Unable to audition used speakers a problem

A few years back I bought a pair of speakers locally. I did not get an in-house demo because the seller had his new speakers properly setup in his room and did not want to move them and lose his fine tuned placement. So he suggested we take the speakers to my home, and we were able to audition them there. The price was right and it made an immediate sonic difference. He told me to get back with him over several days but after listening for 1 hour I was already willing to cut him the check then and there and I had no question that they would work in my room. It was rather nice of him to offer this, and I helped him lug them over.

My latest set of speakers which will arrive in a few weeks - I bought without demoing out of state. I did extensive research, talked to the owner, the speaker manufacturer, and others in several forums. These speakers are made by a small manufacturer with a strong cult following and I compared comments people made with other speakers that I was quite familiar with. I was evaluating buying a new pair when I found these on the GON. I bought lightly used (3 months) and was able to get many significant upgrades (custom finish, wiring, cabinet damping, etc) for the price of a standard pair. I'm sure these will work out and can't wait and in the remote chance that they don't work in my setup know I shouldn't have a problem selling them as there is a long waiting list for newly ordered speakers.

If I was really concerned and especially if I was buying new I would actually fly somewhere to demo them first.

Audiotomb: My latest set of speakers which will arrive in a few weeks - I bought without demoing out of state. I did extensive research, talked to the owner, the speaker manufacturer, and others in several forums. These speakers are made by a small manufacturer with a strong cult following...

Why the suspense, why not name the speaker brand? It's not like you stole them or something. :)

Hi Ozzy62, Good question, and I have been thinking of starting a thread on this. But the short version is I can do this with my system, and I do this for a number of reasons. First off I have been working on this "theory" for the last several years and it has taken me a while to start to understand this "phenomena".
I, like most every one else used to turn the volume up and down for different albums and styles of music. I came to the conclusion that this is wrong. I have read also the ambigiously stated "there is one volume for every recording", but as in Star Trek and the Hobbit, every saying has two meanings.
Well I dont want to hijack this thread but I believe it is the recording engineers job to give us the correct level on a given album and as with anything some get it correct and some don't. With a set volume control, this is the only way to tune your system and let the recording reveal its makeup. Every engineer has the ability to make a recording too loud, or compressed amongst other things, Every record pressing plant has the ability to makes its records too noisy or distorted amongst other things. This is what I am in search of, the real truth in the recordings. Is a recording compressed? Will turning up the volume help this? Is the rcording too loud? Will turning it down make it more palatable? Is the record noisy from the pressing or condition? Will anything help this? What will adjusting the volume do for any of these records?
As for the system tuning with one volume setting the systems strengths and weaknesses are revealed to allow you to hear them. Not enough low level info? Boomy bass? Not enough bass? Does turning up or down the volume "solve" these problems?
I only listen to music at this "reference" volume. Doing this gives you a reference point for these recordings and remember these are recordings, you cant ask the conductor or the singer to "turn it up a bit". what is on the record is all that is there, warts and all. Your job if you choose to accept it is to find these great recordings and have fun doing it. How can one say this record is quiet when the volume control is down 6db? Or this record is noisy when it is up by 6db? How can you properly adjust you subwoofer output to match your main speakers when you are changing the volume by 12 bd?
Chamber music vs the Planets at the same volume setting yeah you bet. If the engineer did his job, no problem. If the Chamber music is compressed and engineered incorectly, no way but that is the recording and I am sorry but it is what it is.
I have said enough for now Ozzy, if you wish to discuss this further let me know and I will start my first conteptious thread.
Bob

Aktchi

wasn't trying to be secretive - the speaker manufacturer wasn't relevant to the thread

Salk Veracity HT3

you can find more about them here or on audiocircle.com