Buying "Sound Unheard"

I have bought several components and speakers without ever having heard them, some from dealers who will take things back if you dont like them without charging you a restocking fee. Cd players from Reference Audio Video, a Classe amp from another store, I took back.

But the most risky and rewarding purchases I have made without having heard the components were my two sets of Harbeth speakers. The first, a pair of HL-P3 mini-monitors, I bought from the then-distributor several states away. He was not going to take them back. I bought them on the basis of the Stereophile review. I liked them so much I started looking into the other Harbeth speakers and noticed a review of the Compact 7's by Professor Greene in The Absolute Sound.

I then enquired of people who had listed their C-7's for sale on the internet as to their reasons for selling. They told me what they didnt like about the speakers.

Then I found a dealer in the UK with a website (Signals) and started emailing him with questions about the speakers. Eventually, I bought a pair of these speakers from Signals, without ever hearing them, primarily on the strength of the Absolute Sound review. (The proprietor realized there was a market in the US, however small, and added some pages to his website advertising the Harbeths for export.)

For all the complaints about reviewers, I have found that if you read carefully and are familiar with the reviewer's views on other products, reviews can help. You can also find honest retailers who are willing to discuss the equipment they sell by email or over the phone, and most of them want you to be happy with what you buy, so most really high end dealers I have encountered will tell you if something is not suitable for the rest of your system.

I almost always buy sound unheard. Isn't that what Ausiogon is for? I look for good deal on great equipment. If it sounds better in my system, I keep it. If not, I keep my component and sell the new stuff for what I paid, more or less. I keep track of all my buying and selling and have just about broken even.

I'm with metaphysics. Audiogon makes it possible to indulge my audiophile urges by living with a wider range of reputable products than I ever could if I had to buy everything new. A wider range than I could have ever imagined just a few years ago. So it's all continuing education rather than long-term commitment. And there are many great dealers who will let you try things out at home, for the stuff you want or need to buy new (somebody has to buy new, after all). Speakers are tough, though.

For more than 20 years I lived in the mountains of southern Oregon. Curcumstances dictated that I buy equipment on faith. BIG MISTAKE! Have you ever heard an AMC amp? Don't fall for the sales fluff like I did. Take my advice and listen before you buy or buy from a source you can rely on.

Hi John; for me, the internet has changed everything. Like some of those above, I now do most of my buying through the various audio gear listing services-- mostly Audiogon. The inet also allows for a great deal of research of products prior to purchase. I've also found some good high end stores that will do mail order, some are listed above, and I also like ProgressiveAudio.com in Ohio, and audio-logic.com in Iowa. I live on a remote part of the Oregon coast. Cheers. Craig.