Beware of very old stuff...perhaps 10 yrs plus..

Posted by BruceL on April 5, 2001 at 16:30:42

In Reply to: More used high end equipment for less $$? posted by Jonathon on April 5, 2001 at 14:27:31:

< <..and what are the precautions one should take in buying used gear?> >

In the last 13 months, here's what happened to my previous system due primarily to age of the components (everything was purchased new).

1) Turntable 14 yrs old - Mitsubishi SLT-12 (?) drive belt stretched, things got out of sync, ZERO parts available from Mitsubishi..no schematics available either.

2) Speakers - Infinity Reference 4B -14 yrs old - foam woofer surrounds fell apart, donated to a friend, he had woofers repaired for $25 per woofer.

3) M&K 2B Subwoofer - 13 yrs old - again, foam around 12" woofer was just starting to deteriorate.

4) Eagle 2B Solid State AMP - 14 yrs old - large 80UF left channel electrolytic cap shorted, resistor burned, also burning a hole the size of a quarter in the circuit board.

5) Two Sony CDPs, 650ES, 520ES, needed lasers replaced just inside the 3 year warranty. I have had better luck with later CDP ES series from sony in the laser area.

6) My Nakamichi CR7A lost a motor 1 month out of warranty, and they wouldn't stand behind it. (13 months old). I paid for repair, ok still)

Only the Yamaha C2x preamp survived without repair out of all my mid-eighties purchases, and I now use it just for a phono amp.

This is typical of the stuff that happens with older stuff! It would not hurt to check to see if companys are still in business, are parts available, is there somewhere near where they can still be repaired, what has been the repair record of items you are interested in.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - More used high end equipment for less $$? - Jonathon 14:27:31 04/5/01 (22)

My 2 cents - Do it, 'mate - psgary 15:41:27 04/7/01 (0)

What if? - Ubiquitous Skittercat ;,,,~ 09:36:47 04/7/01 (1)

Re: What if? - NickR 08:15:33 04/9/01 (0)

Used and demo gear... - gino 12:20:06 04/6/01 (0)

i got experience - mellson 03:49:04 04/6/01 (0)

Oh, yeah... - Marc Bratton 00:55:42 04/6/01 (0)

Try "insiders" - dpy 20:50:27 04/5/01 (0)

Purchased some used gear - Bob W 19:42:44 04/5/01 (1)

Good suggestion! Always call sellers and get a good vib.nt - Mellson 03:55:20 04/6/01 (0)

Similiar to buying a used car. - Jim 19:18:16 04/5/01 (0)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Brad 18:56:59 04/5/01 (0)

Seldom burnt from very high-end.. - Busybusy 17:43:47 04/5/01 (1)

Agree! Remember: play dumb!!!!! - Mellson 04:10:11 04/6/01 (0)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Dave Derrick 17:36:09 04/5/01 (0)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Dman 16:41:47 04/5/01 (0)

Beware of very old stuff...perhaps 10 yrs plus.. - BruceL 04/5/0116:30:42 04/5/01 (1)

Re: If you buy old tube gear it's not as big of a deal..... - Scott T. 13:04:44 04/6/01 (0)

I did, but in an unorthodox way...... - Chris Garrett 15:52:10 04/5/01 (0)

You betcha! - Jackaro333 15:31:40 04/5/01 (0)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Rich Rodgersrlrdtb@pacbell.net 14:50:46 04/5/01 (0)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Jerry O 14:41:39 04/5/01 (1)

Re: More used high end equipment for less $$? - Raider 15:34:04 04/5/01 (0)

Follow Ups

Beware of very old stuff...perhaps 10 yrs plus.. - BruceL 04/5/0116:30:42 04/5/01 (1)

Re: If you buy old tube gear it's not as big of a deal..... - Scott T. 13:04:44 04/6/01 (0)

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