What do you do when you live hours from nowhere

I get my info from A-goners and online reviews and then seek out the most-likely-to-please-me equipment locally (when possible).  I have also bought unheard/unseen.  I couldn't be more pleased with the results so far.

Tost, me too.

I have bought various audio components previously unheard in recent years based on what I learn from sites like this and others and have yet to be disappointed. So it can work though in most cases probably reasonable to expect some hits and misses along the way. Just don’t overpay and buy and sell as needed and you will get there sooner rather than later.

Sorry guys, I've been "out of pocket" for a few days (having broken my ankle and surgery on it). I really appreciate the responses.

Here is some background on me: I live in rural Georgia so I'm a bit out in the boonies. Atlanta is the closest place to me with good equipment, but I think there is really only 1 high end retail shop. I'm open for good suggestions there. 

It seems to me that good "high end" stereo shops have been disappearing since I was in college. I got into stereo in high school, early 70's scraping money together for Advent speakers. 

Back then folks loved to turn other folks on to new and better equipment for the joy of the music that equipment could reproduce. Even when I didn't have much money the excitement was palatable. My Brother and I had a passion for music that we still share. He has a really interesting system. We still visit one another and listen to each other's recordings and set-up. It seems now dealers push certain products because they are so limited in their suppliers. It also seems to me that folks have gotten more strident in their positions regarding certain equipment.

A recent interaction that partially prompted the post was that I was shopping for tubes for my pre-amp and called a tube dealer for a recommendation for tubes (I was going to buy them from him after doing research here). First he criticized my pre-am as being hard on tubes and poorly designed, the he asked if I had noticed any microphony. I'll admit I'm not familiar with that word and so I told him I wasn't. His response "I don't have time to give lessons." My Brother and I have used tubes in amps and pre-amps for a long time (he still has some VTL amps and various tube components as do I). This pre-amp doesn't produce much (if any) noticeable hum/noise nor does it got through tubes quickly.

I've done the same as some of you for awhile. I've had speakers that likely none of you have heard (Hartleys - surprising sound) and other well know brands. For instance, not too long ago I had a pair of used BW 802d's speakers and another brand of speakers in my listening room. I was doing A/B demos with my source equipment to determine which speakers worked best in my room with my stuff. My wife called the BW's "the alien speakers." In the process of the demo, I also traded out amps (all SS brands CJ, Bryson, McIntosh mono blocks) and pre-amps (tube vs SS)  to determine what combination I liked best. The BW's I had heard before - the other speakers I bought sight and sound unseen. I have since sold most of that equipment (I tend to be a hoarder though).

Anyway that gives you where I'm coming from in this process. I may have rambled a bit - chalk that up to pain meds. 

Thanks for the thoughtful responses, perhaps one day I can meet a few of you (as has happened).

I think I'm going to have to go to an electronics/stereo show sometime in the near future.

Thanks again folks.

Yo Nab2

There are two or three (or more) hifi stores in Atlanta. Buckhead area.  Some have a lot of sqare footage devoted to home theater yet hifi is given plenty of listening room. The turn up in searches. 

I am in rural Alabama and definitely feel your pain. What's puzzling is how most folks here love music yet are oblivious about hifi. My gf and her family are mystified by my love for this hobby. 

Thank goodness for the internet. I enjoy your posts.

I have an audiophile friend that lives in Libby, MT.  He is active in forums and email lists.  Great guy.  He attends electronics shows as part of his vacations and meets people who are in the forums and lists, spends time listening to equipment and meeting designers of top equipment.  I don't think he worries about getting snubbed, just doesn't let that get under his skin.