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
sns
3,363 posts
 

I suppose I was spoiled in that I had local dealers that were willing to give much time to a young fella trying to learn and without the money to purchase much of the equipment I was listening to. I also had local dealer who sold new and took used on consignment, this inventory extremely large. I developed friendships with some, got to hear personal setups. All in all this was golden age of B&M for me.

 

Local B&M today mostly about home theater, and the audiophile brands they carry mainstream brands, over priced, don't interest me. I was kicked out of one local emporium for the mere mention of internet sales, loudly berated in front of other customers, that was final straw for me.

electroslacker
375 posts
 

Seems to me, the companies should invest in their dealers by providing one unit that is only for demos in the store or customer's home.  Paint it purple as a not-for-sale unit.  If the purple people pleaser satisfies the customer, they can order a non-purple unit through the dealer.  

hheedah
29 posts
 

+1 for @electroslacker 

thespeakerdude
483 posts
 

@electroslacker ,

There are 27 cities over 1 million people in North America. Let's say you have 3 products with an average price of $4,000. That is $300,000 in inventory. Many of these companies are small.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

There has never been a better time in history to get into this hobby. Every song in existance practically can be streamed in seconds. Technology continues to bring down the price of semiconductor chips which go into everything digital (Moores law). A DAC that cost $5000 5 years ago probably costs $900 or less today. You can have an entire system by buying a pair of active speakers like the Kef LS60 and plugging them in and connecting your CDP, turntable whatever. You have any component in the world you want online, most with in home auditions, on your doorstep by clicking a mouse and banging plastic. Then you got this forum to get feedback from fellow hobbyists before you pull the trigger.

This is better than I would have ever dreamed 20 years ago when I bought ny first pair of speakers that weren't a POS.

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