Dealers with excellent listening rooms?


Hi everyone,

Not looking to buy but was thinking that it has been a very long time since I heard excellent gear in an excellent room. Outside of regional shows, where do you go to hear things in a post Amazon, post covid-19 world?

erik_squires

Qudos and Strong Agreement with Quintessence in Morton Grove, as well as Audio Salon in South Florida.

My personal in-house favorite is Salon 1 Audio (Eric) in Ormond Beach Florida.

If you can come to Florida, come in February on the 16 - 18 to attend the Florida International Audio Expo. 15 Hotel Floors of Exhibitors for 3 days. Since 2019, and growing every year! Lots to listen to!

Seems mostly like east coast suggestions. Bummer, I’m on the west coast. I’ve demoed brick and mortar shops in the SF Bay Area, the LA area, and at several audio shows.  I have also been to the Magico factory demo.  I’m curious if I’ve missed anything by not demoing other excellent sounding systems.

Initially getting into this hobby, I wanted to demo the best systems I could, then try to closely replicate the sonics within my budget.  

Definitive Audio in Bellevue, Washington has a couple of well set up rooms.  But I'm looking forward next weekend to going for the first time to Shibuya HiFi - a Japanese style listening lounge in Seattle.  They have a few rooms, and I believe the room I'll be listening to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" in is the one with a vintage (1970's) pair of Klipschorns driven by either Luxman or Marantz electronics.

https://www.shibuyahifi.com/about

Suncoast Audio here in Sarasota has an excellent room and some stunning gear including Magico, Audio Research, B&W, and many other even more expensive brands.  Mike and his folks are excellent to deal with.

HiFi Buys in Atlanta has several excellent listening rooms featuring gear producing outstanding sound.