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Keeping Audiophilia And The Love Of Music Alive & Well!

This is a little something I just posted in Stereophile that I thought I should also post here for what I think are obvious reasons.

How many times have we read or heard how difficult it is for some folks to audition equipment they're interested in because there simply aren't enough or any quality audio shops within a reasonable distance? I would wager we've all noticed a steady decline in the number of audio shops just about everywhere, even in large cities and metropolitan areas.  As a lover of music and audiophile, I think this is kind of sad.  There once were, at least, 2 or 3 shops within a half hour drive from where I presently live.  Now, there are none.  They've all gone out of business.  With the exception of one shop with a reasonably good inventory about 45 minutes away, I have to trek 2 hours or more to shops with a good inventory and selection.  I avoid buying stuff from on-line sellers, as much as possible, to support my local shops, even if it means paying a little more. With this in mind, I offer this for what it's worth.

I know some audio shops occasionally host demonstrations of various products for groups of their patrons and/or interested audiophiles, in general. From the little I've seen & read about these conclaves, it looks like this is mostly done by large or relatively large shops. Obviously, they probably tend to have large enough sound or demonstration rooms to accommodate this sort of thing. I'm further assuming there is probably some sort of advertising involved to promote such events (e.g. mailing lists; newspaper ads; website notices; etc.) and admission, understandably, needs to be limited. What I don't know is if the larger shops who do this sort of thing charge some sort of cover-charge or admission fee or just write it off as a business expense in the hopes of generating increased sales. Free admission to open houses like this sounds like something much more easily accommodated by larger shops, versus smaller operations. Regardless, I wonder if it might not benefit smaller shops to consider doing this sort of thing and actually charging admission because it would, necessarily, involve a smaller crowd of patrons and/or interested audiophiles. For that matter, in order to circumvent the seating capacity issue, maybe an alternative acoustically appropriate venue could be considered?

A fellow audiophile friend and I often wax philosophical about components we wish we could responsibly afford but, unfortunately, will likely always remain in the unobtainium sphere for us unless we win the lottery or walk into an audio shop in an altered state of mind. Really! What audiophiles don't wax philosophical about stuff like this? In fifty years, I've never met one!

In addition to our willingness to pay a reasonable admission fee to hear top shelf gear, we would be even more interested in hearing fair A/B shoot-outs between or amongst, as the case may be, audio toys that captivate our interest.

I'm wondering what you audiophiles out there in the great ether think about this idea.

oldaudiophile
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Good eye. Classic red lava lamp. Perfect amount of light, endlessly interesting patterns. Takes about the same amount of time to warm up as the system. ;) 

stuartk- you seem to think I was addressing my remarks to you. Thanks, always enjoy a good sense of humor!
mitch2
4,007 posts
 
Times have changed and if you are not in an area where you can easily access audio shops to audition equipment, then your options may include:
  • Attending audio shows, 
  • In-home auditions from direct-purchase manufacturers, 
  • Joining an audio club where members host meetings and compare gear, and where manufacturers are invited to display their gear, and/or
  • Purchasing gear on-line and reselling items you do not want to keep.
This hobby will be kept alive and well by manufacturers and listeners who are passionate about listening to music on an accurate sound reproduction system.  Anybody who is in it solely for the money would be better served spending their time elsewhere. 
stuartk
2,875 posts
 
@jehab:"Forgive me for speaking for edcyn, but I think he was serious, though meant it in a different tone than you perceived due to his word choice. Try substituting "eager and aspiring" for "itchy-fingered wannabe" to read it another way. I dare to comment thusly because I consider myself such an audiophile, having never set foot in a high-end retailer."

I'm not convinced you're accurate in your genereous interpretation of edcyn's post, but I do appreciate your motive. There is, unfortunately an undeniable element of elitism/snobbishness in this hobby that I dislike intensely. No doubt my growing intolerance for it has a tendency to color my reaction to certain posts, here. 


jrw1971
62 posts
 
This is off-topic, with apologies.  Miller's lava lamp has reminded me of a recurring, non-serious thought: Do you think you could determine what kind of sound a person might like based on other preferences?  Like, if you enjoy a red lava lamp, you'll like X.  If you like a blue lava lamp, you'll like Y.  It's more fun with wines, though.  Can't you picture that guy who loves big, expensive, high alcohol content fruit bomb CA cabs also liking Mac tube gear?  The Pinot guy might like ARC+Maggies.  The Champagne crowd digs CH Precision and Soulution paired with Stenheim, with a Goldfinger cart.  And the dude who loves Port also loves CJ+JBL+Koetsu, but only their vintage stuff.

That's the kind of dealer event I'd attend, with each room pairing audio gear and a certain booze.  
oldaudiophile OP
315 posts
 
jrw1971, off-topic notwithstanding, I love that kind of thinking! Don't know how diagnostic this is but I love MAC amps and don't care much for CABs. I lean more toward Merlot, Cotes du Rhone, Chateaux Neuf du Pape, Bourdeaux (from Gironde), Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Tavel, Bass Ale, Harpoon Ale (definitely ale over beer), Cognac (Remy Martin only), fine single malt Scotch, etc. MAC lover? I love lava lamps! Child of the 60s who grooves on 60s music? Maybe. Wouldn't it be hoot if the Stenheim crowd are Bud Light drinkers? LOL! Audiophile psychologists should really study this!

Your post reminded me of a recent speaker upgrade 2 or 3 years ago. I sought some guidance by posting some very specific information about my sound room, equipment and a few other particulars on Stereophile. Music preferences weren't very helpful because I just love too wide a  variety of stuff! I was floored when Kal Rubinson chimed in with a little guidance. To make a long story short, Kal and another professional I respect and had a separate back & forth with during this time, Doug Schneider, pretty much predicted what my ears would eventually choose. Guess that's why these guys are professionals. Kind of like audiophile fortune-telling. After several months of serious seat-time with somewhere around 18 different pairs of speakers, I brought home a pair of Revel. Despite my respect for Kal and Doug, I can assure you their guidance was nothing short of  professional and objective and my ears definitely made the decision without any subconscious influence because of my respect for their expertise. In fact, there was, actually, a pair of speakers I liked more but my amp just didn't/doesn't have the juice for them (i.e. Aerial Acoustics). The person who traded those in went home with a pair of Steinheim Alumine Three. Get the picture? I've never heard the Steinheim but I can assure you the Aerial Acoustics are amazing! Of course, as we all know, this is just an opinion.
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