Nowhere to hear speakers and amps anymore!
When I started buying stereo equipment in the 1970’s (yes, I’m old) in Seattle, there were many retail stores where I could hear and compare equipment. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982 and found the same number of great stores until 2000 when they started disappearing and now there are none! There are plenty of Home Theater contractors, but I can’t find an audiophile store anywhere short of going to LA or back to Seattle! Is there an “audio desert” in my area? Seems like an opportunity for someone! Am I missing something?
@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! |
Last time I was in San Francisco (about 4.5 years ago), visiting my fellow audiophile cousin, we spent a day going to several audiophile stores in the bay area. And it looks like they are still there. I see: Tone of Audio Music Lovers AudioVision Future Sound House of Music Elite Audio Audio Federation While I am sure that list pales by comparison to the 70’s or 80’s, it is still pretty reasonable. |
