Recently I’ve been asked by a friend audiophile for some tips on buying a second hand CD Player for his HiFi system.
I’m a big fan of secondhand gear myself- both my amp and speakers are such themselves. When it comes to CD players, I believe that buying new is the sensible option.

You never know when a used player could go thrupnies-up, so it pays to be cautious. A new one will have a guarantee, and you will know it has been well cared-for from day one.

But if you are tempted to go for a secondhand player, avoid anything more than about 5 years old, and seek reassurance from the seller as to the player’s condition and amount of usage. Bargains can be had, but anything with motors and lasers and stuff can be a gamble….

You can get good deals on new kit too- look out for ex-demo kit at hifi shops like Martin Anderson Hi-Fi Specialists – generally this means that it has merely been broken-in for you, and a lump of cash lopped off the tag for good measure. Outgoing product ranges often yield large discounts too.