You can buy electronics based on good reputation or recommendations and get good sound, but speakers are the soul of the system and need to be chosen by personal interaction. But with so few dealers, old speakers are such a pain to resell, package and ship, and it's usually a financial bloodbath, so I don't buy often.
The right speaker (for me) is usually"You know it when you hear it.." I make a short list, set a max price, then wait for Axpona and go with an intent to buy while I'm there. Makes for a fun trip.
Axpona gives you a chance to hear your preconceived short list, then wander the rooms and hear pretty much everything that compares and exceeds. I went to hear Revel, Focal, Elac, Harbeth and heard better that were over budget, then stumbled upon "I knew it when I heard it" (Sonist Concerto 4's) for half my budget. A long-term purchase that I could not have described as "What I want" before I had personal interaction.
The right speaker (for me) is usually"You know it when you hear it.." I make a short list, set a max price, then wait for Axpona and go with an intent to buy while I'm there. Makes for a fun trip.
Axpona gives you a chance to hear your preconceived short list, then wander the rooms and hear pretty much everything that compares and exceeds. I went to hear Revel, Focal, Elac, Harbeth and heard better that were over budget, then stumbled upon "I knew it when I heard it" (Sonist Concerto 4's) for half my budget. A long-term purchase that I could not have described as "What I want" before I had personal interaction.