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I tend to buy mostly new equipment. However, I'm always vigilant of demo or used equipment especially if a full or partial warrantee is offered by the sales rep. or store owner. The stores I deal with also have a liberal return or trade up policy. All of these considerations are important as I have to slave for my Hi-Fi dollars, and need certain assurances that my hard earned money will not have been spent in vain.

Way better value and if you buy quality, you don't lose much when you trade up (which you always do!!)

I tend to purchase digital gear new, I feel this is where the latest and greatest theory holds true. Speakers and amps I usely purchase used.

Lets face it AMPS don't change much...and no i don't believe AMPS=AMPS but....So used AMPS area great way to save some $$$ and it allows yu to get more Watts than you will ever need. And SUBs..once again buy used, not much difference between a New M&K vs a 1-3 yr Old M&K. HecK once you ahve cured yourself of Audiophillia Nervosa...there are plenty of others who haven't and last years speaker model is a great bargin from those who are still SEARCHING!!. And can you honestly look me in the Eye and tell me that used PROCEED PAV is a bad deal!

Buying used is a great way to try out components, since they can often be resold for about what you bought them for. I believe the used market will actually benefit dealers and manufacturers because it will get more people into high-end.

Why buy someone else's headache?

Living in New York City, I can always find the latest models on a used basis. I do, however, usually only buy electronics used. I would not buy highly mechanical items (transports, turntables, cartridges, etc)used.

I USED TO BUY NEW ALWAYS,BUT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN "HIGH-END"EQUIPMENT,IT`S BECOMING MORE AND MORE REALISTIC TO GO THE USED ROUTE.FOR ACCESSORIES LIKE ISOLATION DEVICES I`LL BUY FROM A PRIVATE PARTY,BUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE A PREAMP,I`LL BUY USED FROM ONE OF THE LARGER MAIL-ORDER COMPANIES WHO SPECIALIZE IN MOSTLY USED EQUIPMENT. SO FAR,IT`S BEEN WORKING TO MY BENEFIT,AND I`VE BEEN EXTREMELY SATISFIED.

Used gear I boken in. I can get satisfaction from my gear quicker when I buy used.

I only buy used components where there is very little risk of obsolescence, eg cables, tuners, passive components, tubes.

Quite a bit of my equipment is actually demo models from one dealer that I know and trust. It's a great way to stretch my purchasing power.

It's like Christmas---I want a new toy!

There is a belief (perhaps misguided) that if things are going to go wrong, they will do so in the first months of ownership. New (and under warranty) always has this important advantage.

I usually wait a year or so after thye latest has come out and then pick up used or demo pieces for 30-50% off. Why buy new? I get to step up two or three notches in quality over new pieces, and when I trade, I don't lose much money.

Most recent purchases of new equipment have been of accessories( cable, line conditioners). I am considering a serious upgrade of main equipment, preamp, amp and reconditioning of my Lin LP12. As I write I am listening to a APT preamp(serial #17) an Proceed CD player (serial # 43) and Rogers LS3\5A's purchased 22 yrs ago with a one year old Bryston 2, Fulton Gold speaker wire an monster cable interconnects. This is my secndary system. It represents the long term use I expect from equipment. In my main system only the CAL Icon CD Player and Grado TLX are a purchases in the last five years.

In Portugal it is often difficult to buy used equipment

Buying used audio is fine for speakers and amplifiers, but digital equipment seems to go out of date every six months. The new, less expensive models tend to be superior to a used model at the same price. This is especially true of DTS, PCM, and DD equipment.

Floor models are the way to go if you want high quality at a reasonable price. And, you get to hear the actual unit you will purchase before you bring it home.

At todays pace of technological advances, almost everything you buy new is obsolute as quickly as you get it out the door. I buy new out of the box new 85% of the time and 15% are model close outs or demos.

I purchase Mid-Fi stuff when I can get it cheap. ANd older Hi-Fi. 60's tube gear

High End gear can no longer be called affordable. The only way to attain value is to balance purchase decisions by combining used and new equipment. Used equipment will compliment a system by building a more equalized platform with minimal compromise of quality.

With only a few excepttions, new equipment drops value faster than new cars.

I picked up a Marantz 510 for $290 Canadian last month; my den has an Advent 300, NHT 1, Nakamichi B1, and a Sony Discman---total cost about $300 Can. (or $299 US). At these prices, how could you---if you have a bit of knowledge---go wrong?

If it weren't for used equipment, I wouldn't have a stereo. The new stuff is just not affordable. I read Stereophile for reference when I finally can buy something.

There are some great deals out there if you are willing to spend time looking for them, especially with regards to loudspeakers and cables/interconnects.

Thankfully, I haven't become so jaded that I feel the need to constantly rotate equipment in search of the impossible dream. To that end, I upgrade when there is a significant technology change that adds audible sonic improvement to my system. Most of the time, that comes from buying new.

Cables and speakers are good bets to buy used. They either work and sound good or they don't.

Used equipment is a great way to upgrade. and not spend alot of money on this crazy hobby.

the soucce is importent

Money!I'm cheap.