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To buy or not to buy a used cartridge?

As a general recommendation, is it risky buying used cartridges? What is your experience from those who have bought cartridges used? Is it best just to bite the bullet and buy new? You can get much more cartridge for your money buying used.

Similar to tubes, it seems dicey to think that the estimates that people give of hours they have put on a cartridge are very accurate.
mekong56

Showing 1 response by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I think buying used cartridges is the riskiest venture in the audio hobby. It's not just the relying on an accurate hour used count, but age also takes it's toll on a cartridge. A suspension can wear out just sitting on a shelf. One also never knows if the previous user knows how to properly set up and care for a cartridge.

I'm not saying that I would never buy a used cartridge, but IMHO the price needs to be a LOT more attractive than the standard 50% off list price for used gear for me to consider it.

Cheers,
John
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