Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them?

Never heard any speaker before I bought it except one (JBL L40) at the start of my hifi life.

Since the L40s (handed down to baby brother) I bought Boston Acoustics A40, Proac D2, Reference3A DeCapo I, and ELAC DBR62 Reference.

All have been keepers.  The Proacs sounded wonderful in mids and highs, but needed more power than I had available at the time.  The Boston Acoustics died of old age.  The DeCapos and the ELACs are in use to this day.

No way. Audio preferences are very personal. There is no universal standard. Reviews can steer you but thee is no substitute for how your own ears react to the sound. 

Yes, 3 of the last 5 pairs of speakers I purchased were without hearing them first. 

First, I heard ProAc Response 2, and I liked them. Then, I heard Response 3 and their sound stuck in my had as the best I have ever heard. However, they were way beyond my reach, so I purchased Response 2. At some point later, I heard Response 2.5 but they did not tempt me enough to replace my Response 2. When Response 3.8 appeared, I purchased a pair without hearing them and they exceeded Response 2 in every possible way. They were exactly as I was hoping they would be.

In an unlikely case that I get an opportunity ($$$) to upgrade, I would go for K6 and I would not insist on hearing them. But chances are I will die with Response 3.8 in my possession, which is not a bad way to die at all.

I usually try and hear everything first. Speakers. Amps. Pre amps. But didn’t do that with my last 2 big purchases. The first one was the B&W Matrix 800s. Have read about them for many many many years. I knew they would be phenomenal. Also without hearing I bought the ARC Ref 750s. Once again I read many many reviews over the years. No regrets. Same with my AQ Dragon PCs. Phenomenal sound. No regrets.