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.
Longtime Flipper. As a result I’ve afforded far better gear than I’d likely have acquired. But that ended in 2010. Markets changed. At one time AG was rocking. I’m talking ‘96 to 2004. Not so much since then. USAM owns the resell world as far as I’m concerned. I miss the days of rec.audio.marketplace, Audio Web, and many others!
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@zavato “l no longer loan gear to anyone” l have always had the same logic with regard to LPs. People in general just do not respect things as much as l do. If l was to loan something, it is because l think it is of some value artistically. Your experience with loaning gear and not getting it back applies to my own books and films borrowed by friends and family. Months later, after ample time for their return, when l enquire and ask for them to give back the items, l am more often than not, greeted with a blank face. Sometimes even denying l had ever given them, to them. I have often had back steely looks with no offers for financial redress, that makes me wish l had asked for a deposit. I still never lend out records to this day, and l never offer to loan out anything of value. l love the advert on TV of the guy with a garage load of power tools. A neighbour asks if he can borrow a few, and says “l will return them” “Sure”, says the loaner, “l know you will” and takes a photo of the guy on the driveway holding all the tools.
Now that has given me an idea for future loan outs. |
