Do you keep or resell gear? Does resale value influence your purchase decision?

[JeffS7444]

I think my biggest hifi-buying years were my 20s and 30s. At the time, I was buying stuff I could barely afford, so I never considered keeping the old stuff. And I guess that it became a habit for me. And just as well, because my area is subject to high winds and dry conditions, ideal for fast-moving fires.

 

[NiagaraPete]

I really enjoy trying new audio gear and my budget goes a lot further if I buy used (when possible) and sell off gear I don't use.

It does make me less inclined to buy off brands or unusual stuff. Genelec, for instance, retains it's value but it's also hard to find at great used prices.

Do you keep old gear you aren't using or sell it? Do you purchase with an eye to resell it later?

I tend to buy to keep, but every ten years or so I sell off my gear and buy again. In the past it's been a mix of new and used but my latest system was all new.

 

[DanielT]

I have a love for buying and trying out small, inexpensive hi-fi gear, and I don't think I'm the only one. I've lost count of the number of small class D amplifiers I've owned, dacs, bookshelf speakers, I try them, play with them a bit, then maybe sell them.
I love listening to music more than anyone but this is also part of my passion and I enjoy it, generally they are cheap products so I often keep them (and accumulate) other times I sell them or give them away.
It's innocent fun and not very expensive in the end
(I tend to buy high-end products only once and keep them)

I was like you a few years ago, regarding amplifiers. But in the end I didn't know what to do because I started to question whether I was just imagining hearing differences between them. After being active on ASR for a number of years and absorbing the technical information and knowledge available here, I can most likely say that was the case. Imagining that is. As long as an amp has enough power, and the functions I want, I'm happy.
However, I still have some skepticism about load-dependent small class D amplifiers.

However, I still think speakers are fun to test. Then I buy used in the lower price category. However, I have been a bit bad at selling off in the past year. I have to pull myself together and do it. I will probably sell my Tannoy T225 Mayfair. A pair of surprisingly pleasant ten-inch coaxials, but they take up too much space. Are too tricky to furnish my living room with.

I only buy used speakers from well-known brands because it is easier to find a reasonable resale value for them.

My last purchase was a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 220 for $90.
I came close to buying a pair of six-month-old Wharfedale Linton 85th that were sold at an attractive price a few months ago. At that price, I knew I wouldn't lose on that deal if I were to sell them in the near future. I thought it would be fun to test them out. There were probably more people than me who thought so because they sold in a few hours.
The trick to buying speakers at a good price is to find them early when they are advertised and snap them up right away. No hesitating, just buy them right away.

 

[Multicore]

Now ask me about musical instruments, effects, devices, etc. Do I buy for resale value? I changed my mind, please don't ask.

 

[Blumlein 88]

I purchased almost everything I've owned second hand. Years ago it was just cheaper. I found if you purchase brands well built that hold value you can purchase, keep for awhile and sell with either no loss, little loss or sometimes a bit of profit. That also allowed me to own lots of varied gear over the years. I would also say that coincided with the rise of subjective mags and reviewing. That meant some items had status and cachet. Buying those meant resale was easy for years afterward. Also back then much of that gear was overbuilt. Whether it was better sounding it was overbuilt and lasted quite well. This also meant as I saved a little money I could periodically recoup it add some disposable income and the money available for my sound slowly grew over the years.

Another factor was shipping. Cost of shipping even inflation adjusted has gone way up from those days. So buying/selling from across the country or even internationally didn't factor in so much.

One factor that ate into this was changing tech that meant many sources at least couldn't remain relevant for years. Even if the sound didn't really improve every couple of years was some new approach to DACs. So old ones fell out of favor. These days with such good electronics, even highly powerful class D amps, the only part where you can effectively do this is speakers. Also otoh speakers are the only part you need to spend big money upon. So were I doing this now, I might take the same approach mostly with just speakers. To a lesser extent just staring out I might scrimp a bit on amps too. Plenty are powerful enough to work with most speakers in most homes.

I've done a little recording and I also do this with microphones. Good ones hold their appeal for a long time. So buying 2nd hand, trying them out, reselling if they don't suit or to get something better and move on. These days transducers are what matter. Headphones, speakers and microphones.

 

[ta240]

........... Unfortunately I tend to keep it because I do not enjoy the selling process. I really ought to get rid of this stuff......

I'd love to try more equipment but I also despise selling things. Things either go in the attic or to the hazardous waste drop off.

I've done a lot of DIY and the curse of that is it really isn't worth much when it is done..

