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Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home

So, I had a great experience listening to some Devore 0/96 speakers yesterday. The challenge for me is that the room I heard them in is wildly different than any other room I’d ever listen in. (I’ll share a photo, below.) I really have no idea if spending $13k plus on these speakers would work out. I’d need to try them at home.

For all I know, these dealers might be ok with me trying some speakers at home. I don’t know and am not yet ready to ask.

But I’m curious whether folks here have any stories to tell about the reactions they’ve gotten when they’ve asked to try speakers at their home. If you have a story, especially if it’s a more expensive speaker, I’d love to hear your story. How did you convince them? If they turned you down, what was the reason? Did you agree?

 

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jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
578 posts
 

You might as well have listened on your back patio as that

room has few side wall or ceiling reflections. I would expect

it will sound worse in any room.

They idea of a Take Home Fee makes sense. If you buy it applies to

the purchase.

The dealer has to size you up as a potential risk. Unless I was 95% sure

I wanted a speaker I would not ask. 

 

Does the dealer have a normal sized room to listen in???

 

At this point you can't be 50% sure of anything. Based on the photo.

 

 

 

 

mwood
61 posts
 

Good luck, I hope they let you do a home audition. I’ve had O96’s since early 2020. With a low power SET AMP and a Backert Rhumba in a fairly large and not yet treated but good sounding room they are mind blowing. Worth every penny.

wolf_garcia
6,734 posts
 

With demo speakers it makes sense to allow you to take 'em home...a place in NH does that if you put a card on them to insure you don't run off. I'll never buy speakers again without a serious audition as I've had to return a pair of ZUs, sell a pair of Sonists and a pair of Heresy IVs...you think I'd learn.

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,229 posts
 

If the dealer was able to get them to sound even mildly mediocre in that setting, they should be absolutely out of this world in your room.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
greginnh
382 posts
 

I have long-standing relationships with two local dealers.  I can audition any speaker and any piece of gear at home. If the speakers are too large to fit in my car, the dealers will deliver them to me and set them up.

I, of course, would have auditioned the speakers at the dealer's store first prior to imposing on them.

Bottom line - it's about having a good working relationship with your dealer.

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