.  It is really too bad they are gone now.  

Mark at Reno HiFi is a true gentleman and a terrific business person.  I got my Pass Labs XP-15 from him.  He offered to send me the phono-stage and if I didn't like it, I could return it, paying only for shipping to and fro.  That's good business-- really good business, and it doesn't cost a lot to ship a phono stage.

I wouldn't hesitate to call a nearby dealer and ask what they have for demo, used or consignment gear, and would pay a reasonable premium for that gear over something on line, or straight-used.  Really good dealers allow you a week to 10 days to try the gear and you can return it if you don't like it-- like Goodwin's did for me.

I have purchased some really nice used gear, right here on Audiogon.  I have been very fortunate to get good deals on great products from really nice people.  When I strike up a conversation with somebody about their gear, I can usually tell if they are good people or somebody I should run away from in a pretty short period of time.  I ask straight forward questions;  "Are you the original owner?  How old is the product?  Has it ever been serviced?  Is the warranty transferrable?"  I always trust my instincts and have actually developed some friendships with sellers on Audiogon.

Bottom line-- unless something is priced really inexpensively, like 30-40% off, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work in your room.

Hope this is helpful.
Love to go to dealers and pay full list its a great experience worth the money.

IMO please do not use a dealer if you plan on buying used gear.  TO me that is not a good way to be.  I do repair work for a few dealers and I still don't bother them to show me things unless I invite a bunch of people to their showroom, buy the pizza an beer for the dealer to demonstrate new product or just to have a fun night with no anticipation of a purchase. 

I read a few responses regarding comparisons.  I do not find it helpful when someone says something was better unless you can educate me on exactly what the differences were between the components, what system you heard them in, and what you think made the differences in sound.  But that is just me.  Happy Listening.