One other dealer I forgot to mention, right across from Manhattan in Jersey City, is Audio Doctor, which has a very large selection of gear in all price ranges, some of which you might not be able to find in the other stores I mentioned. Their showrooms are in an old house, so they also can give you an idea of how the equipment might sound in a home environment. I think you might need a car to get there, though there may be bus routes--you should call ahead about that if you decide to go. There are other good dealers in NJ as well (for example, Xtreme Fidelity in Kinnelon, another home-based dealer, from whom I got to audition and purchase my Nola speakers and VAC amp), but you'll need a car to get to them. And if you do get a car, there are some Long Island dealers that others might recommend that might actually be close to Queens. Good luck!
