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How do you get to listen to high end speakers?

Wierd question.

Since I was a little kid and my father bought his first "Hi Fi" rig, Ive been hooked on the stuff.

I am a fan of the hobby and my interests in it have flucuated throughout the years. Kind of bouncing between a mild involvement to nuerosis.

I am absolutley entranced by the workmanship, build quality and engineering of some of todays high end audio gear manufacturers.

So that brings me to my question.

How does a guy, that simply cannot afford the best the industry has to offer, get a chance to listen to some of it every now and then? If for no other reason than to hear what he might strive for in his own personal system.

For example, Wilson Audio. While Im not poor by any stretch, I also just cannot afford a pair of $125,000 X-2's, let alone the front end worthy of such a mighty speaker. Does that mean that I should forever be shut out of the kingdom of audio nirvana?

Dont get me wrong, Im not asking someone to let me take a pair home and audtion them. However, is it wrong to find a high end dealer that might have a pair on display as demos and ask to take a listen, at least for a song or two?

Im not asking for the keys to the kingdom, maybe just let a fan of the craft take a peek through the front doors now and again.

I live in South Florida and found a local high end dealer that had a set of MAXX's on demo. While in there to buy a $350 center channel speaker cable, I asked if I could take a listen. I was told no. That auditions were for potential buyers only. Meanwhile, two guys had just walked out of the room after having them cranked up.....employees, not customers.

Now dont get me wrong, I dont expect them to just let anyone and everyone in the world to come in and start jamming with their $175,000 rig. Im not just anyone. Im a customer that over the years has probably spent $3000-$4000 dollars in various stuff there. Cables, speaker stands and the like.

Am I on the market for a $40,000 set of speakers? Absolutley not.

Would I love to listen to them? Of course.

So has Hi Fi become the new class system. The realm of the rich and mighty where the "haves" dont even let the "have nots" take a peek into their realm?

If I was the owner of the business, I would love to let true fans of the hobby take a listen to perfection, even if I knew they could never afford the product. I would love to inspire people, to give them a glimpse of what is possible. To teach people to be excited about Hi Fi and music again and to give them a goal to work towards with their own personal systems.

Besides, a guy that knows that once a awhile he can listen to the newest and latest in esoteric gear, will frequent the store more. Knowing that, what Hi Fi junkie walks into audio nirvana without at least buying something?

Seems like a good way to get repeat customers.
nm512
mknowles16
101 posts
 
Well NM512-

A few thoughts:

1. If you relate your experience truthfully, it is not slander.

2. If it was a joint in Coral Gables and handles Wilsons among their SOUND COMPONENTS, and also focuses on home theater, you probably ran into a moron for a salesperson. I know the manager of the establishment, and he is a fine person, but some of the employees are awful. They really act crazy when he is away. I ran into a similiar situation with a young guy who wanted to tell me a number of rules before I auditioned a pair of speakers. He quieted down finally, but it was disconcerting to have to ask him to be quiet while I listened to the speakers.

3. I listened at length to Von Schweikert's latest megabuck speakers when I was in San Diego recently after requesting an audition on the telephone. I understand that some other manufacturers are similarly accomodating. You might want to try it on you next trip out of state.
sonicbeauty
324 posts
 
Just another proof that audio snobery is scaring away many audiophiles, closing down bick and mortar shops, and opening the door to internet sales even wider than before. These dealers do not deserve your money, or respect for that matter. What a shame.
ellery911
549 posts
 
Spend each dollar like it's a vote...I sure wouldn't vote for that dealer.
rlapporte
62 posts
 
As a former high-end dealer, I know that unfortunately, your experience is not unique. I was treated that way in the past, especially in NYC and made a commitment to never treat customers in such a manner. Regardless of a customer's budget or purpose for entering the store, I never denied anyone the opportunity to hear the top shelf components upon request. My experience is that it resulted in considerable repeat business, referrals, and a more enjoyable business to operate. Like others have stated: Vote with your money.
bkeane
13 posts
 
Find a new dealer! Not every, but most dealers I have visited are more than willing to "show-off" their highest of high end equipment. I have gone back to the same dealer numerous times to listen to the exact same setup with hours of my music, as a matter of fact they encourage it. Prior to buying my current speakers I would guess that I had about 40 hours total listening during various trips at the dealer, plus dragged the monsters home for a week, so I could hear them in my listening room, prior to purchase (no deposit required, no guarantee I would buy). Anyone who says you can't listen is a fool, how did they know you weren't buying a cable for your son's system?
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