have you ever bought stereo without listening first

Yup. Pretty much everyting except speakers the last 20yrs as all the audio businesses have either transitioned to custom home theater and don't demo anything, only sell super high end and carry very little stock, sell online only, or have gone belly up. I had to drive 2hrs to listen to my speakers before buying. 

Because audio salons can't make money like they used too. In the '80s when I sold high and mid fi retail and bought my stuff there and from similar mom & pop shops (in Cincinnati and Atlanta) their margins were always razor thin. Now non-existent unless you are in a very rich area (which most of us aren't). Even in Nashville, with all that money and music, there used to be dozens until the early/mid 2000s. Now: 2 and both small.