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SoGood51... I blew through this string pretty quickly, but I thought I heard you say your leaning towards a "big" speaker. I bought my Silverline Sonata II's sight unseen (used @ $2750 delivered) and could not be happier. There is a pair of Sonata I's that just got listed for $2250... you may want to consider them... beautiful cabinets, very efficient, and great sound. I also hear unanimous support for Montana speakers and Green Mountain. |
I bought my first used speakers on Audiogon after always buying new. I never expected to buy without auditioning the speakers first. It was a fairly expensive purchase. It did not work out. While the speakers are I'm sure excellent, they weren't in my setup. Synergy of amp and speakers is critical and sometimes elusive. I did my research extensively, emailed owners etc. I had to sell them on Audiogon and take a loss. Now I've got new speakers on the way. Bought the top of the line from a speaker I owned before. I know what to expect from these speakers. If you don't mind the risk and are willing to face re-sale on Audiogon, then buy without listening. But with big speakers of 150 lbs or more, I doubt I'd do it again. |
based on experience: never again.
bought merlin VSM-Ms and soundlab U2s w/o hearing them first. never warmed up to either, despite their reputations and proponents.
heard my current WP6s years before i bought them. buying them was the best purchase i've made (tied w/ a kenwood KT8300 tuner for $60 and a Wavac SET for $2k) |
Bought Spendor S5e's without listening. Match perfectly to my Naim system as everyone had indicated they would. Couldn't be happier. |
Yes I have numerous times and finally stopped with the Merlin VSM-MX. As there are no dealers in Ontario, Canada I really had no place to audition them. |
Pdreher
Thanks for the heads-up...not in the market at this time though.
Dave |
Having owned 5 speakers just this year,alone I felt this as a learning process. I think one speaker sets you up for the next. My downfall started when I bought the Lowther single driver system. It made me aware of how bad the mid/upper mid in my Montana EPS was. One of these set of speakers was David_'s Merlin MM's. The "Where's the beef" comes to mind. It's strange how the stats can claim such and such;i.e.--goes down to such and such.In my room with a fair amount of quality driving which-ever speakers the Wilson Sophia gives up the low mid bass I was missing--(in spades).---I also got this from my Montana speakers but they don't image and the mid/upper mid isn't as good as any speaker I've had since. The Merlins image as well as anything I've heard in my home but the low information doesn't compare to Montana or Wilsons.(its lack thereof)---I guess grafting a Wilson lower to the Merlin MM sounds like that might make it for me. --After all cabinet volume and driver size is a good part of why Merlin is at such a disadvantage. This is just my opinion. In hindsight I see the MM as a large 2 way bookshelf that leaves out MUCH musical information |
OK
Here is an answer you may not have expected:
After reading this thread, it occurs to me that I may have NEVER listened to ANY of the speakers I have owned since my first real pair of speakers in 1978.
(I did audition my very first pair of Magneplanar MG1-Bs circa 1978, age 14.)
Later, I upgraded to MG-IIbs, and then MG IIIa's, neither of which I heard because they were both special order items from my dealers who did not have them on display.
After the Magnepans, I switched to a pair of Apogee stage speakers that I heard very briefly at a dealer, HOWEVER, this was in a completely different room, with completely different equipment AND with the Apogee woofers which I was not buying. So I certainly didnt hear the speakers as I ordered them. I actually liked them MUCH better at home, AFTER I bought them.
I heard Martin Logan CLS speakers very briefly, but never listened to the SL-3s that I eventually ordered and enjoyed for a few years.
My Magneplanar Tympani IVas were purchased sight unseen from a collector in Canada and shipped directly to Magnepan. Had never heard a pair of Tympanis before but always wanted them.
I bought a pair of Epos speakers over the web because they were on sale and I read several different good reviews about the warmth of their midrange. I love them.
And finally, I just bought a 5.1 set of Infinity TSS 750 speakers with nothing but a sealed box.
Even if they were set up at Circuit City, I dont think the "demo" would have done me much good.
