Store sound v/s Home sound

Most dealers do not have good setups, so I’ve had the opposite experience, i.e., my speakers always sound substantially better in my home versus the store.

" One of the constant problems is when the speaker were brought home they didn't sound the same."

Different room, different electronics and they need to break in. Also, your emotional state is completely different when shopping for gear. You may be worrying about making the righ choice, excited, good mood, bad mood, and any number of issues similar to this. And when you're worried about all of these other factors, you get distracted and miss things. Your home is a completely different environment. When you're more relaxed and in familiar surroundings, you'll perceive your system in a different manner than you did in the store. 

" I made a purchase with the amplifier, processor and speakers demonstrated together, once home the system didn't sound the same.  The store was always better.  "

HT gear comes with all types of signal processing/room correction. The dealer may have set the system up completely different than you.

***If you buy a new pair of speakers from a high end store (not BestBuy or similar) and they don't deliver and set them up for you, find a new dealer. 

Every listening environment is different. Especially size and shape and places where the speakers can be positioned. My room is very large, for example - much larger than anything that I have seen in any dealer's showroom. Therefore, I always try to audition speakers at home before purchasing. It is not always easy, but I have shied away from dealers who do not offer some sort of in-home audition - even if only for a few hours. Some dealers will personally bring the equipment (sometimes even a few different pairs of speakers); and others will have a short-term lending program (ie., over a weekend). I have had experiences in which speakers sounds better at home than in the store, but mostly vice versa. Another option is to buy speakers directly from a manufacturer that offers a trial period - sometimes for as long as 60 days. 

IMO, in the normal home environment, where you do not have unlimited positioning options, speaker selection is a total crapshoot without a home audition.  I have owned several really good speakers, such as the Harbeth SHL5s and Montor 30s, Totem Forests and Hawks, Coincident Partial Eclipse and Opera Callas monitors and each one worked very differently in my room.  The Monitor 30s had absolutely no bass, but the little Callas Monitors sounded full and balanced.  It's all the way they work with the room.  What's the answer?  If you are buying new, demand a home audition.  If not, buy used, hope for the best and sell at a small or no loss.  But when you do get the right speaker, you will know it.  Everything will just sound right.  Best of luck.  

I concur w/ the panel,

most dealer/retailers do not have a properly set-up room for loudspeakers.
A home audition is warranted prior to any purchase.  Caveat:
those guys who sell gear from their personal residence. Hopefully, that home environment is better than a retail space?