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Buying Without Audition

Surely I'm not the only one with the dilemma of living out in the boonies with no audio equipment dealer (other than Walmart) within 100+ miles.  How does one choose among the many speakers offered in any given price range without listening to them before buying?  The reviews are often skewed by self interest and, in any event, what you hear and what you like is completely subjective and the prosaic descriptions in the reviews mean different thing to different people.  After all, you really can't accurately describe in words what someone else might hear. The problem is compounded if you wish to buy "used" from a private party as there often is no right of return, and when there is, the cost of shipping both ways is a significant consideration, especially when looking for floor speakers.

Any educated suggestions?
larstusor
meerzistar
232 posts
 
A collection of reviews can be helpful if options are limited. That and try to choose newer equipment in good shape and that's favorable among the masses so turning it over again wont be as much trouble. Youll have to eat shipping fees but its not as painful as getting stuck with something you really didn't want.   
jnovak's avatar
jnovak
423 posts
 
bcgator is spot on. I bought a pair of Snell Type B's in 1993. I can't even remember what source factors contributed to that decision. When they arrived, I set them up and to my horror they sounded terrible! BUT, I was forced to listen to them because I was stuck with them. Over one year, I threw everything at them I could get my hands on from cables to CD players and different positions in the room. What a pay off it was! I've been a Snell fan ever since. 
facten
2,881 posts
 
If I waited to listen to speakers in friends' homes I'd be dead 10 times over. Whenever I talk to freinds or people I work with about equipment they look at me like I have 10 heads; or ask me, questions like " hey what do you know about SONOS?". MHO, you can make it work without auditioning and not have to settle, nor have it be an excrutiating expereince
dentdog's avatar
dentdog
498 posts
 
I bought my whole system piece by piece without auditions. BUT I did study for about a year all things audio, primarily on this site. I began to gravitate towards time aligned, crossoverless, high efficiency speakers and balanced fully differential  electronics throughout. It paid off in spades. 
Just decided if I was going to spend that  much money I wanted to learn how things worked. 
gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
I guess I am ’old school’ now.
The internet has opened things up for audiophiles. ’Back in the olden’ days’, you had to visit shops and spend hours listening (which was fun), now you can review the experiences of others and make an educated guess when buying stereo equipment.
What I really wanted to impress upon the OP is that by auditioning equipment, you get a real feel for what sound ’good’ to you and you alone. Sure, you can get a decent sound system by using the reviews of others, but my opinion is that you really need to experience what ’sound’ makes you close your eyes and experience the ’Nirvana’ that comes when a stereo system comes together. (Of course, you’ll always be tweaking it....;) )
Bob
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