So I am having a bit of a Eureka moment here, which - no offense to you dealers - is making me think that this whole high service, dealer showroom demo stuff is about as helpful as a "full service" stockbroker is to your portfolio. If you know anything about Wall Street, you probably dont take advice or see your broker as ubiased or impartial any more.
Ojgalli
I agree that one should never trust a single review.
But what I have found over the years of this hobby is that if you really do your homework, and you are familiar with this stuff, and you read several reviews and talk to several people and read audiogon etc., you can glean a pretty good impression of how components really sound and fill in any blanks with years of audiophile experience.
In the end, therefore, this leaves me with the paradoxical conclusion that NOT listening (although RESEARCHING) may give you as much useful information through an imaginary "demo" than you will get by sitting in someone else's room, listening to different associated components etc. while being brainwashed by whoever is peddling the gear.
Of course, there are wonderful dealers who succeed in cultivating loyal, long term repeat business relationships who may let you borrow a piece of gear for a couple of days etc, and obviously that is very useful and informative.
But otherwise - I am realizing -- wow - that I have rarely ever listened to ANYTHING before buying it. And yet, I have been able to guess the sounds of things pretty well, and put together coherent systems.
Actually I have spent hours and hours and hours tinkering around hi fi showrooms and having a demo here or there. But this never entirced me into buying anything. |
Built my own subwoofer cabinet from scratch. Does that count? |
I bought Merlin VSM-SE's based on reviews. |
Yep- Von Schweikert DB-99's and couldn't be happier. Found a good price I just couldn't pass up, bought the amps unheard also. Call me crazy but I am LOVING IT!! |
I will buy a pair of Totem Forest with out listening, it's for Zappa's music. |
Yep, if I knew I could re-sell them and get most my money back. That is the beauty of Audiogon. They always sound different in your room hooked up to your gear. Listening to a pair at the dealer only gives a good idea (if that) of how they may sound when you get them home.
I have to drive two hours to San Francisco to find a good selection of audio products, I just don't have the time. However, if I can find a pair local I will always listen first. |
I've had excellent success (GMA Europa, Rega Ela 2000) buying used speakers without listening to them. I did my research first, and considered the purchase to be an in-home demo, confident I could resell them if disappointed. It's unlikely I would buy NEW speakers without a money-back satisfaction guarantee. |
Not a chance in hell. Based on getting psyched up about some hyped up speakers that I thought would be the holy grail. Went to listen, and was blown away--but in a bad way. Any chance that I'd ever buy speakers without first listening disappeared forever on that day. |
Yes, my current speakers were bought without prior listening. But for $150 for Altec 604-8G's in 620 factory cabs, I couldn't pay for them and get them loaded fast enough. Church yardsale. Although if I was going to spend serious money on speakers, I would definately listen before buying. |
"Yes, my current speakers were bought without prior listening. But for $150 for Altec 604-8G's in 620 factory cabs, I couldn't pay for them and get them loaded fast enough. Church yardsale. Although if I was going to spend serious money on speakers, I would definately listen before buying."
-Wwwrecords Well, OK, but that's different. You knew you were getting a killer-gonzo bargain! You're the same sly dude who snagged a Marantz CD changer for 20 bucks--A MARANTZ CD PLAYER--and a CHANGER, no less--FOR 20 BUCKS (I think that's what you said)!! When it comes to audiophile bargain purchases, you ROCK! :)))))) |
Six of the last seven speakers ... purchased w/o auditioning ... loved every one of them; the only speaker I auditioned ... Martin-Logans ... loved them thoroughly; the speaker I plan to keep ... despite not having auditioned them first ... the most enjoyable speakers I've ever owned ... Cains |
Sure, why not? With some experience you can triangulate on the expected sound based on trusted sources. Moreover, the relationship between a store environment and your living room is quite remote. Narrow your choices based on considered opinion and get return privileges on what you try. I've done it more than once and found that I had accurately anticipated the sound I got.
Phil |
Well, maybe I'm just being too stubborn. I will say that I bought a pair of ADS car speakers from Duane years ago without first listening, and they sounded great. But I'm still spooked by that one experience years ago. One reason for my reluctance is that speakers are big and can be difficult to transport and can get damaged, etc. Those things are less of an issue for other components--easier to switch out. |
