Has used prices of gear droppd, due to economy

Yep, the deals will come! When people start really needing money, and re-prioritizing their lives, they'll surely start selling off that equipment they once wanted to badly, and you'll find all the deals, sure. It will be a great opportunity for those in a position to be able to trade for the gear, even services will be cut for custom (I know custom install guys, who used to be real busy, who have been sitting at home waiting for the phones to ring!) applications.
Nice thing here, might be that if you're real careful, you could buy near complete systems, use em for a few years, and sell it all off for the same or more than you paid for it, when the economy turns back up! That's free stereo folks!
Beautiful thing about the net and our used hobby, is that you can always find better and better bargains, if you keep you eyes pealed, and remain patient!
Can't tell you how many deals I found that I've actually turned a real profit on, from trading hi-fi! I've actually bought multiple complete HT systems - some of which included factory sealed new in box electronics - from rich sorts, investors, stock traders -you name it - who used to have big bucks, then suddenly lost their rears in the market!...only to dump all their gear to someone like me, who made em a package price deal and turned around and sold the stuff for 3x's what I paid em for it!
They're out there...and more to come, indeed.
All I know is the worse things get, the more hidden treasures and opportunites will arise for the savy.
So, if things get worse, I'm thinkin'I'll buy maybe one complete AV system for each room in my house, including bathrooms, patios and closets (lol) in another year or two...

Its a shame that the suffering of one is excitement to another, if you stop and think about it all its a really sad time for many folks who may need to sell items they love to simply survive. I buy used like alot of other folks but this atmosphere makes a celebration of scoring cheap gear feel a little bit dirty, but thats just my opinion.

"Its a shame that the suffering of one is excitement to another, if you stop and think about it all its a really sad time for many folks who may need to sell items they love to simply survive."

...need to sell items they "LOVE" to survive? Oh, boo hoo hoo! Have to sell items they "love". Um, I got news for you, it's been happening since the begging of time!
Well you're entitled to your opinion, obviously. I would beg to differ that people who own luxuries like stereo equipment, and have to sell things off to re-prioritize has been happening for decades! In fact, I'm pretty sure that a huge percentage of the time, if you trade here on Audiogon, you're likely running into situations very often where someone has to bail out off some gear because, yes, they need the money! I've been doing it off and on for almost 20 years now, pesonally. (that is, selling my gear because I needed money)
Anyone else here sell off gear when times get a little tough?...loose a few too many bucks in Vegas?...over extend your purchases more than your means?...yes, even cause your stocks plunged unexpectedly?
Yeah, THAT'S LIFE. Big deal! You move on to the next buck or opportunity. And, in the end, it's all just STUFF! I got news for you.
"Suffering?"...Suffering?! Um, I wouldn't call losing some money, even a lot of money, suffering! That's been happening since the dawn of time! In fact, the ENTIRE STOCK MARKET SYSTEM is made up of people making profits on another's loss! You can't have gains in the market without someone else's loosing money! Sorry, to say, but that's how it works.
If you don't think so, just ask Jim Crammer of Mad Money. In fact, email Suzzie Orman about that, or even having to sell a house for a loss in profit.
My point is is that money goes up and down. Anyone who's ever seen a gallon of gas go from $.99 to $4.50, back down to $1.95 per gallon understands fluctuations in the market! Why is that suffering? Oh, ya mean because you can't go to Disney Land 5 times in one year when gas goes through the roof?! Oh well...
In fact, I'm pretty sure that "a deal is still a deal!"...at least the last time I checked.
And, if someone is rich, and they loose a bunch of money, I garantee they'll likely know how to get it all back plus some more! Um, I think Trump was in the hole something like $1 billion in 1990!...

Quote: "The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind.

And greed — you mark my words — will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. (Gordon Geko - Wall Street)

your way too smart for me, yes this has been going on for years but not because many have entire retirement portfolio's whiped out, house values have crashed, unemployment is gaining in numbers daily, and many other factors you probably are not capable of understanding. Celebrate your potential audio purchase all you want but understanding these times are a bit different than others shouldnt be so hard to do, many who enjoy this are not rich, nor should you have to be to enjoy art that brings you happiness.
You can rub one out watching "Wall Street" all you want while folks are suffering far beyond selling Stereo gear which was the larger point I was trying to make, but that is yet another topic you cant seem to grasp, I never had high hopes of conversation from a guy named Iplaynaked but I really over-estimated you never thinking it could be so pointless. Seeing how you are so smart I wont waste anymore of my or your time on big picture discourse.
What you need to focus on is your next score and between that aswell as educating yourself on finance watching Suze Orman or Jim Cramer you must be tired. How could you not be a financial expert watching a frugal lesbian and some guy who screams and plays with sound effects machines while taking calls from the likes of you, and oh yeah.... movies........brilliant!

I just hate it when someone who's wealthier than me has to sell the gear they love so much, and I get a good deal! I just HATE IT! Makes me all upset just thinking about it, really...