Boston still has a reasonable number of options- Audio Lab and Q Audio in Cambridge, Natural Sound in Framingham, Goodwin's High End in Waltham (really high end $$$), and in nearby Nashua NH Audio Visual Therapy and Fidelis. Best Buy/Magnolia also some decent equipment but the expertise is very hit and miss. There are even a couple of audio repair shops that can actually repair older equipment. It is not like the good old days but there are still good options.
Nowhere to hear speakers and amps anymore!
When I started buying stereo equipment in the 1970’s (yes, I’m old) in Seattle, there were many retail stores where I could hear and compare equipment. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982 and found the same number of great stores until 2000 when they started disappearing and now there are none! There are plenty of Home Theater contractors, but I can’t find an audiophile store anywhere short of going to LA or back to Seattle! Is there an “audio desert” in my area? Seems like an opportunity for someone! Am I missing something?