Why and how do people purchase equipment without auditioning?

[jazdoc]

I hope the question is not perceived to be inflammatory or defamatory, because it's not meant to be...

However, I've long been fascinated by folks who will purchase (expensive) equipment without auditioning in their own system or at least hearing it at a friends or dealer. Given the large universe of available equipment, how do you narrow down choices and make a decision?

I'm on the other end of the decision making spectrum. In fact, I rarely spend $15 on a new piece of music without auditioning online, so I can't fathom purchasing a piece of equipment without hearing it first, preferably in my system.

I'm genuinely interested in others thoughts and hope this will be educational for everyone!

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I used to live in Haiti. Auditioning wasn't something I was always able to do. I did visit the USA regularly and had kept in touch with friends and fellow audiophiles and I took the opportunity to audition what I could ... So, sometime I take a leap of faith and simply buy things based on review of familiarity with the product line... I did hear Burmester gears before committing myself to acquire them and had a Maggie 3.6 before committing to the 20.1 ... When I believed in cables, I would go by reviews where the gear would be similar to what I have .. Thus my foray into Nordost ..nice looking cables, The Valhalla look like an ethereal silver ribbon ... About their sound (or absence thereof) let's say I have changed my position about cables in general so ...
Home auditioning is not easy for some gears, even for people living close to a manufacturer or dealer... I wouldn't think it easy to audition large loudspeakers or subwoofers for example in one's listening room ... .. One have to rely on other people systems in many instances ..
On Software.. I buy software without even listening to them and I have been so pleased by that, these past few months ... ( will post about a few finds on the World Music and What's spinning threads later) .. So I will continue to do that ..

Now I do however have the opportunity to audition some gears living in South East Florida so I do that whenever possible. I am trying for example to schedule an audition of the Evolution Acoustics MM3 but the person resides about 200 miles from me so that will have to wait ...

 

[mep]

I live in BF Indiana and we have no stereo stores in my area. Like Frantz says, sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. If I buy something new, I make sure I have return privileges in case it sucks. If I buy used, I try to buy one-owner gear that is well cared for and has all original boxes, packing, manuals, etc. That way, if I don’t like it, I can probably resell it and get my money back out of it.

 

[Old Listener]

The dealer network is getting thin now. The opportunity for meaningful comparisons is very limited. For me, buying via the net without an opportunity to audition the item before purchase will be a fact of life going forward.

I look for reviews with measurements, read everything I can find on the net, hold my breath and take a plunge.

Of course. my purchases are not usually at the nose-bleed levels that people discuss on this forum. Years ago. I bought a pair of $ 7000 speakers by mail but I had managed to hear those speakers at another owner's home before I made the purchase.

Bill

 

[mauidan]

I hope the question is not perceived to be inflammatory or defamatory, because it's not meant to be...

However, I've long been fascinated by folks who will purchase (expensive) equipment without auditioning in their own system or at least hearing it at a friends or dealer. Given the large universe of available equipment, how do you narrow down choices and make a decision?

I'm on the other end of the decision making spectrum. In fact, I rarely spend $15 on a new piece of music without auditioning online, so I can't fathom purchasing a piece of equipment without hearing it first, preferably in my system.

I'm genuinely interested in others thoughts and hope this will be educational for everyone!

Did you listen to the Daedalus Ulysses in your system before you bought them?

 

[LL21]

i hear you...i always listen to Amazon's clips first...even if i am buying a 98 cent second hand CD.

OTOH, here's one viewpoint about buying without hearing yourself:

1. Say i want to choose from, oh, 8 different SOTA amps. All second hand...all with great reputations.
2. I cannot hear them at a dealer...they're all second hand and probably come from 3-5 different countries.
3. I can probably hear other units from the manufacturer...but perhaps not every manufacturer represented by the 8 units i am contemplating
4. I talk to 8 owners, 3 dealers (of the newer equipment), 3 dealers who dont own it but know the unit, 3-4 reviewers who owned/reviewed the product. I also read every single review ever printed (in multiple languages)...and search all the major websites to read up.
5. With each person, i describe what i am looking for, what music i listen to, my priorities, and of course my system.
6. Say i get feedback about repair issues, a few show-stoppingly negative comments, plus some honest recommendations that 3 are just not for me based on what i tell them...and these opinions are backed up by at least 5-7 people.
7. Now i am down to 3 units. We're talking SOTA, but at 35 cents on the dollar. Next, i bargain for all 3...but only get an agreement on 1 unit

NOW...do i buy a SOTA second-hand amp that 12 people (5 of whom i have known for 7-10 years) say would be a winner for me? And for the price, a brand new anything would not compare...because i have heard those myself, and asked for people to compare these new units to the s/hand one. Plus at 35 cents on the dollar, that unit rarely comes around more than 1x/12 months? or do i pass because i cannot hear it?

Some people would say pass. In my case, i have actually taken that chance...three times. And fortunately been very happy...in fact, i have decided if i ever upgrade...its only to a newer model by the same manufacturers.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I'm not sure how you do it any other way without so seriously limiting your options that the cure is worse than the disease. I live in a fair-sized city -- a half million people near the state line and the biggest city in the two states. So we are the place to find lots of things for miles and miles around. But if I went to every high end store in the county today, I'd probably have a choice of 3 or 4 DACs, maybe half a dozen speaker and/or amp brands.