 

[Chrispy]

I keep gear and use it generally (have several systems going, four multich and one 2ch and I still have some gear leftover if I get inspired for another room). I find reselling a pain particularly where I live (and the last several places I've lived), just not that many potential customers nearby and is somewhat a hassle to deal with anyways. I don't think about resale value when I buy. I have taken advantage of depreciation on some used gear here and there but the same is true in reverse, not much local to choose from anyways (can't say I've ever seen a listing for used Genelec monitors in the last few areas I've lived....that could be interesting, tho). I am pretty happy with what I've got and haven't spent much on audio/video except for content (am still a disc guy) for a while.

ps I have donated some gear to a few local businesses so tunes can be enjoyed by staff/customers....

 

[wadude]

I had a flurry of experimentation in my twenties before settling on long term vintage preamp, amps and speakers, but went through a few CD players and ancillaries. Never got into the cable thing aside from the industry standards; Belden for speakers, Canare and/or Mogami for ICs. Cables are like jeans or underwear, if they fit, you’re set.

I don’t buy to sell, although I bought low and have done okay if you don’t count tubes and maintenance. Met really great people along the way!

 

[DanielT]

Speaking of the unusual stuff that TS wrote.

Think about this. What are a pair of six months old Liionidas Extreme MK2 (Silver 10 EVO version) speakers worth?
They are in mint condition. The seller bought them new for $5700 and is now selling them for: $3000:

Liionidas Extreme MK2 (Silver 10 EVO version) High End openbaffelhögtalare

Liionidas Extreme MK2 (Silver 10 EVO version) High End openbaffelhögtalare Absolut en utav de bästa högtalarna jag har ägt Originalemballage finns men måste hämtas. Köpt ny 2024/6/13 knap

hifitorget.se

Loudspeakers | Lii Audio Europe

lii-audio-europe.com

If the seller spots his ad at the right time, that is, if he is lucky enough to find a buyer looking for exactly that pair of speakers, it could be a deal. But if not?
I mean, let's say a Hifi enthusiast who wants to test open baffle speakers, how can he know if $3000 for them is a reasonable price? It would be a bit of a gamble to buy them.
(I'm not a potential buyer, just took these as examples)

On the contrary, well-known brand, where it's much easier to figure out a reasonable second-hand value ....let me check on the same used HiFi site... aha a pair of Elac FS 267 in good condition. The seller wants $1000 for them. Thats reasonable because I see that a pair of white ones were sold for $1100 a few weeks ago.

Elac FS 267

Säljer mina Elac fs 267 högtalare. Skicket är mycket bra. Otroligt snygga och välljudande högtalare som inte tar mycket plats. Basporten pekar nedåt så de kan placeras nära vägg utan prob

hifitorget.se

Edit:
Speaking of value. Some old vintage Hifi can even be seen as an investment. Think about that if you have some old Hifi sitting around in a cupboard collecting dust. Even if you don't use the stuff, check it to make sure it's not damaged by moisture and so on. Here are some examples of vintage that have increased in value/price:

 

[OldHvyMec]

I have been a Mcintosh fan for over 50 years now. I have always been pretty thrifty and had an eye for a deal, especially vintage gear.

When I first tried Cary I was impressed with the look and versatility of the different valves they could use and how you could change the
sound for a few extra bucks. Things have changed only because the cost and availability have changed over the last 10 years or so.
I'm glad I picked up my hoard before prices went through the roof on valves so I'm set for two more lifetimes or until my great-grandson
is 90 years old.

There is some gear that I bought that I never intended to resell. Class D amps I always saw them as disposable yet they have held up
pretty well. I'm a creature of habit so it takes a lot more than a good review or a low price to entice me from what I know will hold up
to what might hold up for at least 20-30 years.

I'd doubt I would change to any of the newer NCores just because there is a .0001 difference in distortion. No one could tell the difference
from gen 1 to the second generation anyway.

The type of speaker drivers (with few exceptions) have stayed the same, well over 40 years now. I made up my mind when my ears were at
their best as to what I like and how they work. Newer speakers no matter the manufacturer aren't going to change my mind. I have a
standing army of cabinets and the type of drivers I like. I'm familiar with what it takes to please me. Pretty simple "To thine own self be true"
and there is no reason to change. Like I said I'm a creature of habit. As a mechanic I've NEVER been one to fix what wasn't broken to begin with.

Probably the reason I've been with the same lady for 52 years now.

Regards

 

[Waxx]

I bought, repaired and sold a lot of gear in the past, it was one of my way's to make a few bucks when i was stll very poor (and unemployed a lot of times).

