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Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them?

In the 'good old days' there were a lot of hifi stores around so there was plenty of opportunity to go in and listen to various brands and models of speakers.  With the continuing disappearance of audio shops, I'm wondering if more people are making the leap to buy speakers they've never heard in person, or just limiting their purchase options to the brands they can hear locally?  If you are buying a speaker that you haven't heard, how do you get comfortable with that?  Magazine reviews?  YouTube demos?  

I've mostly heard any speaker I ended up buying, but in two cases I bought speakers that weren't available in my area.  I made my decision based on reviews.  In one case the speaker was really nice, but in the second case, the speaker was well-reviewed but ended up being disappointing.

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

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ibmjunkman's avatar
ibmjunkman
244 posts
 

Lates 60s I bought JBL Dorian S12 after hearing a huge JBL system at a Dick Clark concert production at the Chicago Stock Yards amphitheater. I think I did listen to them at Allied Electronics on south Western avenue when buying.

Mid 70s I bought JBL L222 Disco after listening to them at a store north west of Chicago.

I still have both sets. The L222 are my active speakers.

Now for the ones I did not listen to but purchased. I was into collecting JBL at the time.

L25,L36,L40,L120,L300,AquariusIV,S1,4408,L65,L100,B380. Still have but not using the last 3.

If I had the space I would have really tried for a Paragon. 😊

ltmandella's avatar
ltmandella
153 posts
 

Never heard any speaker before I bought it except one (JBL L40) at the start of my hifi life.

Since the L40s (handed down to baby brother) I bought Boston Acoustics A40, Proac D2, Reference3A DeCapo I, and ELAC DBR62 Reference.

All have been keepers.  The Proacs sounded wonderful in mids and highs, but needed more power than I had available at the time.  The Boston Acoustics died of old age.  The DeCapos and the ELACs are in use to this day.

fosolitude's avatar
fosolitude
72 posts
 

No way. Audio preferences are very personal. There is no universal standard. Reviews can steer you but thee is no substitute for how your own ears react to the sound. 

snapsc
675 posts
 

Yes, 3 of the last 5 pairs of speakers I purchased were without hearing them first. 

lectronjh50
30 posts
 

First, I heard ProAc Response 2, and I liked them. Then, I heard Response 3 and their sound stuck in my had as the best I have ever heard. However, they were way beyond my reach, so I purchased Response 2. At some point later, I heard Response 2.5 but they did not tempt me enough to replace my Response 2. When Response 3.8 appeared, I purchased a pair without hearing them and they exceeded Response 2 in every possible way. They were exactly as I was hoping they would be.

In an unlikely case that I get an opportunity ($$$) to upgrade, I would go for K6 and I would not insist on hearing them. But chances are I will die with Response 3.8 in my possession, which is not a bad way to die at all.

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