So when I've needed stuff, I've researched it well (it helps that I think good measurements are indicative of sound), ordered it from online retailers who offer decent return policies and returned it when it didn't live up to expectations. I've lost some return shipping charges, but saved enough using online retailers to make up for it. I guess, technically, I purchased that gear before I auditioned it, but I kept my options open. Obviously that technique works much better for electronics than it does for big floor-standing speakers, I suppose if I were trying to choose between Revels and Magicos (and that would be my big passive choice, based on company philosophies, design approach, reputation, reviews and specs), I'd do some road trips.

Tim

 

[jazdoc]

Did you listen to the Daedalus Ulysses in your system before you bought them?

Yes!

 

[naturephoto1]

After I installed my OMA New Yorker horn speakers in my system I found that I had a mismatch with my Aragon Palladium 1K monoblock amps which were too powerful and had too much rush coming through the speakers. After doing a fair amount of research and reading on-line I decided to purchase a First Watt amp because I needed a low powered amp for the speakers. Unfortunately they are only available from First Watt, 2 audio stores and 1 speaker maker. I decided to purchase from Mark at Reno HiFi who gave me excellent guidance as to which amp would be ideal for my needs (he recommended an M2). He also offered a money back return offer that I could exchange it toward another amp. In addition Mark offered me an excellent price on a store Demo for an excellent price that looked brand new. So, I followed Mark's recommendations and have been quite pleased with the results.

Rich

 

[LL21]

good story!

 

[LL21]

I'm not sure how you do it any other way without so seriously limiting your options that the cure is worse than the disease. I live in a fair-sized city -- a half million people near the state line and the biggest city in the two states. So we are the place to find lots of things for miles and miles around. But if I went to every high end store in the county today, I'd probably have a choice of 3 or 4 DACs, maybe half a dozen speaker and/or amp brands.

So when I've needed stuff, I've researched it well (it helps that I think good measurements are indicative of sound), ordered it from online retailers who offer decent return policies and returned it when it didn't live up to expectations. I've lost some return shipping charges, but saved enough using online retailers to make up for it. I guess, technically, I purchased that gear before I auditioned it, but I kept my options open. Obviously that technique works much better for electronics than it does for big floor-standing speakers, I suppose if I were trying to choose between Revels and Magicos (and that would be my big passive choice, based on company philosophies, design approach, reputation, reviews and specs), I'd do some road trips.

Tim

unfortunately, not so easy in foreign countries. And its tough to order a 200lb amp online and ship it back...

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

unfortunately, not so easy in foreign countries. And its tough to order a 200lb amp online and ship it back...

Yeah, active systems have their advantages. My whole system doesn't weigh 200 lbs. And even if I added the substantial sub they sell, it still wouldn't get there. 200 lbs would be problematic, even in the U.S. That's pretty serious return shipping it you don't like it.

Tim

 

[NorthStar]

I hope the question is not perceived to be inflammatory or defamatory, because it's not meant to be...

However, I've long been fascinated by folks who will purchase (expensive) equipment without auditioning in their own system or at least hearing it at a friends or dealer. Given the large universe of available equipment, how do you narrow down choices and make a decision?

I'm on the other end of the decision making spectrum. In fact, I rarely spend $15 on a new piece of music without auditioning online, so I can't fathom purchasing a piece of equipment without hearing it first, preferably in my system.

I'm genuinely interested in others thoughts and hope this will be educational for everyone!

Music software: I read the best reviews from the best reviewers on Jazz, Blues, Classical, Soul, and Folk.
Then I go to my local music store and if not avail I order the recordings.
And then I usually listen to those recordings right at the store and purchase the ones that I like, regardless of the price.
I tend to only buy the very best from the very best recording studios and labels from all around the world.

Music hardware: I read the best reviews from the best reviewers in the bizz. Then I look at 2nd end equipment avail locally.
I also keep an eye open on the audio stores having large discounts on great used electronics with a solid reputation.

* For me, the software is the most important part of this hobby. No need to explain, it is easy to understand why!
=> Before upgrading your equipment, always upgrade your recordings and your musical taste.
Always be in search for the true troubadours, the poets, the songwriters, the musicians with a flair for true life with real interpretation of the emotions. ...The music that speaks to the heart & soul...

 

[LL21]

i do like the Penguin Guide to Classical. i tick off whenever i buy one of their recommenations...i have rarely been disappointed. once in fact...and i have a few hundred classical CDs recommended/reviewed by Penguin.

 

[mauidan]

Yes!

It's nice when you can drive to the manufacturer and borrow a pair.

 

[jazdoc]

It's nice when you can drive to the manufacturer and borrow a pair.

I had already heard them at RMAF, and it certainly made arranging a demo easier. My other speaker finalist was something I had read about and heard at the dealer's but couldn't arrange a home demo, so I didn't feel comfortable buying.

In part this has been an interesting thread because it demonstrates that a good audio brick and mortar store still has value for many of us.

 

[LL21]

In part this has been an interesting thread because it demonstrates that a good audio brick and mortar store still has value for many of us.

Absolutely, good old fashioned service...whenever the retail experience is for something which is not a commodity...and is also expensive...and you also want the best and dont need "just any old thing"...then brick and motor is the ideal way. i have told the store i do nearly all my business with that i will ALWAYS seek to buy thru them. And if i cannot, i will find a way to take care of them...so if i buy s/hand equipment via AGon, they have taken receipt and delivered to house and taken my older equipment and get commission on resale (which is usually higher in-store). It has resulted in a great 2-way relationship, and thru them i have found some amazing opportunities as a result...my Wilson X1/Grand Slamms. they sourced them from halfway around the world...mint condition...and as an official dealer, got the national distributor here to set them up to perfection...without bricks and mortor, i would never have just bought those on my own..."sure just put them in an envelope and the mailman will slip them in my mailbox, and i'll set up them up on my own...no sweat"...