Would you buy speakers with out first listening ?

I've done it once. Never, never, never again. Both professional and user reviews can be misleading, inaccurate, and incomplete. Professional reviews require reading very, very carefully, paying close attention to subtle clues and passing phrases that will illuminate weaknesses that they may be trying to gloss over. Some reviewers haven't thoroughly auditioned the speakers, and some user are most likely half deaf. After spending a year reading, researching, and listening, I've found that nothing substitutes for listening, and listening more than once with a set selection of your own CDs or LPs that you know intimately. Check the speakers with a test CD, sinewaves, acoustic music, and vocals. And nothing reveals a speaker's abilities better than solo piano and full orchestra. Solo piano for its ability to reveal distortion and realism; the sound of a piano is well known to our ears and most speakers alter a piano's sound in some clearly audible way. Orchestra, because the complexity and range, will show just how well a pair of speakers can resolve detail and their overall balance. Most rock and pop recordings are so over processed they will never tell you anything. Close your eyes and listen.

~ NO!

SoGood51... I blew through this string pretty quickly, but I thought I heard you say your leaning towards a "big" speaker. I bought my Silverline Sonata II's sight unseen (used @ $2750 delivered) and could not be happier. There is a pair of Sonata I's that just got listed for $2250... you may want to consider them... beautiful cabinets, very efficient, and great sound. I also hear unanimous support for Montana speakers and Green Mountain.

I bought my first used speakers on Audiogon after always buying new. I never expected to buy without auditioning the speakers first. It was a fairly expensive purchase. It did not work out. While the speakers are I'm sure excellent, they weren't in my setup. Synergy of amp and speakers is critical and sometimes elusive. I did my research extensively, emailed owners etc. I had to sell them on Audiogon and take a loss. Now I've got new speakers on the way. Bought the top of the line from a speaker I owned before. I know what to expect from these speakers. If you don't mind the risk and are willing to face re-sale on Audiogon, then buy without listening. But with big speakers of 150 lbs or more, I doubt I'd do it again.

based on experience: never again.

bought merlin VSM-Ms and soundlab U2s w/o hearing them first. never warmed up to either, despite their reputations and proponents.

heard my current WP6s years before i bought them. buying them was the best purchase i've made (tied w/ a kenwood KT8300 tuner for $60 and a Wavac SET for $2k)