High End Audio Dealers


I am sure this question has been asked many times before, but I am new to Audiogon. I am researching audion equipment. Unfortunately, I live in Birmingham, Alabama and the high end audio dealers are few. Most have converted to become custom AV installers. There are only a couple here and they handle a limited stock. How do you audition equipment if you have no local dealers that handle the manufacturers you are looking for? I guess I could drive 2 hours to Atlanta.
mcclungw
ive drove half way across the country to look at gear,im lucky in the respect that i now know what i want & only have to drive to buy it.

mike.
drive to south beach sound and cinema in florence, alabama. i think they're still in business. they deal mcintosh, cary, linn, soliloquy, nordost, salamander, rega, and maybe a few other brands. whateve you do, don't drive down here to mobile.
buy used and sell if you don't like it. use the reputation of the best manufacturers. read stereophile or some other reputable rag.

chuck
You tell of a scary story. Once had three Hi-End dealers in my town now there is only two. I hear one of them is not doing all that well. You will need to take that two hour journey to Atlanta. That is one problem the Net has created. It is ever so slowly killing the Hi-End dealer. I vision the time when one will buy direct from the manufacture over the net. If the dealer takes the time and and you decide you like what you hear, will you buy it from him, or go back home and buy it over the net?
Jea48, you summed up the demise of the local dealer in your last sentence! That is why they/we/I are failing!