But now i don't have time for that anymore, i work fulltime and got other things to do. It's probally 4 years since i sold anything, and i buy very rarely new gear, speakers i make myself (also for the fun of doing it) and amps are alread what i need, some clean amps and some coloured like i want. I may buy more amps and dsp's to go active multiway on more places, but that's it. My main moneypit (and very limited) is speaker building, i'm always thinking about the next project, even if my house is already overflowing with speakers. And as they are very tuned to myself, they are not that easy to sell or give away.

 

[Mart68]

In the early '90s I went back to college so I was poor and used to buy and sell for a small profit. Then for a long time just had the same system.

Between 2010 and 2020 had large disposable income so bought a lot of kit that took my fancy. Didn't overpay but with no thought to resale value. Didn't matter to me.

Rarely try to sell anything but have had friends and acquaintances come round and pick out whole systems for themselves, like it was a shop. I always lost money on that but hundreds not thousands and it did thin the hoard out a bit. Gave away some of it for nothing too. Gave some speakers away just this week, think they owed me £300 but so what? I have lots of speakers I don't use, and they take up too much space in a small house.

 

[thulle]

As I tend to sit by my pc in positions like I'd taken it as a challenge to move my head as far away from monitor centerline as possible I bought a pair of used genelec 8341A on impulse to check if the coaxial design would improve the audio experience.
Would not have done that if I wasn't fairly sure I'd be able to resell them if I figure out another solution.

 

[DanielT]

My main moneypit (and very limited) is speaker building, i'm always thinking about the next project, even if my house is already overflowing with speakers. And as they are very tuned to myself, they are not that easy to sell or give away.

My main moneypit (and very limited) is speaker building,...

Interesting. A few questions that are OT for the thread, but I'm curious. speaker building,.In what way? Repair and restoration? New construction? If so, do you have a specialty or focus on any specific type of speaker construction? In other words, any niche? Something you don't commit on doing?

Speaking of niche, Joseph Crowe seems to be subverting the area of custom-made horns/waveguides together with compression drivers. Then usually in slightly larger relatively high sensitive, high SPL capable speakers. Perhaps that's the way forward for a small manufacturer, to niche themselves and offer custom unique solutions?

Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products

Bring your Music to Life! About Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products is owned and operated by Troy J. Crowe in Picton, Ontario, Canada—located between Ottawa and Toronto. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing custom, high-end horn speaker music...

www.youtube.com

 

[Waxx]

My main moneypit (and very limited) is speaker building,...

Interesting. A few questions that are OT for the thread, but I'm curious. speaker building,.In what way? Repair and restoration? New construction? If so, do you have a specialty or focus on any specific type of speaker construction? In other words, any niche? Something you don't commit on doing?

Speaking of niche, Joseph Crowe seems to be subverting the area of custom-made horns/waveguides together with compression drivers. Then usually in slightly larger relatively high sensitive, high SPL capable speakers. Perhaps that's the way forward for a small manufacturer, to niche themselves and offer custom unique solutions?

Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products

Bring your Music to Life! About Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products Joseph Crowe Custom Audio Products is owned and operated by Troy J. Crowe in Picton, Ontario, Canada—located between Ottawa and Toronto. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing custom, high-end horn speaker music...

www.youtube.com

I do both, repairing and modding speakers for others mainly, and build new myself. I like to design my own builds myself, even if i know i don't have all the skills tools or budget that pro's have. But designing is half the fun, and i don't want to skip that. I'm in downtime now for medical reasons since a while altough (but things are getting better).

I like single driver fullrange speakers; even if i know the limits of those. But i don't limit myself to that. I designed and made all kind of speakers, for myself or others. I'm an amateur in this, but my designs are rated by friends who have them or hear them so it's not that bad i guess... It's a hobby that i like a lot, not my profession or so, and all i know is self study. I'm not formally trained in anything to do with speakers or even physics. But i know a lot of (good) speakers, some use very often are superclean (Genelec, Kii) so i got good references. Not that I claim mine come close, but they are not that bad, and a lot better than a lot that is commercially sold.

And the knowledge i got trough that helps also to judge a speaker fast without measurments or even listening to that. If you know the physics behind it, you can easely see where claims are made that are not possible, or how a speaker will react to a room. You don't know the details or have all the info, but seeing a speaker tells me already a lot on how it's working and not working. And knowing the basics of electronics helps also, also with other audio gear (amps, dacs, ...).

