Yes, I would have preferred buying from a retailer, but after hearing the VR5, that was out of the question. Buying from Albert, as it turns out is better than dealing with a dealer. After listening to speakers in the 20k category for 7 months, I chose the VR5 HSE. He knows how to voice a speaker. If you want your music to sound like the instrument that created it, listen to the VR5 and VR7.