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Are you a keeper or a flipper?

Do you keep you audio gear for a long time or do you tend to change gear frequently? 
I would say I’m a keeper. I’ve owned my Linn turntable 28 years; I’ve owned my Revel speakers and Pass amp/preamp/phono 11 years. I’ve also had my cd player and tuner over 10 years. 
Ironically, my newest piece, bought in 2025, is the oldest hifi gear I own- a Thorens TD124; I bought that from the daughter of a friend who passed away. My friend was the original owner. I view my purchase of the Thorens as a special circumstance. The friend that passed had a lot of hifi gear - all of it interesting, but the only piece that drew me in was the Thorens. I knew he used to have a Marantz pre and power amp- tubed- but those were sold years back. 

zavato
dwest1023
362 posts
 

I’m a buyer. I buy and keep. 8 amps, 14 pairs of speakers. I just rotate, that way I never get bored.

zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,503 posts
 

I have loaned gear to friends and family. Nothing, with one exception, has ever been returned. I’ve loaned out two turntables- one apparently disappeared and the other- my relative said he threw it out (a Kenwood) once he bought a cd player, explaining I already had another turntable. A cassette deck (Teac) was loaned to another relative and that too was thrown away. Both were still working and in neither instance when gear was tossed was I ever asked if I want it back. Two receivers have also vanished, and one of those was a very nice pioneer 50 series receiver. I’ve also loaned photo gear and there, I never got back a Nikkor zoom lens and a pro battery pack for a flash. 
 

I no longer loan gear to anyone- with the exception of having loaned a $25 Bluetooth receiver which in fact I got back. 

jond's avatar
jond
6,106 posts
 

Definitely a keeper though I have changed a few things lately. Oldest piece I have is my preamp which I've had for 20 years now!

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,723 posts
 

In my earlier years, I did a lot of buying, selling, trading and finagling audio equipment.  That all stopped in 2017-2018 when I went all out and completed both systems.  I did (last week) purchase a new open box Denon 1700 SACD player.  I bought it so I would have something to listen to while I sent my Esoteric SACD player to Tap Electronics in California for a new tray belt. To be honest, I am really liking this Denon player, I don't feel I am giving up that much over the Esoteric.

kennyc
3,037 posts
 

Keeper. When my kids were young, maybe like a zookeeper 😉

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