Buying a Stereo

Back to first Five Things

Thing No. 6  

Buy the demo (or the “blemo”).

Store demo units are new pieces that need to be retired or represent models no longer for sale by the manufacturer. The piece may be a “blem,” (or "b-stock") meaning that it is scratched or otherwise not 100% visually perfect. This visual degradation may be worth 20-30% off the retail price of the unit. Pieces such as these often come with all documentation that was originally shipped with the unit.

Thing No. 7  

Skip the commission.

Go to stores with salaried salespeople.  They have a vested interest in selling the best equipment to you, not the highest priced.

Thing No. 8  

Put the “me” in eBay.

The world’s largest online trading community has some wonderful deals that can get the audio enthusiast moving forward quickly: ebay.

Thing No. 9  

Shop the collector market.

Many private parties make their equipment available. You can find these sales in the classifieds sections, eBay, and other sources. In this case, make certain that you know what you’re buying, as buying from private sellers is always a dicier business. One of the huge challenges facing every buyer and seller of audio equipment is interpreting the descriptive words used by a retailer or private owner selling their used equipment. What, for example, does new, mint, excellent, very good condition, or good condition mean?  From Audio Shopper comes this insightful rating system to understand the grading of used or demonstrator home stereo pieces.

Thing No. 10  

Check out the going rate online.

Get the same price info that the stores use by accessing usedprices.com.  If you’re thinking this is the equivalent of the Kelly Blue Book…aren’t you clever! These books list a new retail price, approximate trade or cash value and a suggested used sale price for almost every brand and model of home stereo equipment produced in the last 25-30 years. Based on the condition, quantity available and the desirability of a piece, the retailer will set a price for the piece taken on trade. If you know the name of the manufacturer and the model number for your desired piece, you can see the item’s price new, the wholesale used price and the used retail price.   It’s $3.99 for each online search.

Thing No. 11  

Ask for a warranty

Go for at least 90 days, and preferably as much as a year if it’s a newer piece. If you’ve just got to hear how the piece sounds before you commit (which is advisable), ask if there is an exchange/return policy for the used equipment just in case it doesn’t work or sound right with your setup.

Then, have fun assembling an inexpensive system that's 80% or 90% as good as the best out there. After that, forget about the system and enjoy the beats.