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Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them?

In the 'good old days' there were a lot of hifi stores around so there was plenty of opportunity to go in and listen to various brands and models of speakers.  With the continuing disappearance of audio shops, I'm wondering if more people are making the leap to buy speakers they've never heard in person, or just limiting their purchase options to the brands they can hear locally?  If you are buying a speaker that you haven't heard, how do you get comfortable with that?  Magazine reviews?  YouTube demos?  

I've mostly heard any speaker I ended up buying, but in two cases I bought speakers that weren't available in my area.  I made my decision based on reviews.  In one case the speaker was really nice, but in the second case, the speaker was well-reviewed but ended up being disappointing.

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

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erik_squires
16,052 posts
 

Not never.... but rarely.  If I'm familiar with the brand and they are utility speakers, then yes.  My current surround speakers for instance.  I wouldn't do this for main L and R.

berner99
216 posts
 

Depends.

I buy used gear and use reviews e.g here, YouTube (Thomas, Jay, audio excellence in Canada), etc and if they all say the same thing, and you know what you like you can have good results.

I just bought Gresham Studio II (50lb bookshelf) speakers which will arrive this week. 

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jji666
536 posts
 

I've never bought without hearing, but I have bought without listening.  I buy almost exclusively used speakers.  I will always make sure all the drivers work and there are no defects, but I have found there is not much point in focused listening until I get them home.  

That is of course after research and being interested in a specific set.  Then I probably know I'll like them enough to give them a real try at home.

troutstreamnm
45 posts
 

I have purchased several KEF speakers without auditioning and never been disappointed. Risky maybe, but I’m a diehard KEF addict and unfortunately there are no good audio dealers anywhere near Albuquerque!  

bigmoto29
4 posts
 

I ordered my last two sets of towers WITHOUT hearing them first.  My first ones I went with Greg Belman's Bache Audio Tribecca-001's by just talking with him and going by the specs... They turned out to be fabulous speakers for $6000 and play way above their price point.  They were custom painted and I love them.

Second pair I ordered were the Focal Aria 938's since Crutchfield was blowing them out for $3000 a pair or something crazy like that.  Unfortunately the left side tweeter was not working once hooking them up, but no foul:  Crutchfield sent me a replacement and I was back in business.  LOVE the bass response and both sets of speakers REALLY cater toward highs and voices.. .LOVE THEM BOTH, NOT disappointed.

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