Getting rid of old audio gear?

[bitchstewie]

I have some old Naim gear along with a rack and an A/V amp taking up space that I could do with getting back.

It's not been used for years but as far as I know it all works - I'm just caught in the trap of not really wanting it, not wanting to dispose of it as it should work, but not wanting the hassle of trying to eBay it or anything like that.

If I contact a few local hi-fi dealers does anyone know the likelihood of them buying it?

Yeah I know just speak to them but it's Sunday afternoon and I've been clearing stuff out all day and now I'm looking at that

[simonrockman]

I'd try https://audiogold.co.uk/. They specialise in this kind of thing.

[Tony1963]

Old Naim stuff ranges from £100 a box for the unpopular and unserviced stuff with no box etc, up to healthy values that aren’t to be sniffed at.

What exactly do you have?

[bitchstewie]

A pair of Intro speakers, a NAIT 5 and a CD5 and a Hicap (the older "grey" flat front style).

Got all the boxes and no doubt the cables are up there somewhere just haven't used any of it for years.

[Tony1963]

bhstewie said:

A pair of Intro speakers, a NAIT 5 and a CD5 and a Hicap (the older "grey" flat front style).

Got all the boxes and no doubt the cables are up there somewhere just haven't used any of it for years.

So about £100-150 for the speakers, and they’re difficult to shift (I’ve a pair in a spare room that I can’t face waving good bye to) but the other items are worth a bit more. CD players are generally unpopular now but if it’s still working it’s worth a few hundred.

A HiCap I’d say £350 to £450. Nait 5 maybe £300.

[bitchstewie]

Thanks Tony that's useful to know - presume that's what you think a private sale would be worth?

They're not taking up masses of space (the speakers are boxed in the garage) so it's how likely am I to use them v how badly do I need a grand (if that) and the space back.

Then again that's why I'm now looking at a garage full of refuse sacks full of stuff where I thought "maybe I'll need it one day".

Looks like there's a few Naim dealers near me (and a few that seem to have disappeared) so I'll send a couple of emails

[silentbrown]

Really, I'd just eBay it. There's no seller fees any more. Just do a "Buy it now" at a sensible price, with an honest description and some decent photos. (you can search sold listings to get a good feel for what stuff sells for). Don't engage with the "what's your best price" brigade.

Make sure you've got sturdy boxes for shipping, and always ship tracked. We've sold around 500 items over the last ten years - (obsolete tech, clothes, unwanted presents!) and I think had just two 'fails' - Royal Mail lost a tracked package, and a car dog guard which got damaged in transit (my fault for poor packing). The "global shipping program" for overseas sales where you ship to a UK address and they handle all customs fees/international delivery has been faultless and lets you reach a much wider market.

[Tony1963]

The only thing I’d really advise, no matter which route you go down, is to see if the components work or not. You might find that the sound isn’t pleasant, depending on when any servicing was carried out, but as long as music comes out of the speakers, both channels, bass and treble, it’ll fetch a decent price. If not, ‘spares or repair’ is still a good option.

Edited by Tony1963 on Sunday 6th October 18:21

[OutInTheShed]

In covid, I think alot of people spent time fiddling with old amps and stuff, so 'spares/repairs' amps got good money on ebay.

Now I think all the soldering iron wielding hobbyists, including myself have a backlog of project amps etc and other things to do.
So people mostly want stuff that actually works now.

But things which are in really good cosmetic condition can sell whether they work or not.
I can fix a few transistors much more easily than I can make a beaten-up product look new again.

[Watcher of the skies]

If you want to give it away, I'd happily take the Hicap