Do You Buy Speakers Without Hearing Them?

• I think the current arrangement for dealers to purchase everything leads to them not carrying a lot of stuff

Most of the time these days it leads to buying without seeing or listening because the dealers don’t have what you want.

Eventually everything will be direct sell. And there will be limited audio dealers mostly in bigger cities.  I don't understand how these smaller dealers stay afloat. It's not easy being a dealer. There is so much overhead and financing involved and then you get to spend all your time dealing with customers answering questions hoping that someone's gonna buy something. Lots of dealers are just providers of information and they know that. A lot Are really nice to talk to but they know you're probably not gonna buy anything.  

If there's a pair on sale used I'm interested in that I think I can resell without losing much money I will buy them so I can compare them at home with my own components. I've bought 5-7 different pair and there's still 2 or 3 I'm interested in, but the market's slow right now so I wait.

I purchased Magico S1s (out of state) without ever hearing any Magico speakers.  Hindsight it was not the smartest decision.  I liked them but never loved them and sold them 3 years later.   I don't regret owning them, it is the loosing some $$ on them that bothered me the most.   I'm happy to take the chance on something unheard if the risk of losing $$ is low.

There are certain drivers I buy (or will) w/out audition...

If the specs appeal for what I'm after, no problem. *S*

After I've taken a few tools to them....surgical scissors, and very sharp knives....

....re-coned, re-surrounded, some practical magic....

A new life, a new 'voice'.....*VBS*

Four times with positive results (Galante Silverdales, Merlin TSM-MME, Perlisten S7t SE, Klipsch Cornwall IV), two with negative (PBN Montana, Spatial X3). The positives are still with me; the negatives did not last. I feel the only way to know a speaker is to have it your room, and for long enough to get the best out of it through positioning, amp selection, cabling, and that means owning. So I often just take the plunge after careful research and consideration, even if I have not been able to audition. Returns policies help.