That’s why it pays to be patient!
And yes, none of this gear has so much as a scratch, bruise or pimple. I take that back, the Denon does have a tiny veneer chip on one corner.
The Mytek and Audiolab were USAM finds. The BAT, Aria, and Stratos were Craigslist. People discount Craigslist as a dumping ground for cheap junk, and that’s generally true. But it depends on your location. My local Craigslist has McIntosh, Belles, Ohm Walsh, Proac, Apogee, Thorens, Atma-Sphere, Bel-Canto listings right now just to name a few. A lot of well to do guys who just want stuff gone. I picked up the dp57-l by luck. Was at a fella’s house looking at a pair of Avance speakers when I saw it just sitting in the corner. Asked him about it and he said he never uses it and told me If I want it, I can have it for $250. No brainer!
Had to drive from southeast CT. to the Berkshire Mountains in Mass. for the BAT, but totally worth it. Guy owned a recording studio in a ritzy hamlet up there. He bought an old church and converted it. Nice fella. Stratos came from a guy who’s dad passed. He had to ask me what it was for, as he wasn’t sure. Aria was a shorter trip to Mass. None of these were lowball offers. They were right at, or just a touch below asking price, and none required any type of repair.
As they say: Location, location, location!