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A visit to the (Audio) Doctor

Looking at audio equipment can be a painful experience, sort of like looking at new (or used cars) or a trip to the dentist. I spent 4.5 hours at Audio Doctor in New Jersey. It was a great experience. Dave left a meeting early to see me. He knew that I was not looking at his very high end stuff, but he spent the whole day with me. No pressure, changing speakers many times and going back to a couple of them repeatedly. I have it narrowed down to two speakers, Vivid 1.5 or Janszen Valentia with air motion. Leaning toward the Vivids (pending wife approval). The shop is full of lots of incredible audio equipment at all price ranges. Clearly this is a business that is run out of appreciation of sound rather than maximizing profits.I am hesitant to go to small intimate shops like this out of concerns or pressure. This was just the opposite. Highly recommended.
crwindy
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,940 posts
 
Steve, you are spot on!  A good salesman is someone who educates as well as asks questions.

When we spec out a speaker system we ask questions:

1: Room size
2: Matching gear
3: Type of music you listen to
4: Visual or size preferences and or requriements.
5: How loud do you play?
6: Do you have a sonic palate preference ie a warmer or more detailed sound?
7: Image specificty do you like? Ie a big soundstage without focus or more focus image?
8: Bass response you are trying to create
9: Price range
10: What kind of speakers do you presently own along with the rest of the system and what do you like and what are you desiring to improve?

What we find facsinating is how many people just blurt out over and over again on these forums the same set of speakers that of course they own therefore they are right for everyone.

For this reason we sell lots of different brands of loudspeakrs because one size does not fit all.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Gee Dave, since I don't see any good salesman in this thread, could you direct us to one??? :-P
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Correction: there IS one good one. John Rutan of Audio Connection. :-)
gdnrbob
4,510 posts
 
@mr_m ,
Good one😂
Bob
rbstehno
1,559 posts
 
All salesmen are prejudice. No single audio dealer has everything that I want. For example, if you go to the AD for advice, would they actually tell you to go down the street to audition a pair of Revel’s or Wilson’s because that would fit tour needs better than what stock? That’s like saying a Toyota dealer telling a customer they would be better off buying a Ford.
I would agree that AD didn’t have to support the “gray” market product, but it sounds like AD did everything he could to put the client down. I didn’t hear anything that the client took many hours of AD’s time then went online to buy it much cheaper. AD should have explained the scenario but should have assisted the maybe future client to help find someone to help him.
Now, if I was that person that needed help, the next time I was looking for a new component, I know who I wouldn’t go to.
I personally don’t think it’s appropriate for dealers to respond to audio threads because of their biases. All audiophiles have a bias to what they have purchased, but they aren’t trying to sell you something.
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