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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128x128thefile
@crlambert Can we call you a bigot? Are you prejudiced against the working class poor?

This forum is no place for this disparagement!

It often isn’t just the young who don’t have a stereo system prominently and proudly displayed in the living room any more. People in their 40s and beyond are content to have a tiny Bose radio or Bluetooth type speaker in a large room for their main listening. I know people in their 60s who have downsized from a decent stereo system to this. It’s like they have given up on having a good sounding system.

 

I am not a bigot. I am not prejudiced against the poor. I am the poor. I am disabled and retired. I am a veteran. I have to live on a fixed income. I am only stating what is right and what is wrong ! I'm only stating what is God's law ! And yet some on here are defending that disparaged group! That group is rebellious against God! And yes, I am concerned about it ! I fear no one. I fear for our youth whom are misled and groomed for this culture. Yes perhaps it has nothing to do with Hi-Fi. I'm just pointing out the obvious with our younger generation !

 On a brighter note, unfortunately I had to sell a really awesome boxed set of Bill Evans Trio CDs awhile back. 

If I have offended someone, then maybe they need to step back and rethink their position?

What's worse, is those here that agree with my position, will not speak up for fear of ridicule and retribution! That's what we call the silent MAJORITY! 

@thefile

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.

I haven’t either but as I haven’t been involved in audio very long (+/- 15 years) I’ve attributed my lack of understanding in this regard to lack of experience/expertise. I find it encouraging to read your post even though it describes a frustrating scenario.

@brewerslaw

I understand not wanting to tie up 25k+ in a set of speakers they might not sell but I’m not sure who’s dropping that kind of money without being able to hear them. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

What other conclusion can be drawn except that there must be enough people who are sufficiently wealthy to support such a business model?  I'd be interested in knowing.