Yes, bring your own CDs. If the dealer has a versatile set-up, request a room size that is closest to your own. Also, if you have space restrictions at home, request that the speakers be placed approximately the same distance from the wall.
If you plan to use reasonably priced cables at home, ask the dealer to do the same. There may not be any difference in sound, but at least you won't have those questions rolling around in your head.
Have the dealer use a source as close to your as possible, etc.
I agree. If the shop permits it, bring your own electronics, particularly the amplifier (it makes the biggest difference in sound, and it will have the most compatibility issues).
Try to get use to the sound of your own speakers while sitting close up to the speakers (say 4-6 feet from the speakers). This is nearfield listening that reduces the relative influence of the room on the sound. Do the same at the dealership so you can compare what the speaker sounds like in and of itself. Of course you should listen at your normal listening position too, but, with some experience, nearfield listening will give you a very good idea about whether the speakers are sooth or harsh and peaky.
Feel free to express what you like or don't like about the sound to the person helping you. It is possible for the sound to be tweaked so that you get a better idea of what you can achieve with the right setup. The person can adjust speaker placement, toe-in, etc., and may even swap out gear or cables. This is a fair approach because you will probably have to make a few changes yourself to optimize the sound regardless of what you end up choosing.
Bring at least one CD with solo piano, it always helps me spot the qualities in a speaker as it is nearly impossible to make a speaker sound like an actual piano.
Gum, mints, toothbrush, floss, tissues, pens/pencils, sunglasses, reading glasses, phone charger, hair bands, bobby pins, nail file, Advil, Starbucks gift cards, a book, lotion, granola bars, chapstick, single use Super Glue, water purification tablets, eyedrops and some CD's LP's et cetera.
Don't audition anything you are not willing to purchase
This is not something I can agree with. Often, I don't know what I am willing to purchase. Often, I need to hear the next level up to make a judgment about what things can sound like. One cannot judge diminishing returns without listening to things at the next level. Plus, many salespeople are more than happy to play things at the next level -- helps educate me, and gives them a carrot to dangle in front of my nose, even if it's down the road.
Bring in a CD or record you’re very familiar with so you can readily identify any differences in playback. Bring in a particularly well recorded CD to see how well the equipment deals with that in comparison to your current equipment, and bring in a particularly poorly recorded CD to see how much more the "poorness" is exposed. I tried this with some telling results on my last speakers purchase. Find out if the equipment being auditioned is broken in or not. No sense in the dealer providing the listening material. You know they'll cherry pick extraordinary material. I did ask them at the end of each listening session to play the best recording they had just to see what the speakers were capable of . That was interesting too.
What's the protocol when asking for a dealer's best price? I always operated assuming the price tag is the price I pay. No wheelin and dealin except for autos of course. I feel doing so is insulting. What's the appropriate ask? 10% off? 20%? Higher? Thanks.
20% is not out of the ballpark at all and even more sometimes. I would start with something like 30% and get down to an agreement from there. Why would audio equipment be different from buying a car, house or anything else? They don’t think it’s rude happens everyday for them. They want to make the sale. It’s all a game. They want to get the most for what they are selling and you want the most for your buck. I buy expensive things for a living so maybe I’m jaded.
"I always operated assuming the price tag is the price I pay."
If you're ready to buy, it's silly not to ask if they can do better, especially if it's a demo model or a trade-in. They usually will find a way to make the sale if they know you're about to buy.
Get the salesman/owner to start talking about their kids or grandkids. It will soften them up, and should be good for another 6%-8% discount. If they have a dog, add (subtract?) another 2 points. If they have a collection of Precious Moments figurines, you’ve hit the Holy Grail of emotional impact. Share with them you mutual admiration, and get prepared for a "cost plus 10% family discount."
Record (audio only or video) your audio sound with your smart phone. And record the auditioned audio sound with the same phone. Compare 2 recorded sounds few times.
Human ears are always biased. The mic in smart phone is not. Human ears and brain will figure out the audio sound from different room acoustics. Alex/wavetouch
Record (audio only or video) your audio sound with your smart phone. And record the auditioned audio sound with the same phone. Compare 2 recorded sounds few times.
There’s not much point to an in-person audition if you’re basing your decision on the audio from a smart phone. For that matter, why bother with high end audio at all if you’ll just be listening on your phone to things like YouTube?
Human ears are always biased.
That we are always subject to bias does not mean that we are always biased. Of course there are always those who believe they know what we hear.
There’s not much point to an in-person audition if you’re basing your decision on the audio from a smart phone. For that matter, why bother with high end audio at all if you’ll just be listening on your phone to things like YouTube?
1) Use a video cam if OP likes.
2) Use a headphone to hear cell phone (CP) recording.
2) Many hi-end audio videos in YT recorded by CP sound great. Use an external mic if avail.
3) Almost every sounds have a signature. ex.)One can id when he hears voice of their family even if the recording is bad. People know the sound of their audio system to compare sounds of others.
