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"You cannot handle the truth"

Should anybody be weary about any equipment (mostly new) that are barely used, no way near the usual break-in period, before putting it on sale?

Like, why would anybody used it for, say, 70 hours or so, then decided to sell?  It's always a red flag to me, as if it's some kind of lemon, some forgotten freight being fall off from a truck, or the equipment sounds woeful....   I would not think any legit dealer would be that casual neither.

Not to upset anybody.... would love to hear some reasonable explanations such that I don't make the wrong assumption...
bsimpson
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Would you please elaborate a little more? 70 hours …"
I bought a little portable player a few months ago. I use it more often than I expected, novelty of the new I guess, and it is at 170 hours or so. I was surprised when I checked it, I thought it would be in many hundreds.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...but I don’t count those sessions. That’s just background music."
I count even those moments. My system is used for that 95% of the time. Plays music whenever I remember to turn it on, but I have no real interest in sitting in front of it for extended periods of time. There is only 24 hours in the day and they are sold out.

That may be how I came up with my evaluation of the systems strategy, It has to sound pleasant from another room.
bigkidz
3,311 posts
 

I recently learned my lesson buying used gear.  So from now on I am asking many questions about the items I may buy.  Repair history, number of owners, and issues at all, etc.

I don't care shy someone is selling unless the item was not reliable or is having repair issues.

To answer your question more directly, I have purchased an item and when I plugged it on thought well not what I expected.  In my mind that component would have to make a 180 degree turnaround to sound better than what I own.  So in that case, back on the market it would go.  It just was not better or did not work in my system.


 

discnik
144 posts
 
Marketing is all about making you dissatisfied with what you have (i.e., the new, improved Tide!) and as a group, us audiophiles are prime candidates to buy into their spiel. Don't get me wrong....I enjoy getting new gear just as much as the next guy/gal, but sometimes it seems that the chase is the whole point, not the acquisition and use of the gear. After 40-plus years of semi-fanatical dedication to this hobby, I'm happy with mostly mid-level components that operate dependably, sound good to my aging ears, and give me great pleasure at the end of the day. I'm more convinced that you can eke out better performance from whatever gear
you may own by using the best connectors/cables that you can afford and which are simpatico with the equipment. It's nice to get new stuff, but a lot
of satisfaction comes from little changes that separately might not make a difference, but when taken in sum, lift your system to a little higher level. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Now here is the recipe for success!
 I'm more convinced that you can eke out better performance from whatever gear
you may own by using the best connectors/cables that you can afford and which are simpatico with the equipment. It's nice to get new stuff, but a lot
of satisfaction comes from little changes that separately might not make a difference, but when taken in sum, lift your system to a little higher level.

Print it. Cut it out. Tape a copy to your monitor, magnetize it to the fridge, carry one in your wallet, make it your email signature. 

Then again what was I thinking, this is audiogon.... nevermind.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled shilling.....
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