What do you do when you live hours from nowhere

There's some good advice here. I hadn't thought of going to shows. Partially because my wife thinks 1. This hobby is crazy 2. I spend too much on it as it is and 3. Travel to listen to equipment, you are really out of your gourd!

I'm not worried about being snubbed. I was making an observation about the hobby and the various personalities. 

I also like the advice about figuring out folks I think have meaningful stuff to say. 

Truth be known, the most significant thing I could do right now to improve my sound is to improve the acoustics of my listening room (structurally). I think average systems in a great room can beat really good systems in poor rooms. 

nab2-

You have Audio Alternative that has become HiFi Buys Atlanta,
Georgia Home Theater (GMT) and one additional shop, in NE Atlanta outside of the perimeter.  These would be (3) places to start. Furthermore, each operation carries different gear, no overlap.

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!

I'll look at those around Atlanta (I'm going to call and see their setups first). I can't tell you how many times I've tracked down "dealers" (particularly "home theater dealers") only to find they they have no setups to hear true stereo systems. "We're a Wilson dealer, but we have no Wilson rooms. Vandersteen, yep we can order 'em, but you can't hear them. You idiot."

I would bet that HiFi Buys would be better ( I can remember a few shop parties with an early HiFi Buys franchisee friend of mine years ago at a nameless shop - there were quite a few systems sold after that little event).

There were a couple of smaller shops with esoteric equipment that have gone out of business in Atlanta. They had some good equipment/representatives (at one time I owned Meadowlark audio speakers from one of those guys and VTL amps).

It's amazing to me the margins on the equipment. While I like craftsmanship externally, I wish I knew the very best value per dollar for sound for every component at every price range. To hell with impression, just give me performance. I've got a CJ Priemer 18 LS 2 pre-amp, I like it, but I'd like to know what other pre-amp slays the bugger for the price it commands. SS or Tube would do. You guys have any suggestions?

Thanks again for all the responses. You guys are helpful. I hope to run into you in some gracious context to compare sound. 

I heard that -nab2-

Very sadly, ATL has lost several Audio operations over the last 10years?
This is our 6th major U.S. city!  Even worse, Houston is our 4th major U.S. city has also has little to none Audio operations.

keep me posted & happy listening!