Second Hand Audio Visual Accessories | Second Hand Electrical Appliances & Items

The term audio visual accessories covers a vast range of additional products that can be bought for use with all types of audio and visual equipment including home cinema, DVD, CD, hi-fi, personal music players, radio and television. The range of accessories available for audio visual equipment continues to expand as new technologies are developed and marketed. So, if you want to buy a particular accessory for some of your audio visual equipment just how do you go about selecting the right thing when faced with a confusing array of products and terminology? Here is some help and advice on how to buy audio visual accessories.

Where can you find audio visual accessories?
Electronics is arguably one of the most hotly contested categories on the UK internet -- which is thus a good place to look for audio visual accessories. Also, take a look at site such as classifieds where suppliers can place adverts and individuals can also advertise accessories that they have bought and never used or have finished with and want to sell. Your local electrical and computer stores will also be able to offer a range of audio visual accessories for sale.

Buying online

Most decent websites will provide some degree of background information about the products and their compatibility to help you find exactly what you want and to determine which accessories are likely to be compatible with the audio visual equipment that you already have. For example, you may want an interconnect for two pieces of AV equipment. You will first need to identify the best connection. There are often several options, for example multiple video connections between a DVD player and a plasma TV including SCART, HDMI, Component etc. Once you have found the best option compatible with both bits of kit, you can then look for the best quality lead within your budget.
Search for the product you want on a number of different websites so that you can compare prices and specifications. Even for interconnects, specifications vary enormously including, for example, gold plated connectors, OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) for the internal conductors etc.
The web of course allows you access to a larger range of suppliers than you would have access to locally. With this, the choice of brands may increase.
Check postage and packing costs as this can greatly increase the price of your accessory. Whilst they are a small percentage of a major purchase such as a new AV receiver or LCD TV, they can sometimes exceed the value of, for example, a couple of gold plated banana plugs! Also, find out what the estimated delivery date is because you will probably want to receive the item as quickly as possible rather than having to wait two weeks for it to arrive.
Check if the supplier you are buying the accessory from has a returns policy so that you can get a refund if the item is not what you wanted or not suitable (most items are covered by the Distance Selling Directive but there are exceptions and in some cases you may need to open the packaging before you discover a compatibility issue so check this specifically). In some cases you may also have to pay postage and packing if you decide to return the item.
Ask if the accessory has a warranty or guarantee.

Buying in store

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of buying in-store is that you can see and / or hear the product before you buy it. Although the knowledge of staff varies widely, some stores are moving away from the spotty trainee policy and have seasoned staff with an active interest in AV who can actually help! This is particularly true of smaller specialist retailers.
Buying in store of course allows you to acquire the product immediately, rush home and plug it in!
Most stores will allow you to return the item if it is faulty or not suitable. However, you should again check if you can return it if you have already opened the packaging and whether there is a time limit for return.

Which brand should you buy?
Depending on the specific accessory, you will probably find that you can buy any one of a number of different makes. Some accessory manufacturers are particularly strong in their own right. For example, Sennheiser produces a very strong range of headphones and Belkin have a strong range of interconnects and power supplies for the domestic market. In general terms, it is usually a good idea to buy a reputable brand and possibly a brand that you have experience of or that has been recommended to you. This will provide you with some level of assurance that the product will work -- well -- and last for a reasonable time. If the audio visual equipment that you have is made by one particular manufacturer then you may want to think about buying the same make of accessory to ensure compatibility. This can matter if the accessory needs to be visually compatible. In many cases, however, the choice is more about personal preference and brand reputation in the category of accessory concerned. For certain accessories, it can also be worthwhile investigating 'own brand' products made specifically for some of the larger stores as these may represent a good balance between quality and cost.

Buying second hand
There is a vibrant second hand market for audio visual accessories as technologies are constantly changing and people want to upgrade their systems to the latest models. So, it is commonplace for people to sell off their older accessories. Consequently, buying second hand can offer you the opportunity to get a real bargain. However, when buying second hand make sure that you either see the accessory or at least see a photograph of it. Ask the seller to confirm that the product is in good working order and not broken or damaged before you buy it.

Whether you are looking for an interconnect, headphones, splitter box, adaptor, stand, cover, additional speaker, microphone, bracket or any one of a myriad of possible accessories for your audio visual equipment, it is well worthwhile taking some time to do some research before committing to a purchase. Many an excellent system has been compromised by a weak interconnect somewhere along the line.