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How do you audition speakers at a store?

I would love to know how you all audition speakers in a store. 

Here's my context, which may help explain my question. While I'm not as experienced, knowledgable, or wealthy (!) as many of you, I'm not new to this game, and for the last 35+ years I've made all my serious purchases through one store that I trusted (Take 5, in New Haven). I knew the rooms/acoustics in the store, I knew the owner, and I felt comfortable spending hours there listening to music, often just trying things out. I once spent six hours in one day comparing Maggies, which I ended up buying, with other speakers. I'm sure this sounds familiar to you all. Alas, the owner recently sold the store, it moved location, and, as I live 5-6 hours away now, I'm not inclined to try learn a new environment and a new staff. (I do wish them good luck, though!)

So I find myself without a safe harbor. There are at least four different speakers that I want to hear, in at least three different dealer locations. It's a big purchase for me, in the $4,000-$7,000 range. I feel like a rookie! I'll bring some of my own music and q-tip my ears in the morning, but:

What tricks do you have for leveling the playing field, moving past the psychoacoustic "tricks" that dealers might have to promote one speaker over another or simply the difficulty of mentally trying to hear a speaker as it's going to sound in your own house? I was reading in another recent thread that "Many speakers are voiced to impress during a quick audition, often with a "smiley" EQ." (The poster candidly admitted that he loved them in the store but after a few hours at home they were too bright.) Especially if I can't compare speakers side by side--that is, if I'm going to different locations--what recommendations do you have for minimizing the initial WOW that can happen (because a dealer is a good salesman, because the speakers play "big," because the oriental rug in the room is sooo beautiful, because the room acoustics in one store are better than another, because the amp/components/cables are WAY better than anything I'll ever own, etc)? I also have read that we may be initially drawn to certain acoustic qualities that can shine at first listen but may grate or disappoint later. 

In short, what are your methods for listening "past" a store's environment and the excitement of listening to a new sound ... and hear the real speaker as it will sound in your own space ... for years to come?

I don't know that it matters but I'm going to start my search looking at Kef (Ref1), Harbeth (C7ES-3, 30.1), and Spendour. If I can find a Joseph Audio dealer, I'd love to hear the Pulsars.

Finally: thank you to this community for accepting and welcoming newbies to this culture!
northman
gadios
94 posts
 
I am curious with the hundreds of well reviewed speakers that
you could have it down to four companies? Another company near you is DeVore. I like two of your choices quite a bit. Spendor and Joseph. Why are you only considering new? The pulsars can be bought used for $3,500-$5,000 all day long. The new version is $9k. I guess you can see I like that one best. 
You have most all the listening tips above. One more is to download the free decibel X app and make note of the range you like to listen to music
in on your home system. It could be 60-65db for example. Then when shopping before any dealer sets a volume level at 80dbs, explain you listen at X and have your phone out and the app on. 
The oldest trick in the book is for the volume game to be run on you.

Here is another thought. Go to the Axpona show in Chicago in April.
If you are not absolutely dying to spend your hard earned cash this month, consider taking the approach that you want to hear and learn as much as possible before your $ and you part way. Embrace the process.
 
Vermont may not have an organized audiophile club but NY has several.
See Stereophile online for the list. These people will probably be very willing to let you join their club and listen/learn from members. Some
will own exactly what you are interested in. Joseph is located nearby you. Go do a factory visit/tour. 

I envy the fun you have ahead of you. If you buy new and they don't allow a home trial, go elsewhere. Of course if you beat up the product
on your home trial expect to be dinged yourself. 

Keep us posted on your experiences. I will enjoy hearing them!
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,445 posts
 
Great replies above. I’d only add a couple things.

When I went, I brought some bookshelves I knew well and had them set up next to the speakers I was auditioning, then A/B’d them. I could hear differences between the two pairs which specifically articulated what the store’s (better) speakers were doing that mine could not. 

The other anecdote was that the salesman played some speakers for me in one room, with one amp, source, etc. and then I went into the better room to hear better speakers. In that room, well, all that gear was also better. I felt shy about asking them to bring the better speakers into the lower-tier room. So, it wasn't a fair comparison. But, I wasn’t about to purchase, so I let it go.
bhakti-rider
44 posts
 
I bring my own speakers.  I want to hear how others sound in direct comparison to mine.  They obviously won't sound the same as they do in my home, but everything else in the store's system will be identical, so the only difference will be the speakers.  Of course, bringing my speaker cables is an easy addition, and probably worthwhile too.  If my amps weren't so heavy, I'd also bring them.  (This probably won't work if you speakers are huge and/or heavy...)
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,446 posts
 
OP,  I feel your pain.  Evaluating in brick and mortar stores was never really easy for me--even when I had tons of brick and mortar shops to go to.  Now that hifi stores are either extinct or on life support, it's worse.  

Not to mention, I need to hear stuff over a long period (say a month) to really know what I'm dealing with.  


kacomess
207 posts
 
RE: "Stereotypes" in Portland, Oregon, I absolutely agree with mike_nc. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and patient. It's my local shop of choice.  I moved here 5 years ago from Washington (state). "Stereotypes" was recommended to me by John Zimmerman of Seattle's "Audio Connection", another shop I suggest locals patronize. It has a limited selection, but it has John and he's been there for decades (and I assume he still is, but I haven't talked to him in about a year). John has exquisite hearing and offers good advice, even if it doesn't involve a sale.

RE: Take 5 in New Haven, I didn't know the shop closed and moved. I visited there once about a year ago and the staff were really nice and engaged. Too bad about that.

RE: New Hampshire, strongly consider "Sounds of Silence" in Nashua. Steve Klein has an excellent selection of high-end equipment and he's a first-rate audiophile, dedicated and personable, too.
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