Is it ok to buy used audio equipment?
Is it ok to buy used audio equipment?
We’re all on some sort of financial budget. Is it ok to buy used and if so, what products come first? Is there a guide to purchasing and assembling a first-time system? Have a question you want Paul to answer? http://www.psaudio.com/ask-paul/
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Thumbs up for used equipment!!! (there’s an inherent risk obviously) California Audio Labs cl-2500 mca (difficult repair scenario), Oppo 105 (well, you know), Anthem D2 (twonky hdmi). But I got each for a song and a dance!
That’s what i did. I had a crappy walmart home theatre amp. I bought a complete set of infinity interlude speakers (two il10, two il30, one il25c, and one il100s). Then i bought a good amp. Im still frequently buying new gear (amps,subs…) But still have my interlude speakers.
Helpful information here, too: https://youtu.be/0etaANt3x6k
Recently purchased (used) Simaudio Moon Evolution 600i, and 650D. Both of these components are currently available on their web-site and dealers new for $9k each. I paid less than HALF for each component. Both in mint condition. Currently waiting for FedEx to deliver my Martin-Logan Summit X loudspeakers (used, still under warranty!). These sold for $15k when new. Mine include the $1,500 Zebra wood option. This brings their total to $16,500. I paid $6k. That’s $34,500 worth of Hi-end equipment (that I could NEVER afford), for $15k. Saving me almost $20k. I’m very happy.
Now I remember being told many years ago that you shouldn’t hook up junk to nice speakers? Even though I had a decent Onkyo back in the day (late 80’s) when I got my Infinity RSIIIa’s they would kill it on a regular basis (trip the internal breakers). When finally looking for a replacement Receiver I was told over and over that cheap receivers would damage the speakers. Lucky enough I have upgraded a couple times over the years mainly because things are cheaper for better quality then I could buy before so I have not been presented with that dilemma since but …..speakers first?
Almost, everything I have is used. I would never have spent the money I would have had to buy the equipment I have new. Theoretically, it is worth it, but my family comes first and it would have been a lot of money at a time we and my wife were raising a family. High-end, well maintained equipment lasts a long time and should provide few problems. It, if it is analog, it is also as good as newer versions of the equipment — more a difference in styles than anything else.
All this changes for digital. The newer equipment is just better. Digital sound was pretty rough even 10 years ago. You will not get anything as good as a DirectStream or even PerferctWave ( if comparable product exist from other companies) if you go back too many years.
Skip to 3:40 for the answer
i use a high end computer soundcard. isn’t this the same since it has a dac built in? what is the purpose of an external dac?
Wish I’d thought of this when I first started. Now, I have a ton of speakers that are pretty good, but not nearly end-game. The ADS L810’s I’m using now are leagues better than the cheap B&W, Klipsch and others I bought previously. I think of all the wasted money and time and it makes me cringe.
Hi Paul I’ve been pondering getting a Dac to stream my iTunes library from my iMac to my Preamplifier. I wrote you about a week or so ago. Asking your advice/opinion as I’m on a beer pocket champagne kind of task lol. I would love to buy a brand new DirectStream from you, but my current budget doesn’t allow it. You suggested Shiit Audio, but by coincidence I was thinking I may be able to but a used PS Audio Dac. And I stumble onto this video. I’m seriously considering buying a used PS Audio piece. If you no longer make it would I still have it checked out and brought up to date by sending it to you after I buy it. All the reviews I’ve read speak very highly about your products. As I stated last time I own a GCHA Headphone Amp for several years and I have enjoyed it with no issues what so ever. So by this I can personally attest to the quality of your products. Thank you in advance for your reply. And a Happy New Year to you and yours.
I meant watt rms.
I am sorry but who is Richard and what speakers did he design?
Nearly all my gear is bought used except , tuner and Pre-amp(hand made tube amp 🙂 )
Please get to the point faster. Speak to the camera/audience/listener. Make shorter videos. Jump-cut edit if needed.
