Do you buy new, used or new or used gear?

All used for me and very rarely had

an issue with anything the past 30 years or so.

The only exception was my most recent purchase of

the SOTA Eclipse package for my turntable. Had to buy that

new. 

With few exceptions, if there is a used option, I will always seek that out first (especially speakers). I have bought many thousands of dollars' worth of used hi-fi over the years, which is either active in my three-system rotation, lying fallow for the time being (a sore spot with my wife), or has been resold for the same or more than I paid for it (I have only ever once sold something for less than I paid, and that was only tens of dollars). If a piece of gear interests me and is an exceptional value, I will buy it on principle, whether I need it or not. This has turned out to be a self-funding way to stay engaged in the hobby, where the thrill of the hunt, and sometimes bagging an elephant, is a hugely underrated. Enjoy!

I buy new speakers, vinyl playback hardware, and CD/SACD players -- devices with mechanical components.  My electronics are mainly bought used tho not really old.

One policy I've adopted is to only buy older pre/pro's for my AV system because their steady flow of new features (that I don't want or need) dictate rapid depreciation in the used market.

I have both alot of both new and used...but i was burned a few times with used equipment that were expensive...buyer beware...worked great then 30 days one piece, one piece like 3 months another maybe 4 months....haven't had any trouble with new stuff i can recall.

When I started my HiFi journey all I could afford was used- and I made a lot of mistakes in what I bought and from whom. Thankfully that was 50 years ago and I've gotten better at discerning.

My first new piece was a Marantz 2215 from Stereo City in Detroit. I still remember the box in box packing, the fake wood print on the inner box and the string ties holding the flaps down and the delightful smell of a factory new unit- unlike the old cat piss cigarette smoke yellowed stuff I first had. I was 14. 

My first Wilson's were used, as was my first Audio Research gear- I was so proud to own something so nice. 

Since that time it seems that it's about 60% new and 40% used. I still like the thrill of a well-bought piece I have desired for a long time. I have a list of items I want to own someday and I scour the used market carefully waiting for the right one at the right price to show up.  I've gotten pretty good at discerning which seller wants to get it sold and which ones hallucinate.