Would you trust a local dealer to help you put

I think you could divide the customer world into two general categories: those who just want a good system and aren't going to be bothered with upgrades, tweaks or the latest developments, on the one hand; then, those who are, or become hobbyists, and are more deeply involved in the 'why' and 'how do i improve the sound' and get engaged in the process, the equipment and all the associated stuff (the reason, I think, that many of us are on a place like this).
A good dealer can serve both types of customer. The first type may have to rely more heavily on the dealer's advice, and ultimately, may never look back (except for repairs or problems). Sure, the customer may visit several dealers and listen to several systems in the process, but it's not an ongoing process once the equipment is bought and set up. The second- the hobbyist- is constantly examining, re-examining. They read, chat, raise doubts and may decide that they know what they are after- thus, the dealer's views may or may not be as important to them. I know that this has the potential to drive a dealer crazy if the hobbyist is ultimately not spending money, but sort of an audio enthusiast 'without portfolio,' constantly hanging out, expressing opinions and then buying used, DIY, etc. I would think most dealers would ultimately shun such people since they aren't really customers. And finally, the hobbyist customer who does spend money, whether they look to the dealer for advice, or simply go to the dealer because that's a source of supply for a particular line.
I would think a dealer would like the more passive customer or the well-heeled hobbyist and not want to devote time to tire-kicking hobbyists who are never going to buy (from the dealer) anyway.

I submit I couldn't have built my system on my own. I've had the same dealer for 20 years and have purchased 95% of my stereo from him. He is a friend and someone I trust. Over the years he has recommended products that he didn't carry, but had access to. Our stereo conversations have always started with the dimensions of my room(retired Air Force and used to travel frequently), what I wanted to improve and how much I wanted to spend. Over the years he has called me many times just to say hello and see how my family was doing. He understands that we listen to a system, not individual components.

There may be those great Dealers out there,remember when you read the tomes from dealers on here ,that the human mind is capable of infinite self delusion and that when you do something over a long period of time-that becomes SOP.

in the last few years many small manufacturers, selling direct have come into existence. no doubt, such a phenomenon poses a threat to an audio dealer.

however, it also raises the question of whether a consumer is better served by a manufacturer or a dealer.

for example, a speaker manufacturer may be a better source as to the suitability of amplifiers for his design.

i think the trend of manufacturers selling direct, especially when they sell more than one component will affect the viability of audio dealers.

in the long run i suspect there will be fewer large dealers and more home sellers.

let me put the issue this way:

if you assemble manufacturers who design all components, i think they are more knowledgeable than any audio dealer.

Mr. Tennis,

Hmmm...it depends on the complexity and level of integration that the system entails. But let's examine just the high-end market for a moment.

That would seem logical but what you end up with is consumer direct Audio Note, B&O, Naim, Linn, McIntosh or Meridian (good luck setting up a Meridian system PROPERLY without a dealer!). That's it.

And there'd be nothing wrong with that..FOR SOME; however, it is unlikely that the best digital minds will also manufacture the best analog equipment. You are daring to imagine a world without J. Gordon Rankin, George Cardas, Richard Vandersteen, Carl Marchisotto, or AJ Conti to name but a very, very few.

CES wouldn't need to be held in Vegas - it could be held at a local country club or ski resort. You wouldn't really need the audio press or online reviewers to keep covering those same all brand systems.

Hey, look at it another way - remove every manufacturer that only specializes in doing one thing (type of component or device) very well. There goes Berkeley, DCS, Sonos, Wilson, Rockport, Hansen, Verity, Magnepan, Aerial, REL, JL Audio, Kharma, Marten, Basis, B&W, Wadia, Cardas, Silverline, Nola, Harbeth, Hansen, Avalon, Ascendo, Daedalus, Audyssey, Devore, YGA, Pure Music, J. River, Amarra, Dynaudio, Focal, Scanspeak, Eton...well, I think you get the point.

Now remove electronics manufacturers that don't manufacture loudspeakers - Ayre, Bel Canto, Mark Levinson, Classe, Rotel, Nagra, Audio Research, Jeff Rowland, Simaudio, Cary, and this list goes on as well.

Plus, most manufacturers that I know well would prefer not to sell one unit at a time/consumer direct, pay to advertise in all markets, spend their days, evenings, and weekends on the phone troubleshooting or providing technical support, explaining computer settings for products that they do not sell but that their customers will need to use in order to obtain the maximum benefit from their product. It's funny to think that all we do is sit around and sell boxes and run back and forth between the bank and the shop.

How many of these consumer direct companies will send people out to look at your room and get a feel for your lifestyle and manner in which the system could best serve that lifestyle?

I do not know of any equipment manufacturer that can design and install a fully functioning, distributed A/V system on a multi-deck 100+ foot yacht? (Bob Stuart perhaps?) But I realize that some may see that as an extreme (any coastal high-end dealer would not) - how about something simple and common in almost every household...how many manufacturers of high-end can test, analyze, and solve HDMI issues? Probably a few.

As a dealer, I've invested $9,000 just in professional test equipment for troubleshooting HDMI problems. Consumers have learned the word "handshake" which is but a catch all phrase. Which specific handshake issue is actually causing the problem, why is it happening, and how do you solve it without swapping out different brands of equipment in the hopes of getting lucky?

I'd also like to say that I have yet to see an all-one-brand system take any best of show sound. WHY IS THAT?

Finally, some manufacturers have abandoned a dealer base and have gone the route of direct sales. For example, Bel Canto tried it and moved quickly back to a dealer base. Velodyne did it, too, not long ago and, well, they've all but dropped off the radar.

There is no doubt in my mind, even if I were not a dealer, that a dealer can service a consumer far better than a single manufacturer. I've said it above, earlier in this thread, not all dealers are cut from the same cloth but some are very passionate about what they do and those types of dealers are usually experts at what they do.

Suffice to say, the guys at Verity Audio manufacture a wonderful product but I wouldn't want Julien Pelchat (No offense Julien) wiring my home or designing the audio and VIDEO system on my client's boat. Hey, does anybody know if Dave Wilson can program Crestron? :)

Imagine if a powerhouse like Harman sold it's products factory direct - and if they rebadged everything under one brand. What you'd be buying would be Revel or JBL loudspeakers powered by Mark Levinson, Crown, and Lexicon amplifiers, and you'd have an HDMI version 1.2 Lexicon processor (with room correction), and a re-badged oppo for a blu-ray player. I guess you have to remove the Oppo since they have to make everything themselves - so you wouldn't have a source for DVD or Blu-Ray. Yikes! Sorry kids, we can't watch Barney the dinosaur. Sorry parents, you can't catch your breath while the kids are in front of the TV. Does Naim or Audio Note manufacture a Blu-Ray player?

And by the way, 99% of the high-end electronics companies do NOT manufacture video displays.

So, you've got hundreds of brands of electronics, displays, control systems, wire companies, and speakers. And one manufacturer is going to is going to be more knowledgable than a dealer?

Sorry - No way.