How to listen /audition at audio shows?

Obviously a lot of people swallow the idea it is all but impossible to audition anything at a show. Yet they all go to shows. Which they consider a complete waste of time. Crazier still, other people compliment them on their sage advice. Go figure.

To understand just how goofy this is think about something completely different and yet entirely the same: the test drive. Imagine someone says a test drive is a complete waste of time. They insist you cannot know how the car will handle without driving it up and down your home drive way. There is nothing you can learn about how a car handles on the unfamiliar roads around the dealership. Probably you must take the car on the same test track, drive the same speed, on the same day with the same weather I suppose as well.

When in reality we all know perfectly well exactly what will happen. You know very well how a car feels, how comfortable, quiet, how good the handling, no matter what road you drive it on. If you have any experience at all you are perfectly capable of understanding when you are on gravel vs concrete vs blacktop and all the different conditions of wear and smoothness of each of these- and how to factor this into the sounds and vibrations and everything else you are feeling while driving.

How is this in any way different than being familiar with the way different rooms affect the sound? Can you not hear the people in the room talking? The clues are everywhere.

Honestly, I know people love to repeat what they hear without really thinking things through, because that is, you know, work. But do the work. Don’t be the guy who repeats mindlessly what a waste of time it is- while out the other side of his mouth telling you how important it is that you do it anyway.

To the best of my knowledge Dr. Vinyl will have 2 rooms at the show. I will have cables in both. I expect good sound, but it won't sound like my home system. You "will" be able to judge equipment as to whether you think it has potential in your system in Dr. Vinyl's rooms for sure.

I do think there will be some after hours listening and possibly even a comparison between some equipment. Not counting that Greg will be playing tapes on UHA deck/recorder in the room with Vitus and Thrax.

There will be several new pieces of equipment at the show. The media reviewers will be there and they will be sizing up equipment for review potential, Manufacturers will be there trying to influence reviewers and dealers. Dealers will be there sizing up equipment for sale and sell their equipment. I expect several room will shine above the others. No way to know for sure which rooms will appeal to you unless you go listen for yourself. I have been to and enjoyed audio shows in US, Canada, and Germany.  I intent to enjoy the equipment and the music in several of the rooms.

Setting up in audio shows is always a problem. Some presenters are better at setting up, especially quickly as needed at shows than others. If a system sounds good at a show it is good. If it doesn't sound good you can't be sure what's going on and if it's a product that interests you, you need to hear it in other venues.

If you don't have a lot of time the Jim Smith advice to listen outside a room and if it's good there then go in is great advice. My friend, George Bischoff, didn't have much time to see shows as he was always exhibiting and that's how he decided whether to spend time in a room.

As millercarbon sez -- You go to a room.  You audition...er...listen to what's on. Maybe you've brought something for them to play, but that's not crucial to the experience.  In any case, the vital question is do you like it?  Does it push your important audiophile buttons? If it does but it still doesn't quite make it all the way for you, are you able to articulate what could still be better?  In other words, do the shortcomings seem fixable?  If so, take a brochure. Take some notes. Talk to the person in charge. (Sorry...I'm constantly being interrupted by trick-or-treaters.)

Go back in time and read how MC evaluated speakers: he used YouTube!! I suggest we take up a collection so MC can attend an audio show to actually hear what a good system sounds like.