Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home

I think one of the most advantageous resources you can have as one pursues high end audio is a close relationship with a dealer or two.

You find them by visiting them and talking with the owner (usually, not the young kid he hired to deal with newbies). Personally, I am really honest and say the stage I am in and that I am interested in finding a dealer or two to get to know. In your case just explain what you heard. Let them take it from there. If he goes for the sale then leave… if he wants to talk and really help you… you found your guy. You guys will click or not.

Many high end shops were started by audiophiles that couldn’t stop. The are vastly knowledgable and can teach you. They should be happy to spend time with you. There are many ways to achieve similar sound… so often it is better to have your pieces well chosen and synergistic than to save 15% on line. If your just starting out the choice might be one dealer has NAD and one has Rotel… you could easily end up very happy with either. If your further down the road Rowland, or Mark Levenson, or Boulder could bring you to nirvana, etc.

Anyway, I have had relationships with three or four different dealers for over 20 years each. These relationships have been extremely rewarding and beneficial to both of us. A dealer can trade in equipment and give you an excessive trade in value, notify you when he has a demo for sale that you really wanted but couldn’t afford.

Now that I have long lasting relationships my dealer, he comes to visit me. He’ll bring a piece by he thinks I should listen to. He will leave stuff for months if I am enjoying it.  He respects my opinion as well. Ok, I would not expect this… but over time you just don’t know where it can go.

@kevn 

+1 Also a great approach… offer to pay. This way no one looses. 
 

The automotive analogy does not work. This is a high volume / value business and driving from the lot and returning. My Toyota dealers sells several cars a day… so ~ $200K or more a day. Completely different business and set of circumstances.

@kevn 

Definitely the right way to approach dealers.

I do most of my grocery shopping on my bicycle. Sometimes I don’t drive for two weeks or more. Cars are not important for me either.

@rsf507 

OK, that is really cool. If I was into cars and wealthy that is right up my alley. The perfect transportation to transport my transportation around. 

@kevn

Your analogy of a person putting together a car… like choose an engine, a transmission, body and assemble them to be a great car. Excellent. There are so many variables, like weight distribution… it would be really hard for a hobbiest to put together in an optimal configuration. Choose the very best engine, best transmission, and best body… I bet a disaster.

Also interesting that after over fifty years of pursuing high end sound (constantly restricted on funds), and having heterogeneous components, that I find myself with an all Audio Research system… sounding better than anything I have heard before… to my ear.

@hilde45

To my ear, was a requirement. The number of times I have been in audio sessions with other folks… let’s say, midrange Magico (so what is that… $70K), driven by $50K amp… and I wanted run out of the room screaming with my hands clasped over my ears. They are lapping it up like it is the best thing since great cognac. The number of audiophiles that are dedicated to scraping the last layer of detail off of the media… without concern for natural sound and musicality is quite surprising to me. Some folks continually chase a sound that seems cleaner with more slam without concern that it sounds real… some folks just like switching equipment. Then there are the Mac folks that want the midrange and bass to push them back in their seats, details and balance not that important. None of this is wrong… it’s a passionate pursuit.

Few people have heard my system, and those that have (5?) all love it. My dealer is actually at the top of the list. He occasionally brings over high end equipment to hear on my system since he and I appreciate the same aesthetic. Just for fun, we brought over one of his employee, to get his take. He turned it up twice as loud as I had ever had it… sounded great… but too loud. Anyway, he thought it sounded OK. Exactly, what I thought he would say… a young’ in. Still into detail and slam. He hasn’t yet realized that rhythm and pace… and musicality is the core essence of a great system.