The speakers I’ve bought used have always been from dealers I know very well and trust. Never had an issue here; those speaker all performed flawlessly and looked mostly new. My current EV pro cinema speakers I bought used from a cinema technician in Germany that I didn’t know (they’d been used in a cinema in the Hannover region), but after some phone calls, e-mail exchanges and looking over his sales history at Ebay Kleinanzeigen, and not least upon receiving the thoroughly packaged speaker pallet and after rigorous inspections and tests once set up, I came to realize everything was A-OK and in perfect condition and working order. Worked like a charm ever since.
I’d concede that buying used speakers privately wouldn’t be my first option. I can certainly understand the concern in many, not least with expensive speakers, that would ultimately keep them from buying used speakers privately, but having said that: if I would get to inspect and audition the speakers thoroughly at the seller prior to purchase, and if the gut feeling told me I was having a conversation with an honest and level-headed guy, I might consider it. Still, haven’t been there so couldn’t say.
Which brings me to:
@ghdprentice wrote:
Some guys would be proclaiming what a genius they were for getting such a bargain and they would love that every time they sat down and listen to them.
For one, I’d rather pay less than more for the same product or what would grant me the same or better overall sound - wouldn’t you? I might suggest it could also be the other way ’round with regard to what you propose: that those who’ve been shelling the more or less full dime on a pair of brand new high-end speakers might be sitting content in their listening chair and feel all proud about themselves (and a bit better than others) knowing they could afford those new and very expensive speakers.
I know the feeling of unpacking and setting up new speakers and the joy it evokes, but at the end of the day all that matters to me is how it sounds, and sometimes what sounds the best or has the particular sonic traits one is looking for isn’t new stuff, the most expensive, preassembled, of smaller size, fancy looks, from a known brand and hifi segment or what is otherwise readily available at a store somewhere, so whatever it takes with an open mind.
To me the primary concern would be getting the most of what I want within a given price range, and ’new’ as a vital parameter would seriously impede with that goal.