If you’re looking to unload old stereo equipment, there are plenty of places to go online. But how do you know which site is right for you?
Some of the best online sites for selling used audio gear are eBay, Craigslist, and specialty sites like Oak Tree Enterprises and Classic Audio. These sites offer consignment and trading areas as well as cash options for older gear.
Audio Classics
Audio Classics is a Binghamton-based business that buys, sells and trades vintage and new audio equipment. The company also offers repairs and restoration services. It has ten full-time employees and is located on Old Vestal Road.
The company sells all sorts of stereo gear and also has a great selection of home theater systems. The business has been in operation for over 35 years and has a reputation for quality and customer service.
One of the best things about Audio Classics is its TradeUp program, where you can get a discount on a new product by trading in your old components. You can bring in mono or stereo amplifiers, preamps, integrated amps and receivers for up to 75 percent off.
Another great thing about Audio Classics is that they offer a lifetime warranty on most of their products, and they also sell replacement parts. This is something that you don’t often find with most other manufacturers, and it means that you can rest easy knowing that your purchase will last a long time.
Finally, Audio Classics has a large selection of headphones. They offer a variety of styles and designs, including earbuds, over-ears and in-ears. They also have models for children, so you can be sure you’ll find a set that suits your needs.
The Meze 99 Classics are a fine pair of closed-back over-ears that have a very consumer-friendly sound. They come close to our ideal headphone response, offering sweet and clear highs and solid midbass. However, they’re not quite as analytical as some of their competitors, and they don’t have the same level of bite that helps upbeat music shine.
Classic Audio
The Audio Classics website is a great place to buy and sell vintage and used audio equipment. It features a large selection of amplifiers, speakers, turntables and other gear from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The site also offers an audio trade-up exchange program and buys some components for cash. If you have a high-quality piece of used gear that you want to sell, the team at Classic Audio will give it a thorough checkup, clean it and make any necessary repairs.
Classic Audio sells a wide variety of stereo receivers and amplifiers, from classic tube models to modern solid-state offerings. The company emphasizes US made, high-end gear with a focus on quality rather than price.
Owner Steve Rowell has a deep knowledge of the industry, which helps him identify good used gear for sale. The company also has a consignment/trading area where you can put up your gear for sale.
A few years ago, Rowell started a business buying and selling audio gear for a living. He learned that working electronics often have issues, such as faulty components or speakers that aren’t worth keeping.
Since then, he’s built up a reputation for offering refurbished and restored used equipment that meets or exceeds original performance specifications. He’s especially passionate about vintage gear that’s been designed and built to last, such as receivers and amplifiers.
He doesn’t sell new, but he does offer an 11-day money-back guarantee for most products. He also offers a trade-up exchange program, allowing customers to return a qualifying product within 30 days for full credit towards the purchase of a different product. This is a great way to try out a new amplifier or speaker without having to spend the money up front.
eBay
If you’re looking to get rid of some old stereo equipment, eBay is one of the best places to start. The site is very well-established and trusted, which means you’re likely to find a buyer who’s interested in the item at a price you’re willing to accept.
Another great option is to post an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper. This is a great way to reach a wider audience than the ones you’ll find on other online platforms, and it’s also a lot less expensive to place an ad.
However, you should be aware that this method can be risky as well. Be sure to meet the buyer in person if possible, use a Craigslist-provided proxy email address, and never meet a stranger alone.
The key is to be prepared to answer any questions from prospective buyers and to take pictures of your equipment so that potential purchasers can see what it looks like without having to buy it first. You can then set a price and wait for an offer to come in.
If you’re selling higher-end equipment, you may want to consider specialty online sites that target the music community. These include Audio Classics, Oak Tree Enterprises, and StereoBuyers.
As a general rule, transistorized gear isn’t worth a lot of money, while tube gear can fetch high prices from aficionados and collectors. In some cases, even a piece that didn’t sound that good when new can be worth lots of money, but this depends on the specific model.
There are many ways to sell your equipment, and the best way for you to determine what works for you is to experiment and test different methods. You might be surprised at the results!
Craigslist
Whether you’re looking to sell your audio equipment or just want to get your hands on some interesting pieces of gear, Craigslist is a great place to look. It’s free to post ads and you can use a credit card or check for payment. It’s a great place to find deals on everything from cars and furniture to electronics and clothing.
If you’re not familiar with the site, it’s a classifieds website that allows users to post ads for goods and services, and for local events. Users can search by city, state, or even zip code to see what’s available in their area.
Since it was launched in 1995, craigslist has become one of the most popular classifieds websites on the Internet. Its hyperlocal approach enables it to reach people across a wide range of interests and income levels, from teens to senior citizens.
Another interesting aspect of craigslist is its active watchdog community, which monitors the content on the site. This helps to keep craigslist legal, as many illicit postings have been reported on the site in the past.
Users can flag posts that are inappropriate, misleading or otherwise unwelcome. These tags include best of craigslist (a funny or effective post), miscategorized (a post placed in the wrong section of the site), spam/overpost (a generic post that has been posted multiple times) and prohibited (a post that directly violates the site’s terms of use).
As an added bonus, craigslist offers discussion forums that encourage users to connect and share experiences. This is a great way to make new friends and learn about the local scene. Despite competition from other sites like Airbnb, Tinder or OfferUp, Craigslist continues to thrive.