How long do you keep a component?

I occassionally buy something (or a few somethings) used as a "home audition", getting rid of whatever doesn't do the trick for me very soon for little or no $$$ loss. Obviously, many of the participants on this forum do the same. I don't really consider this as a component that I "kept" for only a couple weeks, since it's a bargain-hunters ethical way of auditioning components without leveraging the local dealer.

Of the components I "settled" on, I usually keep them for 1-3 years. If I wasn't married, or if speakers were less easy to notice, I'd try a bunch of different speakers, "keeping" many of them for less than a year, at least until I'd tried a bunch of different "flavors". -Kirk

Lordy, I guess my stuff would be considered ancient as main speakers are ten years old, turntable is almost eleven years old, phono stage is thirteen years old, woofers about fifteen years old, DAC/Transport seven years old and even my wires are over five years old....Only new things around here are the preamp at three years old and just completed the new JC-1 amps a couple weeks ago......All but the TT and main speakers have been updated/modified as it is easier, cheaper and more rewarding to rebuild/modify than to buy new.......

Bob Crump
TG Audio/CTC Builders/DDR Mfg

Ya think thats long The Amber system here is 26 years old and these seperates have been moded by me and cleaned and sound as good as some more upper end stuff. It still feed my Maggies with out missing a beat. Have you really seen the inside of new components. Look close on how there realy put togeather and are they really made in the usa or put togeather in China with US components.

I've only changed ICs and cables, fortunately.

I kept my old Kef speakers for the longest time and upgraded everything else. I always try to keep a component for at least six month to see if I like it. Cables are fun to try. Preamps are fun too. Amps are heavy and so are speakers - not fun. Tweaks are a nice treat every once in a while ;-)