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Selling, donating or giving away a good pair of vintage speakers

I have a pair of Koss CM1030 speakers, which I bought 40+years ago. They are still in fairly good shape but I have not used them since I replaced them for a pair of Magico A3 speakers. I have kept them stored in my office, but I can no longer do so. I hate for them to end up in a dump and destroyed.

Can someone advise me on what I should do to get rid of them?  Should I donate them, give them up for free, sell them and how? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Your always expert advice is much appreciated.

rhg88
dill
2,529 posts
 

Take a few photos and put them on CraigsList for $400-$500 for the pair.

deep_333
1,429 posts
 

List it for free on a local facebook audio enthusiasts group. Some young lad/lass who’s broke as a joke, but, loves music will pick it up and should (hopefully) have some fun with it.

If you put it on facebook marketplace, some regular utilitarian creature with no interest in music will pick it up and immediately resell/try to make a buck off of it.

On second thought... and sorry to be blunt, but, those speakers look like they are poorly designed (to begin with) and probably sound bad, i.e., a poor design coupled with 40 years of degradation. So, maybe, FB marketplace is fine for this speaker too.

If i were donating stuff that’s competent and sounds good (worthwhile), i will list it for free on the enthusiast groups and hope it reaches someone capable of enjoying it.

 

 

roadwhorerecords
279 posts
 

Since you live in the SF area, put them on the street, and someone will have a second bedroom by evening.

boxcarman
421 posts
 

If you can afford Magico's, you should give them away.  Most of my friends don't have anything that good and would love them.  One uses a Bose TV soundbar, etc.  

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,121 posts
 

@rhg88

I can understand your attraction to these speakers. Big, bold cabinets. Lots of drivers ready to get the air (and music) moving about the room. As a speaker geek (I own a speaker patent) my guess is that the speakers were just a bit on the picky side in placement, but once dialed in, all the stars lined up and highly rewarding (and emotionally engaging) musical experience ensued. The fact you hung on to them as long as you did is a validation of their design. Your current choice of speakers indicates you have "good ears", so the Koss’s must have gotten a lot of things right.

Selling the speakers outright will certainly get them in the hands of someone with "skin in the game" who will have a high appreciation for the speakers. I also see the value of giving them to an audio club, and in the hands of someone who’s finances are a "couple of db down" from purchasing quality gear on their own.

At any rate, I hope your "old friends" find a good home. They deserve it.

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