I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but in the past year I have REPURCHASED headphones and gear that I had previously sold or returned. How could this be?
In some cases the manufacturer has come out with a better version: as in Mojo2 versus the original Mojo (which I sold), or have added functionality with an accessory (like the Chord Poly).
In other cases, I have come to a realization that certain headphones do not fit my hearing capability very well. An example is Balanced Armature IEMS. Yes, I accepted the conventional wisdom that expensive BA IEMs are the best. Perhaps because my hearing is truncated at certain high frequencies I no longer buy that argument. I find dynamic drivers, planar magnetic and electrostatic offerings to be much more suited to my hearing profile.
As a result, I have recently repurchased the Audeze LCDi4 planar magnetic headphones. I sold my earlier pair as the ear-hooks became extremely painful over time. The new ear-hooks are much more comfortable. I noticed that the LCDi4 is “sold out” on the Audeze website, another incentive to pick up a pair before they are discontinued or replaced.
I have owned dozens of headphones, IEMs, DACs and Amps over the last two decades. This has given me the ability to experience many options. Repurchasing the gear that is most satisfying given my hearing limitations, is giving me great satisfaction.
Short list for me. Schiit BF2, Pi2AES, and eventually I’ll move back into an D8KP. Most of the things I’ve moved away from and then sold have gone to further fund the next round of purchases.
I see it as a way to paying it back to the community, owning something for a year, getting some valuable use, information and first hand experience and then discounting the item he appropriate amount as I sell it.
The interesting thing about buying gear again is how you hear them again after having more experience in listening and being aware of what you like as well as potentially a better chain to connect it to.
Both the Pi2AES and the Schiit BF2 sounded way better the second time around.
Sonore ultra rendu… still don’t love the interface and the complexity is above my level but I can live with spotify on it given the performance benefits over my other midfi streamers.
LCD3F it’s not the most technical but it’s my fav audeze product… it’s got a nice blend of comfort and a warm sound that pairs well with my tube amps.
Not that they are much these days in the grand realm but I purchased a Hifiman Edition X V2 a few years back. After almost a year I sold it to Wavetheory and then he sold it and so on. It made the rounds to different people (sold bought sold.) I went looking for a set again as I missed that “Tall” sound and lo and behold the set I bought was the same one I sold. I purchased new pads and still occasionally use it. It has been about 8months now having it back.
Not today, but I have a few items that I have purchased a few times.
Cayin iHA-6: This is my back up amp, when I’m between primary amp purchases. I also use this for gaming. Punchy as hell, small stage compared to many other amps that I’ve owned but a good all-rounder. I have bought this amp 3 or 4 times! They’re great value.
Chord Mojo OG: This is my back up DAC when in between primary DACs. Preferred the OG to the 2 for sound signature. I liked the 2’s cross-fade. The original Mojo pairs great with 7Hz Timeless, my primary IEM. Great value; I think I’ve had 3 of the OG.
Sennheiser HD560s: This is my back up headphone when between primary cans. Great all-rounder, and pairs brilliantly with OTL tube amps. I have purchased this 3 times. It used to be my primary gaming headphone until I got my HEkse.