Has the internet been good for audio?

Cdc,
Yes, I understood you initially that Walmart was competing with itself. I'm not sure of their philosophy in doing this. To me, the store-bought item would be more expensive since there is more overhead involved. Bottom line is, do they insure themselves that either way, they keep the competition out and get the end business.

I also wanted to mention that the internet, in particular Audiogon, "has been bery, bery good to me". I have been able to audition many expensive components over the years and currently have a very nice system, mostly purchased used here on Audiogon at a substantial savings from new. Note: Some of my cables were purchased new, however, directly from the manufacturer, only possible through the internet.

Well I just put together a new $2500 system at 50% off msrp by buying demo items from stores who advertised here on Audiogon and Craig's List. I also just ordered a dozen or so DMP label Cd's from Acoustic Sounds, some as low as 99 cents, that I wouldn't have been able to get even at full price here. So it's good for me.

For the most part I only use the web to buy and sell used gear as it's the perfect venue. I use the web a lot when researching but I like supporting local dealers. Occasionally I will also buy new name brand gear via the internet.

I recently purchased my amp via a local dealer and the price was better than anyone on the web. Not able to afford the matching preamp new, I found a like new example for less than half of retail here on Audiogon. I also got a great deal on my sub via another local dealer.

I was hoping to buy my speakers locally but no one would move on the retail price. Fast forward six months later, I found them for almost half of retail from a well known dealer in CA. Although I hate shopping via the internet I was OK with this purchase because in a small way I was supporting local business, just not local to me.

I purchase locally because I want the dealers that spend time with me and treat me right to be there next year. Unfortunately the Internet has done to local audio dealers what WalMart has done to many local economies specifically Mom and Pop stores.

The only "Direct" company I have done business with is Channel Islands Audio. Aside from the great customer testimonies the real reason I purchased direct from CIAudio is Dusty Vawter's reputation and the fact that all their gear is made in the US.

The ID companies out there want you to believe you're getting state of the art at discount prices. What you are getting in most cases is their logo on some O.E.M's cookie cutter platform that's already outdated. If a company doesn't manufacture product doesn't that make them the middle man ? I just don't see where the savings are, not to mention the quality is just not there. I'll stick with auditioning and buying locally, the couple of hundred extra spent will be worth it a few years down the line when I'm still enjoying it.

i too have spent extra bucks for the privilege of auditioning components locally. am i to know how B&W-801's sound by reading someone's opinion in stereophile or over the internet? what about theils? mark levinson amplifiers? the 4-piece wilson WAMM reference speaker system, or the alexandrias? avalon ascents, rowland preamps and amps, vanderstein 2ce's, pass aleph preamps and amps, ETC!! should i have bought eggleston andra's without hearing them? when the store delivered their only pair, and set them up for me, positioning them carefully, i almost had a stroke i was so amazed and happy with the improvement. i learned many times over that money was only ONE factor amongst many that help you get the kind of performance you've been yearning for since you were twelve years old. without a local stereo shop- no make that SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALERS, how the heck are we ever going to get from point-A to point-B? yeah, you get ripped-off a little, but you get to LISTEN and you get to LEARN. AND LOOKING at the gear in person is infinitely nicer than six photos on Audiogon (not that i don't appreciate the pictures, I DO!!) so NOW i can navigate this site fairly well, and take the descriptions and opinions about closely-related components in stride. but that's because of decades of hands-on experiences starting back in the 60's. maybe an expansion of CES to alot of different cities around the country would aide in helping people getting familiarized with what this stuff really looks like and sounds like. we have an auto show and a boat show and a home-design show here every year, so why not?
even if you're just going to check out laptops or sony playstations, there's those gigantic amplifiers over in the next aisle that you might want to find out how much they weigh...

If Audiogon has killed off some bad dealers and helps in that it allows an item to be sold to finance a new product from potentially a good dealer then thats a nice balance but buying on Audiogon vs having a dealer relationship has a sort of empty feeling the same way that Digital (while claimed to be perfect) leaves the soul somewhat empty with the loss of warmth and flow from analog. Make no mistake that a relationship with a dealer is still of great value and sadly some see no value in it, its a bit of a shame that the internet and various sites are indirectly to blame for this. Support and champion a dealer whenever possible as many deserve the respect and business we can provide.