Quick story, I needed a new remote for my Marantz processor, went to my local dealer and he GAVE one to me. I'd never even been there before and he just gave me one. I immediately bought some nice speaker wire I needed for the man cave. I will go back there again and again when I need something.
Hi-end audio is a big zero
This is no knock on dealers, It's just how hi-end audio is.
I go listen to some speakers. He has them set up like crap - jammed between 3 other pair. Running on electronics I would never choose so I have to try and compensate for what I imagine they are contributing to the sound. Then after 30 minutes, I am expected to shell out the $4,500.00.
I narrowed it down to two transports from an online retailer. And who knows if those 2 are even a good choice? Told point blank, I am not allowed to buy both and return the one I don''t want. Just pick one and buy it. Shell out $1,000-$3,500 based on what?
One e-tailer will allow purchase 3 speakers totally $12K and return the two I don't want. Sorry, i have a conscience and can't do it to him.
Read all you want. Talk all you want. Listen at dealers all you want. But unless you listen in your own room, it's all meaningless. I'm talking even just 5 to 30 minutes can be all it takes. But that is basically impossible.
Sure you can buy and sell on A-gon or Ebay if you find what you want have the time to go through the process.
If the prices weren't so high or I did not care about sound quality maybe it would not matter.
Showing 6 responses by kota1
@lalitk +1 on acoustic treatments |
IDK what you are talking about. I bought a Parasound Zamp/Dac/Pre for my desktop system from an online etailer with a 30 day return. The sales people spent about 30 min on the phone answering questions. I wanted to use paypal not a CC. They weren’t setup for PP and still accommodated me. After I got the gear I had questions about setup, break in and speaker matching. I called parasound and got the OWNER on the phone, Richard Schram. The Z components are entry level products, not the flagship. He took all the time I wanted on the phone and genuinely wanted to help me "enjoy the ride". I asked for speaker advice and he shared how they pair that gear with Kef LS50’s and he owned a pair. He talked about how he used the Zpre with his TV in a 2 channel setup. When I called back in the future he remembered me and answered another question. If you aren’t getting treatment like this find another dealer/manufacturer. |
There has never been a better time in history to get into this hobby. Every song in existance practically can be streamed in seconds. Technology continues to bring down the price of semiconductor chips which go into everything digital (Moores law). A DAC that cost $5000 5 years ago probably costs $900 or less today. You can have an entire system by buying a pair of active speakers like the Kef LS60 and plugging them in and connecting your CDP, turntable whatever. You have any component in the world you want online, most with in home auditions, on your doorstep by clicking a mouse and banging plastic. Then you got this forum to get feedback from fellow hobbyists before you pull the trigger. This is better than I would have ever dreamed 20 years ago when I bought ny first pair of speakers that weren't a POS. |
@jerryg123 , if you have time can you please post your virtual system in your profile? Thanks |
@cd318 , that is a BIG claim when you group every "magazine and dealer" into a pile of myth propagators. If you are telling me that I can get champagne on a beer budget, I am happy to partake, please post a link to the oasis of sweet deals. If it is just the term "high end" I suppose you could substitute "luxury" or "reference class". I think one component where it is easy to spot "high end" is home theater. Its the total package, the experience, it isn’t a turntable or a dac or speakers. Luxury baby, all the way. I really enjoy going through the Virtual Systems here to see what other members are doing. I like and aspire to "high end", why else would we all have OCD about this hobby? Low end?
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