Wise Move or Not?

I wouldn't buy a set of speakers without hearing them first.

I would (and did) buy a pair of speakers without hearing them first. But only if they are an excellent deal new or used. That way, if they don't work out, you should be able to recoup most of your monies.

It doesn't really matter what a pair of speakers sound like in the store with somebody else's gear and acoustics. What matters is how they sound with your amp and acoustics.

In fact, every piece of gear I own was purchased sight unseen (and unheard) here on A'gon. Of course, I try to do as much research as possible prior to each purchase.

I've now owned about 5 complete systems in the last 4 years, but it's been worth it. To me.

-IMO

I have bought components used on Audiogon fot the very reasons
you state -- to get them into my system where I can experience them with my other components in my listening room. When I get the component that works best, I can usually sell the others for close to what I paid. But, with speakers, I go to HiFi stores and listen to as many speakers as I can -- I want to hear the speakers, narrow down my selection, see how high up the line I want to go before buying. IMO, you can never do too much research on
speakers.