Ive bought many pieces without ever hearing them. Even when I was lucky enough to find a dealer that had what I was looking for, the rest of the system was random and the room was way different than mine. Not a definitive demo. When Im looking to upgrade I zero in on a few brands and do as much research as possible, including soliciting advice here. My entire current system was purchased this way and Im very happy ( for now ! ) The only components I bought unheard and was unhappy with was pre amps, and I was fortunate to sell them without really incurring much loss$. Finding a nice used piece at 50% off full retail is the way to go.
