traveling need audio stores in NYC to audition

You'll be surprised, Audiotomb
There are no descent audio stores in Manhattan. All of them are interested in guys who comes in and asks for building a $50k HT.
Harvey Electronics, Stereo Exchange, Sound By Singer have prices increadibly higher than market retail. These guys wouldn't even speak to you about bellow $5k preamps.
However, if you will contact Dan O'Brasky at Audio Visionary in Brooklyn you might get some usefull recommendations and auditions. He's a showcase dealer at Audiogon.
But the best thing is that there plenty live concerts in best concert halls to audition without home stereo.

Village voice has lots of listings and a lot of progressive rock/jazz fans look for the performances in that paper.
Not everyone of these progressive conserts is listed on internet.
The best places to listen to a live music are Beacon Theatre, Town Hall, Metropolitan Opera or Avery Fisher Hall...
The small bands hangouts are Joe's pub, Bottom Line Cafe, Knittingfactory, Lion's Den.
You can find them browsing through the search engines or just by visiting www.citysearch.com for New York.