Joseph Crowe is good in what he does. It's very niche, but it's based on measurements and physics, not audiowhoo. His plans are used a lot because they do what he promises. This kind of bussinesses are all over Europe present also. They choose a niche in music (often connected to a music style or lifestyle) and make speakers tuned to that, mostly handmade small series. And they mostly don't cost an arm and a leg altough custom hand made in Europe is not cheap.

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

I usually buy stuff new and always have in mind the moment where I might sell it.
And for sure , it influences my choice.
When replacing an item, I never keep it as spare item and put it on sell straight away.
I always sell items at half price of retail price despite these are in pure mint condition.
It always finds a new owner quickly (using 'leboncoin' a local french version of eBay - ).

I replaced few amplifiers, speakers, pre/pro over years. But not as often other ones in the forum.

I am now not expecting to make any change until a component dies (should not happens for many years) even if sometimes, when no valid reasons, an ephemeral desire to swap something for a new one occurs

 

[Peterinvan]

I sold my Canon 5DII camera (with 24-105 lens) to justify the expense of my LCD XC purchase. Regret selling the camera; no regrets buying the
Audeze

 

[Mort]

I get the aversion to selling. Like anything, one gets better at it with experience but it can be distasteful, irritating and inefficient.

 

[DanielT]

I do both, repairing and modding speakers for others mainly, and build new myself. I like to design my own builds myself, even if i know i don't have all the skills tools or budget that pro's have. But designing is half the fun, and i don't want to skip that. I'm in downtime now for medical reasons since a while altough (but things are getting better).

I like single driver fullrange speakers; even if i know the limits of those. But i don't limit myself to that. I designed and made all kind of speakers, for myself or others. I'm an amateur in this, but my designs are rated by friends who have them or hear them so it's not that bad i guess... It's a hobby that i like a lot, not my profession or so, and all i know is self study. I'm not formally trained in anything to do with speakers or even physics. But i know a lot of (good) speakers, some use very often are superclean (Genelec, Kii) so i got good references. Not that I claim mine come close, but they are not that bad, and a lot better than a lot that is commercially sold.

And the knowledge i got trough that helps also to judge a speaker fast without measurments or even listening to that. If you know the physics behind it, you can easely see where claims are made that are not possible, or how a speaker will react to a room. You don't know the details or have all the info, but seeing a speaker tells me already a lot on how it's working and not working. And knowing the basics of electronics helps also, also with other audio gear (amps, dacs, ...).

Joseph Crowe is good in what he does. It's very niche, but it's based on measurements and physics, not audiowhoo. His plans are used a lot because they do what he promises. This kind of bussinesses are all over Europe present also. They choose a niche in music (often connected to a music style or lifestyle) and make speakers tuned to that, mostly handmade small series. And they mostly don't cost an arm and a leg altough custom hand made in Europe is not cheap.

Good luck with your projects and business.

In Sweden, there is a decent business selling upgrade kits for Stig Carlsson's top-selling speaker models from the 1970s. Still good resale value on those speakers. People are nostalgic, I imagine, and want to get their old "gems" working again. People pay a fair amount for it. Here, for example, an upgrade kit for the OA12 model:

2 x SB Acoustics Satori MW16P-8
4 x T22oa Tweeter
2 x Soldered crossovers
That kit costs $800.

Uppgraderingssats OA-12 Satori

<div role="alert" style="background:#FFF6E5;border:1px solid #F5C06A;color:#7A4B00;padding:12px 16px;border-radius:8px;font-size:0.95rem;line-height:1.4;"> <strong>Obs!</strong> Obi T22-diskanten är tillfälligt slut och beräknas åter i början av 2026.

www.hifikit.se

As far as I know, that kit was developed by Ingvar Öhman, a well-known and talented Swedish speaker designer. That kit has the potential to be good. It would have been fun to see some measurements on OA12 speakers with that kit installed in them.

OA12, with original drivers when measurement was carried out plus some other information:

Sonab OA-12 - CarlssonPlanet

More pictures of OA-12 HISTORY In 1973 the first true stereo speakers of Stig Carlsson’s design were introduced. Named Sonab OA-12 and Sonab OA-14 and the first Carlsson speakers built as left and right. Both models had the majority of the speaker elements pointed in direction to the listening...

carlssonplanet.com

Something similar might be something for you to do? That is, offer upgrades to Belgium's best-selling (now vintage) speakers. Maybe with the additional option of mounting the stuff? But maybe you already do that?

 

[Multicore]

I'd love to try more equipment but I also despise selling things. Things either go in the attic or to the hazardous waste drop off.

I've got all this stuff I don't even really want to recoup the $s I just want it to go to a home where it will be useful and maybe even enjoyed. But listing it and dealing with buyers... ugh.