How long do you keep a component?

That's easy. For me, it's speakers. I've had 4 different pairs in less than a year. I surprise myself if I hang on to any speakers more than four monts. I'm kind of new to high end. Only been involved about seriously for about 3 years. Next in line is definitely preamps. I've had three of those in the past year. I just like to trade to hear what is out there. I haven't traded amps in a while though...

The shortest time was a very expensive D to A converter. Lasted only a few days. Next worse was one of the newest ultra high end preamps, it lasted only three weeks before passing it on and returning to the bliss of my Aesthetix.

The longest running component ever is Soundlab speakers. Discovered them about 1986, decided to buy in 1989 and have only momentarily considered other brands during that twelve year period.

I tend to hang on to things for a while--I had my Duntech Princesses 11 years, and my Sforzandos for the last 4, and I've had my JA 80s for 11, my JP80, my Basis and Graham and my Day-Sequerra for 9 and my Forsell/Audio Logic combo for 8. I do change cartridges more frequently, although I think I've reached Nirvana with the Koetsu RSP, and cabling changes are more frequent as well. I do note that although I've kept the above components a long time, I have continually upgraded them --for example, after 8 years I got the Debut platter/bearing/vacuum upgrade for my Basis Ovation; I've upgraded the Graham from 1.5T to 2.2, upgraded the Forsell to Mk IV after 5 years and the Audio Logic to 2400 at the same time, and have consistently fiddled with the tubes in my pre and amps (although with the stash of Gold Lions and a recent score on early 60s Tele 802 and 803S tubes, I think I'm set for life there). I guess that's how I fall for the upgrade bug!

To be a TRUE "audiophile", it is time for a product to leave the premises when dust settles on it. As such, you've got to pack it up and move it out the door at a 50% loss from retail pricing. If you can't keep up with the latest products as they come out, you have NO right calling yourself an "audiophile".

As such, i expect to see all of you listing a lot of components on Audiogon for bargain prices. Please don't be offended if i and a few select others try to help you out by purchasing your "old junk". I'll be waiting : ) Sean
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Thinking back over the years, I guess I fail the "audiophile" appelation as defined by Sean. I think the shortest period of time I owned a component was about 6 months, but most of the gear I acquire stays with me at least 3 years, and sometimes as long as 5-10 years. The longest ownership period for anything in my system was a Nakamichi cassette tape recorder, which I kept for nearly 15 years, but it was virtually unused for the last 5 years before I sold it.

Now that I am getting closer to retirement, I think the audio gear I got during my last upgrade will be with me for a long time. The only reason that would make me continue to upgrade would a significant change in technology which essentially makes something obsolete (this will be more true for home theater than pure audio).