Should high-end shops be "OBLIGATED" to advise about component matching for best sound?
Being involved in high end audio for at least 35 years, I always wondered why audio shops don't go out of their way to advise about system matching. I am sure a few go the extra mile, especially if the customer is looking for an entire system and willing to spend $10,000 to 50,000 ( and that would be lower side of premier systems).
Some of us "may or may" not be in this category, or even the medium of this scale of $20,000-$25,000 Many of us "philes" may be close to the $10,000-$12,000 mark in expenditure.
I get the impression that too often high end dealers would like to sell you far above what you want to spend. There is nothing wrong with good and reasonable salesmanship to extend a customer's budget. Often audio stores recommend entire systems in an ala carte fashion.
In addition, what happened to the "stepped system" displays (with some variation). That may sound like a mid-fi audio store selling approach, but high end stores could do the same thing displaying systems from $2000, $4000, $6000, $8000, $10,000, $12,000 etc Each step would have speaker cables and ICs best suited for each system. In my opinion, this "MIGHT" REDUCE the trail and error merry-go-round trial of buying and selling.
Lastly, I realize that a large percentage of customer may be looking for one or two components( separates in this case counting as ONE COMPONENT). There is no set way to build a quality audio system, but dealers need to get more involved with customers in making buying choices. If not, then many shops will disappear over the next decade......
I know the brickbats will fly over this thread because I sound lie an old fogey ( Well, I am an old fogey! ) However, should make for a spirited discussion!! Thanks, SJ
