Purchasing used Audio Gear - Things to Consider Introduction
I realize that the vast majority of people want the best they can get for the least they have to spend. There are a few things you should consider when purchasing 'Used' or 'Pre-Enjoyed' audio gear:
* Have you got to 'test drive' the product or get told ' I just Unhooked but it was working perfectly' It only takes a few minutes to wire something up if it is in excellent working condition as described. I have an area set up for clients to come out and look through what I have, don't be afraid to look and touch, to mix and match, to listen to a few things if you want.
* Bring your own pieces to run with the ones you are interested in to see if they work together like you want.
* I would be a bit wary of anyone that wants to meet somewhere away from their residence and claims what they are selling is mint and works like new without you actually hearing it or seeing it in operation. Used is Used, unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there selling their failing or non working gear to someone they will never see again and have no trouble looking at themselves in the mirror after they have done it. I have been servicing other peoples electronics and it truly surprises me how much is brought here that was purchased with the understanding it was in perfect working condition before it was sold and the previous owner claims it must have been the new owner that damaged it.
* Understand that things degrade over time, foam speaker surrounds are one of them. They may look great and sound great when you purchased them, but, a few weeks later the speakers start rattling. You now have to replace parts on top of what you just paid for your 'new to you' speakers.
* Be wary of speakers that have been serviced by the owner, the alignment of the voice coil to the magnet is very important when the surrounds are replaced. If it is out even a little it will affect the sound quality. If the surrounds have been replaced ask about who did the work and if there is warranty on the work.
* A NOTE about crossovers and people that claim they have 'Upgraded' the crossovers by replacing electrolytic capacitors with polyester versions. While Polyester 'caps' are a better capacitor for storing energy to their electrolytic brothers, in an audio crossover design that does not make them a better choice. Send an email to Bowers and Wilkins, KEF, Paradigm, any of the big manufacturers asking them about upgrading caps in the mid/high sections of crossovers and they will tell you their own crossover designs use a mix of Electrolytic and Polyester Capacitors because in the audio world an electrolytic capacitor just plain does a better job for filtering audio, so, electrolytic's capacitors(there are different grades of electrolytic capacitors, an upgrade would be to switch to an 'audio grade' electrolytic capacitor) are mainly used in high and mid crossover networks and the polyester caps are used in the bass section where loss of highs makes no difference, it has nothing to do with saving money, it does have to do with ending up with the reproduction the designers were aiming for.
* Electronics components degrade over time, the higher the quality, the less likelihood of a problem.
* Capacitors drying out in amplifier output circuits can cause shorts usually shutting down amplifiers by tripping circuit breakers or blowing fuses. These are not that expensive to replace and usually are well worth the expense of having done in an older higher end amplifiers.
* Capacitors drying out in speaker crossover networks mostly affect the crossover frequencies applied to the drivers and generally do not cause drivers to fail, it either narrows or widens the frequency range going to a driver which changes the amount of overlap in frequencies compared to the original design.
* It is much easier to burn out speakers using a low powered amplifier and over-driving it than it is to burn speakers out from overpowering them with a high powered amplifier.
* https://www.focal.com/en/focal-teach/why-do-voice-coils-burn-out
* The term 'Mint Condition' is used quite a lot ..... mint condition means 'right off the production line' and does not correctly describe anything 'used' unless it has been 'fully restored' by a professional.
* Use copper wiring for speakers, Not copper clad aluminum(CCA) wire as it does not conduct near as well as solid copper. 18gauge wire should be the smallest you use for any distances over 25ft. I use and have used 16gauge 'lamp cord' as long as 50ft in recent projects and doing dances many decades ago and never have had any trouble burning out any drivers/speakers even running several hundred watts per channel RMS amplifiers into them.
* Do some research yourself to see if what you are told or described is in line with what several sources say.
* I would suggest it is better to pay a bit more for something taken care of or has already had service work done to try to ensure you enjoy your new toys for years to come.
* If you have questions, ask them, be comfortable and satisfied with what you are trying to accomplish.
* There are a few knowledgeable people out there, there are, Unfortunately, a lot more people that think they know more than they actually do and do not have any trouble giving their bad advice or their opinions, then disappearing into the woodwork when the bad advice they have given goes wrong.
* Just because someone describes themselves as an 'Audiophile' does not mean they are experts.
* Common Sense is not so Common anymore *
* Contrary to popular belief, Engineers DO NOT have all the answers. *
* Please remember that some brand new or seldom used older gear that has been sitting may work for years without troubles, or, it also may develop small troubles simply from lack of use. There is no warranty that comes with my gear no matter the condition unless I state it clearly in the ad. That being said if a piece of gear develops some troubles, give me a call and let me see if I can help you out. I like to think that I am a reasonable person within reason.
* There is no cure for misuse and abuse or just plainly being a 'Dumbass'. If you are unsure about how something wires up or works Ask Questions!! There is nothing more frustrating that talking with someone who was too proud to ask for assistance, but, instead wires up something wrong, burns or blows it up then attempts to blame their own mistakes on someone else.
* Re-Sellers, Ya, a bad word ? Maybe, Maybe Not .... Almost nobody wants to sell something to someone they think is going to resell their equipment for a 'Profit'. There's nothing more frustrating to see something you had sold for a good price to a nice person just to find it being resold for double or more. I know a few out here that purchase a good deal, taking advantage of someones good nature, telling whatever they have to get their hands on it, then take it home, do nothing to it and resell it for a lot more. There are also those out there, like myself, that have first hand experience dealing with people who have purchased something in 'New' or 'Mint' condition, they start using it for a while to have it fail or start coming apart then bring it to me for service and spend more money to make it work the way it should. Those people feel like they have been taken. I also know from experience attempting to purchase equipment from someone, If, the price is fair I offer full asking price, sometimes even more than asking price if I feel someones price is too low even considering what I may have to do to it. If I get asked if I am Dave the Audio Guy and answer Yes, what they have for sale is No Longer Available to me. I am an audio guy, love music, love audio gear, all kinds of audio gear. When I purchase something from someone else the vast majority is Not in what I would call Immediate re-salable condition, not in the condition that I want it to be even though the owner may think what he/she has is excellent. What they Do Not See behind the scenes is that I take apart, clean, replace things need replacing, re-build what needs rebuilding, clean, paint whatever needs to be done so the next person who owns it can enjoy it with little worry about things Not working the way they should. Even though this is something I enjoy doing in my free time I feel I should get something for my investment, and I do. You will never seen any of my equipment priced high. Always priced to sit on it for as little time as possible. If some of the complainers actually sat down and watched what I do and see how little I upcharge for what I have done they might understand that better my investment making their equipment last as long as I can then to have it come here and the person who purchased it felt like they got taken as most times what they pay, plus my repair costs exceeds what I would have sold it to them for with it already done. If someone does not ask me if I am going to resell it I do not volunteer the information. They are selling something for a price, I am willing to pay the price that should be the end of it. What I do with it is really should be none of their concern. Would they give the person who purchased something from them a refund if they were contacted and told it stopped working? or were told they should foot some of the repair bill ... most likely not. I pay my dime knowing I am going to have to invest time and energy into it before passing it on to someone else to enjoy with less worry about it failing.
