Nowhere to hear speakers and amps anymore!

 I guess they bought Magnolia Audio several years ago, but then I heard they dumbed/down the equipment to consumer stuff. 
 

Some Best Buys’ have the Magnolia section, but it’s not universal. I feel like Magnolia has been reduced - the selection and quality is nowhere near what it was at the University or Bellevue location. The level of knowledge of the salesperson is also very different from what we may have been accustomed to in the original stores. Still worth the time if you happen to be in a Best Buy that has a Magnolia section, but definitely not the same. 

aldermine OP: I could have easily spent tens of thousands in there yesterday on just one or two components.  What they're selling now is that high in caliber, but I already have more components than I know what to do with and have reached "audio contentment", but the temptation was definitely there!

@aldermine - Audio desert? I've lived in San Francisco since 1973 and just a few months ago auditioned (along with a few others) Marten speakers at Audio Vision in San Francisco. There is also Music Lovers Audio in both San Francisco and Berkeley. If you just do a google search, these and a few others will come up. 

The greater LA area is a beacon of hope…. but you got excellent advice from @larsman …. follow it and also consider appointment only dealers… 

Thank you, @larsman!  I appreciate that. I was searching for such shops that carried Rotel Mitchi and Accuphase and while Music Lovers doesn’t carry those brands, they do have an excellent assortment of speakers (including many out of my price range!). Again, thanks for the suggestion. Now I just need to make a 100 mile round trip!