Would you pay to listen?

Yo Mitch4t...my day job is Comedy Writer.

And I would pay $20 to watch people scurry around wiring up a 200K system I've designed for them to assemble for me. That in itself would be worth it..."little to the left there Bob...and don't forget the Magic Bricks and Mpingo discs"...listening to it would be gravy after watching a sweaty tech earn less than an oil changer at Jiffy Lube. Still, to revisit the real world for a moment, I think these high end gear sales dudes are missing a great opportunity that recently was grabbed by the guitar freaks...make it sexy. Ever see "Guitar Aficionado" magazine (pretty funny over the top nonesense)? It's pure "guitar porn" not really matched by any of the hifi mags I've seen...and the overpriced world of "guitars actual musicians can't afford" is booming. If you look at an issue of Architectural Digest, except for maybe an overstuffed "Media Room" for film and popcorn digesting, there is almost NEVER a visible "wealth level appropriate" audio rig anywhere.

I would if atmasphere's preamp and MA3's were driving the best soundlab speaker made today;using a top digital source and analog setup;I think I would place down a twenty.

You got that right Rleff. Or maybe the big Audio Classics w the field coil driver. But I agree with David12 and Wolf that it ain't gonna happen in the real world, beyond an open listening promo session that a high-end boutique might offer. Can you imagine someone allowing any Tom Dick or Harriette to handle their $10K tonearm w a $15K nude cantilever cart on it. I know I would not. I also agree that its hard to understand why more dealers don't offer once a month evening sessions. Beside generating good will, it might be a viable way to separate the tire-kickers from the buyers.

hi mitch 4t:

in principle, based upon your paradigm of the context of the listening environment you propose, i would not pay to listen. there is no justification in my mind to pay for listening to a pre-owned stereo system , regardless of its alleged quality.

The so-called high-end dealers should perform a credit check first, before honoring such requests. Audi dealers do that in a very subtle way. You sure don't want an used car buyer to test drive an brand new Audi for the hack of it.

;-)