@tomic601: I discovered the high end in 1971 (Infinity Servo-Static’s, ESS TranStatics, SAE electronics, then ARC), and commenced visiting every HE shop in the Bay Area. One was The Audio Clinic in Berkeley, which I visited to hear the Dayton Wright ESL’s. The proprietor was David Fletcher, who later was one of the principles of both Sumiko and SOTA.
David’s shop was a mess, as was his personal appearance ;-) . In speaking with him, I instantly realized this was no ordinary hi-fi salesman, or even human being. The current status of the shop made an audition of the ESL’s impossible, David asking if I could check back with him in a while.
Before that could happen I visited Audio Arts in Livermore, where Bill Johnson just happened to be setting up a complete ARC/Magneplanar Tympani system. Sorry David, I’m going in THIS direction instead. ;-)