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Buying Without Audition

Surely I'm not the only one with the dilemma of living out in the boonies with no audio equipment dealer (other than Walmart) within 100+ miles.  How does one choose among the many speakers offered in any given price range without listening to them before buying?  The reviews are often skewed by self interest and, in any event, what you hear and what you like is completely subjective and the prosaic descriptions in the reviews mean different thing to different people.  After all, you really can't accurately describe in words what someone else might hear. The problem is compounded if you wish to buy "used" from a private party as there often is no right of return, and when there is, the cost of shipping both ways is a significant consideration, especially when looking for floor speakers.

Any educated suggestions?
larstusor
Post removed 
bcgator's avatar
bcgator
355 posts
 
Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet and take your chances. This isn’t as crazy as it sounds. I’ve come to learn that it takes weeks to figure out how I really feel about a speaker - you have to listen to it with all types of music material.   And your own personal physiological state will help determine, in no small part, how music will sound to you.   A pair of speakers may leave different impressions on you, depending if you're tired, or fresh, in a good mood, a bad mood, stressed, relaxed, etc.  A three-hour audition at a dealer is better than no audition, but it’s no guarantee of happiness, and it goes both ways - a speaker that may not seem great in the dealer’s space may sound really enjoyable in your own space. Like many have said before me, you MUST listen to the speakers in your own space, and for more than just hours. You have to spend days or weeks with them and let your ears acclimate to them. Like jond above, I use Audiogon as an in-home audition service, keeping what I like and selling what I don’t like as much, and it’s worked out great.
larstusor OP
59 posts
 
Thank you all for sharing your perspective on the matter.  Your opinions are valued and are helpful.
grinnell
1,100 posts
 
I buy used, wait for a good price and sell it for my cost or in a few cases more than i paid for it.

Thats how I ended up with my Ref 3A de Capos after trying out 2 other speakers
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
In my forty+ years at this, I've always lived in the "boonies". Early on, I was exposed to Tannoy speakers, and subsequently bought some 12" Monitor Golds, built cabinets, and then listened to them for 18 years.

I wound up going to B&W's, and then Dynaudio, but felt like I had to return to Tannoys, as though I had unfinished business with them. Sold the Dyn's; bought some 12" HPD drivers and crossovers, and built some 150 liter, 200 lb. bass-reflex cabinets, and now I will not be changing speakers before I leave this earth.

My HPD's sound great with 500 Wpc class D, or 9 Wpc SET 300B, which I switch to and from as my mood changes, and in a large room, 16 X 34 w/cathedral ceilings.

Just my way of dealing with being a long way from cities. Around 80% of my equipment has been purchased on Audiogon, as mentioned previously, it can be an enjoyable, and affordable, means of finding equipment you like, and will stay with over the long haul.

Best of luck, regards,
Dan 
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