Lloydelee here is IMO the king of procuring the best used deals on high end gear
Hi Steve...i had to smile when i saw that! i was very curious when i saw the title to the thread and was surprised to see my name mentioned!
thanks for the compliment.
Ack - Here is my view:
1. Electronics always advances...but not always in a linear fashion. Sometimes newer is not better, sometimes it is. As an extreme example, I still hear from Modders that the Esoteric P70 transport is ridiculously good for Redbook, whereas the Esoteric P03 has to run thru additional circuitry due to sACD even when playing CD...and the P03U which includes video is worse because of the video circuitry.
2. What I will say is that when a good manufacturer puts out a SOTA piece...one would be surprised how long it stands the test of time. ML33 Ref monos, FM Acoustics 811, Gryphon Antileon, Krell Master Reference Amps, Krell 750monos, Zanden Digital separates, Wilison X1 Grand/Slamms, SF Extremas.
Take an example: Krell 750 monos, SF Extremas and Zanden Digital Front End. If you're really disciplined, for roughly the same as a new pair of Wilson Sashas you can own this entire system.
Take another example for the same cost: Krell 750 monos, Wilson X1 Grand Slamms, DCS Elgar full stack.
3. Risks? Yes...buying sight unseen on Audiogon? Repairs? Yes, i did get burned once but it has finally been fixed, thank goodness.
Are there ways to mitigate? Yes. Typically, if i agree a deal with a seller i do not know, i pay for the unit to be shipped back to the original manufacturer...who acts as 'honest broker'. If the unit is in good working condition, i wire the full money over and the manufacturer sends to me after perhaps upgrading/tweaking at my cost. If the unit is not in good working order, we either agree a new price, or i have lost my shipping cost...but the seller has lost his shipping cost to get the unit back from the manufacturer...a fair incentive to keep most people honest.
I have yet to speak with a manufacturer of a high end piece who is not prepared to help out.
4. As for dealers, yes, you have to show some element of loyalty...otherwise you are just 'using people' for free auditions and then buying from someone else. At the same time, business is business...so my approach is to do business with my local dealer whenever i can. And i often do.
However, where i have bought second hand from someone else...i often have the unit shipped to my local dealer...and pay him a 'large handling fee' (still less than a commission) to take receipt, unpack it, store the crates, and then come over to install. We have done business for over 10 years...and as a result, i think we have a good relationship, and they know whenever i can, i will do business with them. At the same time, they also know i have bought certain units second hand and they have i believe appreciated my approach on 'handling charges' to ensure they still get something so that we maintain a good open relationship.
They have as a result also given me 'first right' to look at certain trade-in units. I recently had first right on a Metronome Kalista Reference transport, for instance.
Finally, as to my own system, it is all second-hand...all of it...and i think most people would be surprised at the % of original retail (which i know to the penny, as i track it). It can take years to collect the right pieces...i am still waiting for Zanden transport...5 years and still looking. but it is worth it for me, when i look at how much i have paid for my entire system...a lot less than a pair of new speakers which would simply not compare to my current speakers, let alone the fact that i own the whole system for the price of just those new lesser speakers.
Hope that is helpful as one person's experience.