What's happened to the used high end market recently?? Sales are tough....:0(

@grannyring phenomenal post!

There is a misconception concerning space. Homes are 1,000’ larger than they were in 1973. http://www.aei.org/publication/new-us-homes-today-are-1000-square-feet-larger-than-in-1973-and-livin... This is especially true outside of major urban areas. So, space is expensive (but same price per square foot), but plentiful, for homeowners. This line that space is more expensive and limited is like saying that taxes aren’t high enough. My equipment back in 1980s and 1990s was about the same size as it is today. I used to own Acoustat 2&2s and Martin Logan Monolith IIIs. They are not small speakers. My amps were monoblocks then and now (three changes there too). My homes have gotten larger by 1,000’ each time, three times from the 1981. So, that reasoning is irrational. People live in larger condo space than they used to live in apartment space over the past quarter century as well.

Video screens have grown monumentally in the past several decades. Now, a 55, 65 and 75 inch screen is common. Back in 2002, the largest common screens were 40 inch. No room problem complaints by millennials about that except that the new TVs mount on the wall, are relatively lightweight and don’t dominate a room in bulk.

Garages have to be larger due to the proliferation of owning popular pick-up trucks and SUVs compared to compact cars.  

I don't think the market has gone soft but I do think the market has changed which means that the sellers have to change as well.

Lets face it, there is new "latest and greatest" technology and sound gear coming out all the time (if you believe all the hype).   (hmm, kind of reminds you of the car business??)  That automatically and significantly devalues all but a very small percentage of audio equipment.  Why?  because in most cases, I can try the new gear in my home for at most a couple hundred dollars of shipping...and if I buy pre-owned gear, it may take me quite a while to resell it if I don't like it...and if I paid too much, I may incur significant further depreciation.

Here is a real world example.  Most people don't know if they really want to take a chance on an open baffle loudspeaker....so they could buy a new Tekton OB sigma for $1750 or a Spatial Audio Hologram M4 for $2k...and if they don't like them, spend a couple hundred to ship them back after 60 days.....  Here is a current listing on Agon (  https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8j0bc-tekton-design-ob-sigma-open-baffle-hybrid-full-range  ) for an OB Sigma for $1450 delivered...or $300 below the new OB Sigma price.  Why would someone already skeptical  about open baffle spend 83% of retail????  They wouldn't. 

One might argue that audio is like automobiles....it devalues 25% when you take possession, 15% the second year and 10% the third year....in most cases....maybe not a corvette and maybe not a pass labs amplifier.

My belief is that the market is ultimately sending a message that many of the products listed for sale are priced too high and as a result, they languish for months waiting for a buyer.