Yes it is a great way to start a system on a budget and/or to get some hi-end gear at bargain prices. Or you can go with super-high value new gear like the Elac Debut 2.0 series speakers.
At least 20 years old, before most brands got sold to Chinese
Thanks Paul! I really love these videos, and live in Denver, so i plan to come visit soon. I just wanted to comment on this video because my first pair of hi-fi speakers, were in-fact the Vandersteen 2Cs! I bought them used from the original owner about 4 years ago and am currently powering them with a Peachtree decco65. Thanks again for the great videos!
Where is this said mentioned "MUSIC ROOM"
Agreed with you, Paul. I like new equipment, just the way I am. First hand owner. But for speakers, good used pair is the best way to go with. The very main reason, it takes at least a year of normal routing listening to have new ones quite run-in for reoroducing "real" musical sounds. Imagine that some new speakers sounded harsh, stiff, hard that are stressful and painful to the ears with mental torture. Sitting there for that long before you said "ah, now it is getting better". The ego of first moment of enjoyment is not there. Everyday was having bad music. So buying good old bargain expensive quality speakers is an excellent way to quite immediately enjoying musical sounds.
never had anything new
60 feet high…..??? It’s a two story building. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aPHpvSrAtAs https://goo.gl/images/pyPSfd
Thanks for doing these video’s of the new facility. Well done, answering this difficult question.
1 speakers 2 amp 3 source 4 D.A.C. unless your source I a computer, reverse 3 and4.
i love my vandies!
LOL, you walked completely out of frame at 4:50! Must have broken some rules somewhere
Anechoic for RF is not the same as for Audio even though it looks similar and has some good acoustic damping. It is true there is some advantage for the sound in an RF chamber, it is not as good as an audio chamber.
Due to the nature of the work of the prior tenant, they probably did not want the abilities of the stuff they work on to be known, so this was not released to a 3rd party as used gear.
Why should I buy that book at Amazon, when I can get it used at ebay? 🙂
Most of my gear (I have way too much) was bought used on eBay. I have several systems set up around the house, but even one of my least expensive system sounds pretty sweet.
Parasound 2125 amp (working perfectly) $105 US
Parasound C1 controller (sounds better than any $1000 or even higher priced preamp I’ve heard) $350 US
Kef LS50s New on sale in Canada for $685 US
S.M.S.L. SU-8 (sweet) Dac New for $250 US.
This system sounds much better than $1200-$1300 spent on new equipment. I’ve had other component set up with the 2125 amp: B&K Ref 50 ($40 US), a lesser S/M.S.L Dac ($100 US) and Kef Q100s ($210 US on sale), which still sounded really decent for a $450 entire system. I had to repair the Ref 50 with a $2 voltage regulator (it was listed "fix or repair"), but the unit literally looked brand new and I noticed in the picture of the 2125 amp that the selector switch was set to trigger, so I gambled that was the reason it wouldn’t power on. I set the switch to manual and it powered up and has been working flawlessly for 5 years now. My point is that I may have got a few exceptional deals, but overall I think people can set up a very good system without breaking the bank.
Some people might worry about longevity with used gear, but if the unit looks like it wasn’t abused, it will likely outlast any cheaper made new gear. Used gear sounds way better than new, because you get way more bang for your buck.
I have to say I bought a full rack stereo system piece by piece off eBay for my garage (used for garage stuff not a man cave) for less then $130. The Marantz Receiver originally listed for 850 bucks alone. Kids want earpods and phones not anything you have to plug into a wall and then plug into other pieces that have to plug into a wall to make work. Their loss not mine. As a teenager in the 80’s I only wished to have the high end stuff. Well wishes do come true because I have it, high end stuff from the 90’s and 2000’s too and all for pennies on the dollar.
Lol, they didn’t want you to have the secret echoes that were soaked up into the anechoic chambers there.
Speakers have gotten alot better in the last few years. Amplification is a good place to purchase used. Used source bieng #1. Use separates and not recievers or all in one units. You can get a good used integrated at the price of these cheap modern units.