4) Many people (not everyone) can still understand which sound is better through inferior CP speakers. ex. 1) the world greatest audio system video vs. regular sound system video." ex. 2) "the world greatest audio system video vs. the original music."
What has OP got to lose anyway? The recordings could be a good reference.
I said: Don't audition anything you are not willing to purchase.
Not the best choice of words, please allow me to re-phrase/explain: I meant price range. It's so easy to get a broad sense of what is appealing from a personal cost / benefit analysis before going in. Then look around, ask some questions, and make an appointment to come back and dive deeper.
20% is not out of the ballpark at all and even more sometimes. I would start with something like 30% and get down to an agreement from there. Why would audio equipment be different from buying a car, house or anything else?
This model will make the dealer go broke unless you're shopping at BestBuy or Costco.
At the retail level, high-end audio doesn't have the margins jewelry or furniture does: 500% vs 40% give or take.
And new car margins are even slimmer. The money is in the maintenance.
As for houses, in desirable markets buyers are often paying over asking price.
Demonstrations at a HiFi Store are limited to the equipment of interest in a certain Price Bracket.
It is best to bring a owned item along wanting to be exchanged if this is practical and acceptable.
Demonstrations of equipment are not only limited to a Dealership Premises.
Sharing musical encounters with likeminded friends who are creating a HiFi System works, Being a Forum Member and using arranged events, as well as being a Local HiFi Club member has created many friendships and has got me access to numerous demonstrations of a variety of equipment, with no need to appear as interested customer.
Some of the equipment I use today and am totally wed to, are a result of meeting like-minded friends, meeting individuals presenting their equipment at a Forum Event or the Membership/Interaction with the HiFi Club.
I said: Don't audition anything you are not willing to purchase.
Not the best choice of words, please allow me to re-phrase/explain: I meant price range.
With all due respect -- still disagree.
Listening to gear at all levels can benefit both customer (hears new things they can at least appreciate if not purchase right away) and store (gives customer an aspirational path, builds loyalty).
In most stores I have auditioned and purchased, the store rep auditioned better gear for me. Helped me, helped them.
msrp is just that...a price suggestion! It does not mean written in stone! Very rarely have I paid asking price on anything...negotiations are what any seller expects! ymmv
Many hi-end audio videos in YT recorded by CP sound great ...
They can be a lot of fun and I sometimes enjoy them on my little computer speaker system. But YouTube sound on a real system is like listening to Spotify - it's lossy compressed audio. It can't "sound great" unless that's your thing.
@larryi I like the idea of comparative listening (between old system and audition) using a near-field listening approach. I think it is a good way to take out a lot of the room and is now one of many tools I will use if I ever need to audition again.
I think there is a bit of a sliding curve on what to expect out of a dealer that relates to the gear you're looking at. I'd not expect the 'white glove' treatment for inexpensive items when compared to real high-end auditions of good gear.
Same thing goes for pricing. The less expensive the gear the less to work with so I'd not expect 25% off $2000 speakers. But, some gear, as great as it is, is very expensive. There appears to be a more room to 'adjust' at $25k, etc, and up.
The most important thing to remember when going into any store and asking for their time is to be friendly and respectful. There is nothing worse, from the dealer's perspective than someone who is expecting to be ripped off and is spoiling for a fight. Good dealers really want to educate their customers and show why you should desire what they are offering. They like what they are offering and are committed to their products. I know dealers who will spend many hours with customers who are looking for modest gear. If the customer shows an interest in what the dealer is saying and engages the dealer in a friendly manner, that is often more of a motivation for the dealer than the prospects of a big sale; it is NOT all about the Benjamins.
Be honest about what you are really getting out of an "audition" at a dealer and what you are really listening to. 90% of the time you are probably not getting what you want, maybe even 99% of the time. Best advice I read here? Get a home audition. Almost anything else is a waste of time. 2nd best advice is to listen to speakers near field.
Some stores that will allow auditions of electronics will not allow auditions of speakers. Speakers are bulky things with very delicate (easily damaged) finishes. It is so common for someone to accidentally bump the cabinet and cause damage.
I wonder about those places that sell direct that allow one to audition in home for a month or two with options to return the item. Do they re-package and sell a return item as new? How many cycles before such item is no longer "new"?
A store can offer to loan out a floor model for audition, but, that cannot be for any significant length of time because of the need to have the speaker back on the floor. Something that goes out for such auditions cannot honestly be sold as brand new, so unboxing something that is in stock is not a realistic option.
Some stores don't have a fixed policy, rather, they allow or don't allow in-home auditions based on comfort with the particular customer--if you are a good long-term customer, you can borrow gear. A local store in my area frequently lends gear to regular customers even when the customer is not really shopping and is just curious how a particular piece sounds in his system. I once saw a customer "borrow" an ultra expensive phono cartridge (more than $10k) out of curiosity (I was nervous touching the box, never mind mounting such a scary beast).
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