The Audio Doctor makes a house call

+1. Well said, will.  The Audio Doctor has helped me a lot with equipment recommendations, system setup and troubleshooting,  His recommendations have been excellent. He has not suggested replacing equipment that doesn’t need replacing, just to make a sale.  My system sounds much better as a result of his advice.  He continues to provide help if issues arise. We can debate the issue of how far a dealer should go on this board to recommend products he sells.  As will says, dealers  are in a competitive business. But I also agree with will that the Doctor genuinely tries to help and, because he is familiar with so many products, he is a great source of knowledge. Some  of the critics on this thread seem to overlook the positives in expressing their personal opinions about his product promotion.  

I am very familiar with Dave having met with him at Sound By Singer on numerous occasions and had personal sales dealings with him. I have never suggested that he does not know what he's doing or that he does not carry good and sometimes excellent products (ie T&A). However, having a system that has morphed over many years and having substantial experience with literally hundreds of brands (and having built some kit myself)--it is his constant salesmanship here that is troubling. He claims that he carries the best of everything because he has personally listened to all of the competitors and his stuff is best. What about the dealers who would not permit him to represent them because they do not like sales out of a room in his house crowded with tons of equipment? What about the brands who are happy with other nearby dealerships and will not hurt them by letting him carry the same equipment? In NY, there are at least 10 high end dealers that carry prominent brands so it is not like other areas of the country where a manufacturer would love to have representation of any kind. 
As one who has gone to dozens of audio shows and knows every owner of each major dealer in NY personally (having made significant purchases over the years at virtually all of them)--I can say that any one of them can do what Dave does. They all genuinely believe in what they sell. They all carry excellent, well regarded and well reviewed gear and have on display in dedicated rooms signature systems that sound incredible--although each such system is not to everyone's tastes when compared to the others. Most have more experience than Dave (and he has a lot). So I am happy for those who appreciate Dave's work with them. I am unhappy for the rest of us who tire of his constant, self serving, long winded self promotion here.
 If all of the dealers I knew did what he did on this site (and any of them easily could), Audiogon would be less fun and have a lot less members. I hope Dave doesn't respond with his usual blabber about how many people he has helped, how he genuinely wants to help people but other dealers are just in it for the money, how he is performing a public service and why some people here are happy with his advice and should not be deprived of it because of people like me, etc,----   which is his usual response to criticism. 

I specifically seek out posts by dealers on A'gon because I value their audio opinions more than a regular poster (for the most part). Someone who spends their life in audio are likely to know a thing or two about audio.

Of course, the opinions of the dealers are going to be biased along the products they like and sell. Just like the opinions of regular posters skewed towards gear they put money on. I have no problem with either, what I need from this site is audio knowledge. I like music and I can have  a quality experience using the knowledge I gain here.  Gear for me is just a way to get to my destination.

I have spoken with a few dealers recently, on the phone and in person, because I am going to be buying a lot more gear soon. A lot of those dealers are posters on this site. I wish they would post even more but they are usually too busy or do not want to deal with the histrionics of posters who feel violated by this. A shame for someone like me since 'experienced' knowledge is not being spread out as much as it could be.

Gpgr4blu, I will keep this brief. Your statements are very different than what I experienced workino at both SBS and Innovative two really big dealers.

Most of Andy’s or Elliots product accquisitions were not based on rigorous testing and evauating of products.

When i worked at SBS and Innovative it was me who begged Andy and Elliot to try certain new brands and products.

In terms of trying the latest and greatest gear, most of the NYC dealers whom you seem to love, most do not constantly try out new brands. 

It is for this reason that we actually have the largest collection of gear in the NY metro dealer.

If you look at our line list you will see what I mean

www.audiodoctor.com/wp is our new site.

When a product line peaks my fancy and if I think it might be excellent it is brought in and Troy and Myself do a listening session if the product is good it comes in if not it is sent back.

Look at our history in cabling, we started with Harmonic Tech, then Acoustic Zen, Audience, Kubala Sosna, Soundstring, Audioquest then Nordost and finally Wireworld. Out of all of these cables the Wireworld was the most balanced in the majority of our systems with Enklein being the best reference grade cabling.

In terms of vibration isolation again we started with HRS, then moved to Stillpoints and then Critical Mass. Those were our major lines, we also sold Black Diamond Racing, Symposisim and Acoustic System footers.

You want to talk power conditioners: we sampled Shunyata, Audience, Silver Circle, Isotek, Running Springs, Audioquest and Audio Magic.

Do you think SBS or Innovative tested all of those products. The answer is no. Andy sells HRS wether or not they are the best he has sold them for years, same with Elliot.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Audiotroy:
Of course. You are the best. The two dealers you claim are not in your league. I can assure you, they are far above it. Elliot only carries Wilson, MSB, D’agostino, B&W, Avalon, Meridian, Lyra, VTL, Lamm, Naim and other top brands as well as many mid level brands in extremely expensive and beautifully treated dedicated sound rooms. I have not been to Andy’s new shop but I purchased BelCanto, Shunyata and HRS from him. He also carries Focal, VAC, Soulution, Ypsilon, Zanden and others. When you worked there and tried to sell me his stuff, you told me it was the best. Apparently, you’ve had a change of heart.
Please do not try to tell me that you are better than these fellas and that they don’t experiment with new products as I have experienced products which they contemplated carrying in their shops--some of which they decided to represent and others of which they did not.
Unlike you, they do not jam a million products into a few rooms in their home and try to sell them there.
I am not a best friend to either of these fellas, but they deserve infinitely better than your comments. Once again, you prove my point every time you write. You simply have no idea how to speak without attacking other dealers who are in fact better and more qualified to sell gear than you and to criticize the critics some of whom know infinitely more than you. I know. I’ve met you many times when you tried to sell me stuff. (You struck out everytime.)
Maybe you can meet me tomorrow night at Innovative when Elliot previews D’Agostino Relentless monos with Wilson Alex and MSB digital presented by Dan himself. Poor Elliott--he doesn’t know what he is doing, what the best products are and how to get manufacturers to preview their gear there. Maybe he can learn something from you. LOL.
Although--I don’t think so as I have purchased gear at such presentations. Perhaps you should change your moniker--let’s see--how about "Shameless"