Have you ever bought something you've never heard of?

Almost everything I have ever bought, I had never heard before (exception is a pair of headphones, which have since been replaced). There just are no options to trial listenings, and it is pointless mostly because of room interaction and synergy with other components. Plus dealers are unwilling to set up A/B comparison demos, plus typically do not have the items I may be interested in comparing. Another exercise in futility.

Additionally, it is impossible to know of what the sonic possibilities are, particularly in conjunction with one's personal preferences. Add to that the great variation in recording styles and the ideal becomes an illusion.

I have purchased everything based on reviews and interactions with manufacturers, and am happy with it. Could it get better? Possibly yes, possibly no. For instance, I purchased a $5K Holoaudio May L2 DAC [based on GoldenSound review, which I trust as he dismantled MQA], but compared to a $200 Topping D50III, there is no clear winner across multiple recordings and styles of music. I keep the Holo on the main system, the Topping on my computer desktop system mainly because of form factor.

I like many others do a lot of research before purchasing. This is typical when purchasing relatively expensive items.

Have you ever bought something you've never heard of?

If never heard means:

1. brand+model No
2. Within own system Yes
3. in other systems Yes

If Wig, Waltersalas, Teajay , Lak gave it a good review yes , I buy it without listening . Because this are season audiophile.

Aren't 'never heard' and 'never heard of' two different things? Looks like the OP asked about the second and most of the responses are to the first.

And I have bought items I'd never heard of, mostly smaller tweaks, and I'd bought things I'd never heard of until about a week or so before I bought them even though they'd been going for years.  

Heard Never.

Heard of yes and after I heard them I bought 95% of them. I only do auditions in my home in my listening ethos.