Analog vs. CDP: A fair comparison?

Excellent advice from Maineiac re: buying used. Audiogon and ebay give us ways to audition stuff with small financial risk. For example, we recently upgraded our I/C's and speaker cables to a level we might never have reached if we'd had to buy new. We love the results, but if we hadn't we could have re-sold them for about what we paid.

There is one possible exception: cartridges. Unless you have reasons to trust the seller that go beyond a good feedback number, buying used cartridges is risky. I've had both good luck and bad, but if your first attempt went bad it might sour you on the whole thing. Don't buy used cartridges unless you know what you're doing and/or know the seller.

Great advice from all, thank you. I do buy allot of used gear with mostly positive results. With wear or limited life items I feel more comfortable with new. The Cary tube amp I just purchased was new because if not I would always wonder how many hours the tubes had on them. I know my investment is better protected when buying used because if it doesn’t work well in my system I can usually sell it for what I paid. Given the delicacy and need for proper set up I think I have relegated myself to a new VPI Scout with a Dynavector cartridge installed by them. My local dealer is going to lend me their demo for the weekend. Hooray! We still need local dealers. I am now down right excited about the prospects of Vinyl. It’s just like 3 months ago when my dealer suggested I try tube gear for my second system my first response to him was “What are you nuts? What would I want with yesterday’s technologies?” Now all I want to do is hear those sweet sweet tubes. That experience has opened my eyes and I want more,more,more………
I am sure none of you audiophiles share my obsession?

whatever else you do - bribe doug to set your table up

Billt1, why didn't you just buy a used Cary amp and new (NOS) tubes?????

“Billt1, why didn't you just buy a used Cary amp and new (NOS) tubes?????”
It was just a comfort level thing. Tubes are a new game to me so until I am very familiar I just figured it was a safe bet.