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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
smittyjs
33 posts
 
" If you buy speakers that have a VERY flat frequency response, good quality drivers, good cross over design in a nice cabinet, you can get away without an audition. Mine are 34 - 20k hz +/- 1.5 db and 29 - 45k +/- 3 db. -- VolsFan846

Agreed! Toole's research has shown this to be true with most people and it certainly is for me. I look at the FR at 0°, 15°, 30° and waterfalls mostly. Polars and distortion graphs are good too ... when you can find them. Haven't been disappointed with this approach yet. I totally ignore subjective reviews and the latest forum-hyped speakers. I've been around long enough to see many forum darlings quickly lose their appeal after the herd anticipation wears off.

However, for HT speakers, accuracy isn't as important to me. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted there. I almost got caught up on the "dynamics" train, but realized I'm not an SPL guy, and what I like is spaciousness and detail ... like a twig snapping three feet outside and two feet behind the left speaker ... the point being, I wanted to be encapsulated by sound like in the real world, so soundstage became more important. Fortunately I heard just the speakers that could do that in someone's home. I don't yet know how to pick this quality out on a graph. Maybe it can be done, I just don't know how.
freediver
1,158 posts
 
I’m getting ready to order speakers from a liquidator(on the 15th.) ,unheard,using the same build parameters as VolsFan846(Go Gators!).Following these, along with a few additions, led me to speakers that reviewer after reviewer from around the world described as having the "sound"I wanted.
 It's funny but after studying review after review + several more,all extolling the same virtues across the listening spectrum you covet,a decision not only becomes easy but worry & doubt are suddenly replaced with relief,desire & anticipation.
 We’ll see if subjective reviews,specs & measurements,along with the 4 build parameters mentioned above can equal sonic happiness.I am VERY optimistic about my chances of building a musically satisfying system & hope to have a successful update in a few weeks.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Larstusor: I think Thiels are what you want based on your input and your description. And I mean Jim Thiel era models.
freediver
1,158 posts
 
OP did you ever get to go demo speakers or make a decision?
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