Five "Golden Rules" of HiFi?

I object rule #4 and #3 as well
Instead #3 repeat #5 twice.
#4 replace "speakers" with "phono cartridge"

1. In six months of buying eggs and stapling the cartons to the wall in your listening room, plus buying a throw rug, you can do more than buying the most expensive cords.
2. The best gear is not always the most expensive, or coolest looking gear.
3. Power conditioners work. Really.
4. If you can't have a conversation about music with your hifi dealer, find another dealer.
5. Reasonable budget, over the longest term.

1. More money doesn't always equal better sound.
2. Before spending a dime, consider the room where the gear is going to be and understand how the room contributes to the final sound at your ears.
3. Think of speakers and amplifiers as one circuit that needs to compliment each other and avoid poor matching characteristics.
4. Proper speaker placement within the room is essential to good sound.
5. More often than not, a change of a component will result in a different sound, not always a better sound. There is almost always a trade off.

1. Make sure there really is a record on the spinning platter before you lower the needle.

2. Set up an electric fence around your ribbon speakers before the neighbor kids come over. Don't forget to plug it in.

3. Your speakers should probably cost more than your speaker cables. But not if you plan to upgrade speakers one of these days.

4. Don't let inebriated friends adjust the volume control, especially if they want to crank it up to "see what happens".

5. Don't volunteer your opinion of your friend's shiney new purchase unless he unequivocally asks you to - and even then, remember you might as well be talking about his religion.

Duke

It's too bad you had a bad experience with used speakers. I am listening to my Thiel 2.4 speakers at this moment, which I bought used from an Audiogoner and I am totally satisfied with them. Everything I have purchased on Audiogon has worked out very well. Don't give up on the basis of a bad experience. My guess is it was the exception, not the rule.