Speaker placement at dealers

Cp: The "salesman" that i spoke of is no longer employed by Mike of Holm Audio as far as i know. If you've been there more than a few times, you should know of which individual that i speak of. Sean
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I just got back from Best Buy. I went in to buy a DVD player, but I ended up buying a few adaptors and cables, which actually ended up to be $114 with tax, which is more than an entry level DVD player. These adaptors allows me to connect my X-Box to my NAD DD receiver via optical means. Now I can watch movies thru my X-box with digital surround.

Anyways, my point is the sales people there were more than enthusiastic that I got what I wanted and tought me how the connections work. I was amazed that they actually were knowledgeable about different region codings and were able to contrast the different quality and functions of S-video and optical vs. coaxial. I never got this kind of service from the snobby hifi/home theater stores/shacks that I've been to. When I asked dummy questions (things I already knew but just to test them), they've always tried to steer me towards something that is more profitable.

Anyhow, just to stretch this post even longer, I was a pretty successful salesperson when I was working in a home theater shack in the early 90s. I was cocky enough to claim a room to myself and fix the room up for whoever my client of the week was. A lot of the times, my clients got off the sofa chair and started moving the speakers and connected the cables with me. There really was no salesperson/client relationship going on.

On a side note, when I sold my brother in law a few used equipment, I helped him set it up in his living room, and he just sat on the sofa... relatives.. can do with out haha.

Dedication is all it takes in a dealer and I have been astounded in what I have found , or ...havent found .. Dedication in listening to a clients needs and dedication in making sure systems are properly mated and set up is very important indeed . Example. I wanted the new Aerial 20 ts. I have owned Aerial for a long time now. Mike Kelly is a passionate craftsman and is in command of his vision. When the long awaited 20 s hit the market I went to a nationally recognized dealer in Raleigh NC to make my decision. Good salespeople in general and a very nice store but set-up was terrible. Cramped in a room that had a obvious bass suck out issue that rendered the 20 s lacking in punch . Air and transparency as well as imaging and soundstage was outrageous however. I had 2 sw=12 subs so I thought I would be fine. I heard a company called A_V in Columbia SC had a pair and went there for an audition and nearly fell out! Everything the Raleigh store had , they had in spades along with an incredible depth that was completely missing before. I mean completely. I was stunned. The guys at A_V were incredible in their appreciation of my enthusiasm and spent tons of time working with me. Its dealers with dedicated employees that make the difference. Speakers like the 20 s just cant be thrown into a room and cranked up. Knowledge of room acoustics and their interaction with the equiptment is a big part of the equation. The lesson is simple. Find an intelligent , caring independent audio dealer and stick by them. I did.