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


I know some folks that will only buy new gear, and others that will only buy used gear, and of course, those that will sometimes buy new and sometimes buy used gear. Where are you on this spectrum? 

Personally, about 1/2 my main system consists of gear that was bought used (or store demo), and none was the worse for it. 

zavato

Although I bought everything new, I never bought anything unless the seller guaranteed me I could return it.  I’ve left a lot of very disgruntled dealers in the lurch.  

I once returned a Mitsubishi turntable. The dealer picked up the turntable and threw it on the floor, screaming “another MitsuTurkey!”

 

I have a truck and trailer, took psych time off of work or adopted a baby gov gave me 3 month paid va ka. Went from cali, wow diesel costly, to east coast.picked up alot of used stuff infinity irs v,mcintosh xrt 2k ,legacy valor ect all 30 cents on $ . Fed ex runed my wilson max and evolution acoustics  mm3 with fork lift through crate. So if I can go get it I do. Got a usaid grant for speaker therapy psych treatment will publish results next month and of course it's a double blind non biased study. If you are one of the kind audiophiles I met in my travels ,thanks for the therapy. I do get open box on occasion.   I don't mind resoldering boards,recapping from digikey? And reforming measuring speakers and replacing.  Enjot the therapy.😃

Not only do I normally buy used but I keep my gear for a long time, because I buy good stuff that I like (not a reviewer). My core system is 35+ years old and plenty satisfying and easily takes me away to a nicer place. I just can't listen to any newer high-end stuff because that WILL show the deficiencies and interfere with my journey. A few years ago I was stupid enough to let a friend put his new 10k+ interconnect in and, ever since, I've lusted for that sound again. Unfortunately, that interconnect alone costs many times the total cost of my system and is neither cost-effective nor in any way affordable. Gotta dream, though!!!

For my primary system, I bought used Moon 700i when new North Collection came out. Used Vandersteen Treo CT speakers, used Mola Mola Tambaqui Dac, used Grimm MU1 and new Nordost cables. I built my Roon server.

 

My second system was all new, Peachtree Gan400 amp with preDAC and PS Audio AirLens and Laiv Harmony Dac with Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL

People have upgrade fever and I bought my used system for around 60% of MSRP in mint condition. When I sell them, I will not lose much investment money.