I would suggest a pair of the original large Advents and an Advent receiver if you can find a working one and an old Magnavox CD player. As a starter system.
Buying used gear helps sellers afford and justify the purchase of new product which I would never be able to afford.
Some manufacturers frown on this because they see it as a lost sell. Don’t give those guys your money.
A mixture of old and new here. I love marrying classic, proven speakers with contemporary tube amplification.
Paul, not many buildings have "60-70 feet ceilings" (not even close). I can tell from the scale of you that the room is not 50 feet wide also. I hope you don’t exaggerate so much when referring to audio, haha.
This is where I fully approve Pauls message. And don’t forget your room – there’s stuff you can do without paying an arm and a leg. Just study.
Colorado has some great musicians. Wouldn’t it be cool if Gus could record a local drummer in that room before you build it out.
I agree. Also make sure the speakers you buy will cover your room. Also make sure you match the wattage to the amp you are buying. A 100rms watt amp will not drive a 1000rms watt speaker.
that’s a business man with ethics and respect, sad (not really) that I mainly into headphones otherwise I’d love to do business with this company
before buying used audio gear, make sure you know a reliable and trustworthy electronics technician who can repair it if it gets broken sometime in the future. most loudspeaker cone drivers are made from plastics or rubber or what have you. they degrade, brittle after some time. exact replacement drivers can be either hard to find or available at such an inflated price, or you have to have them re-coned, which means more money comes out of your pocket. buying used audio gear means you must have information about the product you want to buy, physical inspection of the interest item, and also audition. this is my experience of buying used audio gear.
YES
The only thing I’d have to say about the buying high end speakers and trying to power to power them with a $200-500 AVR is to be careful. I’d assume most who watch your content would know better but trying to drive high end speakers especially 6-4ohm with a cheap AVR would be a great way to destroy some tweeters! Even the AVR while you are at it.
Never can have too much power as long as you are not pushing the speakers beyond their limits, too little and you will clip the amp. The tweeters are especially sensitive to clipping but not exclusively limited to the tweeters obviously. You practically have to spend a $1000 plus to get a decent AVR. Most receivers skimp on sound quality to pack in as many features as possible because that’s what sells. The company producing the AVR isn’t the one paying for “certifications/licensing,” the buyer is.
Don’t get me started on the ridiculous hoops these companies go through to get incredibly inflated wattage ratings. There’s plenty of what would be considered today as vintage low watt amps that would floor most of these inflated wattage receivers today.
I would love to have this area as a shop & realizing it’s constrained as such, use it as a building block for the future!👍
I’m from Holland and wenwaudio is my dealer, they sell a lot of used products and new if you like. Without second hand stuff it would be much harder to have nice stuff. I’d rather spend 10k on second hand stuff than on new. Let somebody else spend 30k on it and after some years it’s mine. But I’m getting much more slow with changing stuff now. I think I have something I can grow old with. I would only change for a jm lab grande utopia but I cannot afford those anyway.
I’ve found Robert Harley’s Guide to High-End Audio to be indispensable. I’ve tried to dispense with it and no luck. In fact, I own four copies. I use them as an amp stand. Excellent EMI/RF rejection properties. Worthwhile reading, mmmmm….not so much…YMMV…
Really great advice, thank you for your honesty and integrity, sir.
i always make sure there are returns with used stuff. it shows the seller has confidence in what they are selling
Build your speakers yourself. It’s not so difficult.
Bought some kef x300a for 200 mint condition for my desk. Awesome speakers.
Also, b and w 602 for 100 + shipping, the base is not good for music, awesome for movies, take the lower frequency out and music is like nothing else.
kef 600c for 220.
Now I’m looking for an AVR from denon used and Tower speakers.
After that, my surround system is complete <3
Why buy new, when speakers have a long life span and people who upgrade usually don’t even touch their speakers other than cleaning them from dust once or twice a month.
The anechoic chamber went to the trash?…for all the gods sakes why!!!???