Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store

I think I have made my feelings about this sort of thing clear and I am not following up to take sides. I certainly do not mean to take any liberties or speak on behalf of anyone else; but as someone for who English is not his first language, I would simply like to point out and encourage all to remember that the intended meaning and forcefulness of a comment do not always translate as intended when expressing oneself in a foreign language. The accuracy of the expressed sentiment can get very distorted; and accuracy and distortion are things we should all be sensitive to. No? :-)

Frogman wrote:

"...I certainly do not mean to take any liberties or speak on behalf of anyone else; but as someone for who English is not his first language..."

someone for _whom_ English is not his first language.

:-)

Lo siento, pero estas equivocado!

Thanks for the attempted grammar lesson, but you may want to reconsider your assertion:

http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Word-2013/3000-2079_4-75855647.html

:-)

More Brick and Mortar stores should offer in-home audition. I would happily pay for the service - especially if the money (all or in part) were applied to a purchase. It would be money well spent to avoid a mistake. Twenty years ago, Golden Ear Audio (in Virginia) brought over several pairs of speakers for me to audition. The ones that I liked in the store sounded terrible in my home. Recently, Gary Dews from Border Patrol brought over a pair of Living Voice speakers and one of his 300b based amplifiers; he said that it is part of the service that he offers.

I was looking for speakers to go along with my MA6600. I listened to several pairs before settling on 2 pairs at a SF mac store. I ended up buying another brand. I felt the salesperson was so good and honest I went and overpaid on a MC452 from them.
I was trying to decide between a ss or tube pre and store a only had a demo, store b (where I bought the 6600)had one on order due in a week. Two weeks went bye and I was told the one on order was spoken for and did I want the demo when It came back in. I called store A and no stock. Drove to the SanJose dealer and got a new pre at demo pricing. 10 days later the store b called and said the demo was back in stock. The sales person had a fit when I told him I drove 30 mi and bought a new one. I did not want to buy from the Magnolia chain. I try to buy locally when I can, which is difficult here on the West Coast.