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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
cleeds
6,601 posts
 

For the most part, I’m a keeper. VPI turntable and SME arm date to ’94. Infinity IRS Beta, Bryston and CJ amplifiers, McIntosh tuner are all older than that. Enjoyed my ARC Ref 5SE for 11 years after literally decades with an ARC SP-11 - recently upgraded to my dealer’s Ref6SE demo.

But, there are exceptions. I upgraded my first real streamer (a nice Raspberry Pi effort with a Digiplus HAT for digital out) to an Aurender in ’19. That was a h-u-g-e disappointment and I dumped the Aurender within months. I’ve been happy with a Bryston BDP-3 ever since.

In short: I tend not to replace or repair what isn’t broken.

signaforce's avatar
signaforce
564 posts
 

Since I began this hobby in late 2022, I have been a flipper… 4 sets of speakers, 4 amps, 3 preamps, 4 DAC’s etc.

However, I believe have reached the keeper stage.  I believe my system has become quite refined & balanced. IMHO.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
6,044 posts
 

When I was new to all this stuff I had little to no money, so I built the Hafler stuff and traded it. Did the same with everything. However, now I still have too much equipment laying around in the basement.  Can you say Stereo 400 amp and Bang and Olsen Beogram1900 TT, ARC- SP9 MK2 preamp?

kennyc
3,064 posts
 

audionutjeff
77 posts
 

Rabid, enthusiastic, FLIPPER!!!

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