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What happened to all the highend stereo shops

What happened to high end stereo shops I mean real high-end stereo shops. I am 78, my father bought me my first stereo when I was 12, I have been hooked ever since. I remember the days when you can go to a nice audio store and not just audition what they had in the store but if you saw a couple of tuners, preamps or some cables that you liked, you could give them a blank check and take the equipment home to audition on your system. Bring one or both back Pay for what you want to keep or get your check back. I don’t understand how someone can buy an expensive piece of audio equipment and not audition it in their system first. Many places today, you buy it and your stuck with it. OH yes you can sell it on Audiogon or eBay. Reviewers are nice and give good reviews but the problem I have is the equipment they are auditioning  is on their system in their treated music room which is going to be different than what you have. 
 

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emrofsemanon's avatar
emrofsemanon
292 posts
 

back in the day i simply had not sufficient fundage to get anything. i was not alone. expanding working class and shrinking middle is what did them in IMHO. a lot of them also were snooty IMHO, looked at me in work clothes with visible disdain. would not answer my questions or even acknowledge my presence. wish it were not so. there was/is one in tacoma that i respect highly as he is good to his customers no matter their station. 

wolf_garcia
6,626 posts
 

Form where I live in MA I have Natural Sound (great place for bird calls, dripping water recordings, wind...you get it) and Goodwin's High End which is neither high or the end...both nearby. Both seem to be doing great...Audio Video Therapy (!) is also maybe 45 minutes away (NH) and is a great place to go if depressed or worried that people dislike you. There are others...

smerk
9 posts
 

So true with all comments.  Even if there are stores the amount of choices are limited  - stock on hand is expensive for the store owner.  So, you are caught buying what he has on hand.  Sure, the items might quench your taste but if not then what.  I live close to Upscale Scale Audio in Socal. and they get it - but they are rare in today's stereo world,   

yesiam_a_pirate's avatar
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yesiam_a_pirate
154 posts
 

I think the younger generation is satisfied with mediocrity. "Meh...good enough" seems to be the way of the young Americans. Beats headphones connected wirelessly to your iPhone sound pretty good until you hear a good mid fi 2 channel rig. Ditto the wireless JBL portable waterproof powered speakers. 

My rig was down for repairs for 6 months and my audio was from a blue tooth JBL boom box. I got used to it the way you get used to an old chick- when my rig came home I put on some Allen Parsons and literally had a tear in my eye. I had forgotten how wonderful music can sound. 

This begs a question- of the next gen hears really good 2 channel will they dice in or will they even care?  I think the latter as half assing things is what they seem to do best. 

uberdine
100 posts
 

Some of it may come down to the astronomical rent retailers have to pay compared to the twentieth century, which is the same reason you have to pay ten bucks for a thimble of beer these days. If you're a businessman, opening a retail audio store is not a good bet. Plus, as others have pointed out, the internet has made straight to consumer a more attractive business model. Such a shame.

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