2. misc-audio
  3. 181163-181

Hi-end audio is a big zero

This is no knock on dealers, It's just how hi-end audio is.

I go listen to some speakers. He has them set up like crap - jammed between 3 other pair. Running on electronics I would never choose so I have to try and compensate for what I imagine they are contributing to the sound. Then after 30 minutes, I am expected to shell out the $4,500.00.

I narrowed it down to two transports from an online retailer. And who knows if those 2 are even a good choice?  Told point blank, I am not allowed to buy both and return the one I don''t want. Just pick one and buy it. Shell out $1,000-$3,500 based on what?

One e-tailer will allow purchase 3 speakers totally $12K and return the two I don't want. Sorry, i have a conscience and can't do it to him.

Read all you want. Talk all you want. Listen at dealers all you want. But unless you listen in your own room, it's all meaningless. I'm talking even just 5 to 30 minutes can be all it takes. But that is basically impossible.

Sure you can buy and sell on A-gon or Ebay if you find what you want have the time to go through the process.

If the prices weren't so high or I did not care about sound quality maybe it would not matter.

cdc
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,757 posts
 

"Laugh about it, talk about it....when you've got to choose, anyway you look at it, you lose...."

The 'golden age' has gone brittle, and rarified...

Learned long ago that I wasn't equiped to 'fight the Good Fight' and withdrew from the card, retired into making the tattered ear into the faux purse, as best I might.

Still at it, after all these years, buying the Lotto tix only when astronomical odds get thinner yet.  If you can't have it now, may as well shoot the rubber band at the moon...

Christine McVie just passed on to the venue beyond.

The Legendary Christine Perfect is truly a legend, now...RIP, play for the cosmos and memory imperfect...😔

 

The silence at the end....:(

wolf_garcia
6,733 posts
 

 In recent years I've sent back or sold some well regarded speakers when they didn't have the mojo I seem to require from them in my listening space...just the way it goes. I've been much luckier with my amp and front end choices but would never blame the sellers for my sonic failures...that's kind of like whining. Of course nothing makes the cut in audio unless you get close to it for many hours as you have to drive the car to feel how it works. 

orgillian197
119 posts
 

+1 Sound Approach in VA is exemplary.

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@cdc      $4,500 ain't hi-end.  Just about into mid-fi.

But you're quite correct; your dealer was crummy.  Chuck him/her.  Go to a dealer who lets you do a trial of a piece in your system and room for at least a week.  And don't then go and buy the piece from a web-site.  Form a lasting relationship with a decent dealer.

elangley01
93 posts
 

That’s what measurements are for.

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