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The Demise of the Hi-End Audio Store

Ok. So I've read hundred's of forum posts from a lot of people and one question keeps popping into my head. Where does everyone listen (test out) all of this equipment? I don't know about you but I live in a fairly populated area, Cleveland/Akron Ohio area, and while there are a few (and I only mean a few) high end audio stores in my area, there are limited hi end brands in those stores. Ten years ago that was a different story, but this is the reality today.

So while I want to listen to equipment I'm interested in (Jolida, Prima Luna, Silverline, LSA, the list goes on and on), there isn't the opportunity.

Does everyone really travel hundreds of miles to listen to new components or do you do your research and buy what you think will work and go from there?

Thanks
panfish
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,618 posts
 
Panfish-

I too feel your pain. Luckily, I travel on business and take every opportunity to seek out a B&M operation in every town/city.
alextychkin
87 posts
 
In a small town where I lived there was a store that sold Audio Aero, Rega, entry-level Marantz. and Proac. Auditioning equipment in an artificial in-store environment proved to be of no value, it never sounded the same way as in one's own home. So, buying on internet used and reselling what didn't work was the only viable option. Ironically, after many years of merry-go-round, I ended up with my final system of Marantz Reference and Proac, bought on internet new and at a very good discount that the local dealer could never touch. So, go figure...
sgordon1
426 posts
 
Check out the Capitol Audiofest, this summer,
just outside Washington, DC.
You can fly down, or drive, and stay in the host hotel at a discounted rate.
I believe this is a perfect setting for you. It will be much like
a major car show, except test drives are included, and encouraged...
So, you can both listen, and learn!
harri009
100 posts
 
I personally go to hifi shops not to listen and buy equipment but to demo a system that the dealer has put together to try and impress. I figure that if i demo the most expensive and well thought out rooms it can give me a baseline to compair what I am hearing at home. My wife knows that when we go somewhere on vacation I am going to be heading to the local hifi shop before we leave. In Oklahoma we have a total of 1 in the state and all they carry is B&W and Classe. Quite honestly I agree with some of the others in that demoing gear to hear a specific piece is worthless. I hear guys all the time saying they went to demo an amp or pre etc, generally they are listening to a system full of all different components and they think they can hear the amp. Right lol
jond's avatar
jond
5,807 posts
 
I'm with John on this one home is where it's at. I've been Agon for 12 years now and the combo of buying used gear and trying it at home, or borrowing pieces to take home from my local retailer has served me well. Pretty sure that over the years of buying and selling here I have pretty much broken even from my original purchases and along the way tried many different pieces. It's fun, not really that hard to do, and there is no telling what a piece of gear really sounds like until you get it home. That being said having a good retailer nearby is a huge plus and I am blessed to have Deja Vu Audio nearby, plus a few other decent stores in the DC area.
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