Not Enough Options for Auditioning Speakers


am in the market for a great two channel music system. They will be set up in a dedicated listening room that is 12'x17'x9'. The room is carpeted but not treated.

My budget is around $15k-$20k for speakers, wires, amp+preamp (or integrated).

I prefer towers as I like the full range and have had bad luck with integrating a sub. I started my search with B&W 805's and Sonus Faber Olympica I's (which are still on my short list)

My problem is that most of the dealers in my area do not carry very many brands, so it is hard to compare. I cannot even find one that carries the KEF reference.

I am leaning right now to the Sonus Faber Olympica III's but also really like the B&W 803 D3. I wish I could hear them side by side. The dealer with the SF's is great and has let me do home testing with several speakers and he is recommending the Olympica's.

I read a lot online about auditioning several different speakers but cannot find any place in central Florida that has most of the lines they are suggesting. I know if I pick the SF Olympica's I will be very happy, but I have not even heard the III's! I am just a little frustrated that the consistent advice is to listen to a lot of others, but I can't.

Am I the only one with this problem?

Thanks!
-Mobius
mobiusmu
Get in touch with John at AudioConnection in NJ....He sells everything and is very willing to give advice.  Look up his phone number and give him a call...you won't regret it.
+1 for Johnny.
He won't try to sell you something.
-Only give you good advice.
For free.
B
No matter how many dealerships you visit, how many audio "festivals" you attend and how ever much time you spend doing it, in all likelihood you wouldn’t be able to audition even half of what the market has to offer. Moreover, many dealership rooms are setup like crap and may not have in use the other gear in your system. So even if you do have an opportunity to audition the speakers on your short list, you should only give so much credence to it.

As the Grateful Dead would say, you just have to make sure you leave no left turn unstoned.