[ptman]

I recently added a pair of sub-bass speakers (REL S/3) to my 2-channel system. They were purchased from Music for Pleasure, and yesterday Eric and Rob delivered, setup and tuned the speakers.

They did a great job, having had specific training via REL. They looked for specific items during setup that I would not have considered.

I'm a dedicated "tweak", taking great pains in items such as speaker setup (distances, ratios, angles, etc.). I love the hobby and doing this. There's no way I would have gotten the same end result of setup and tuning with the RELs.

The industry of our hobby is going through a lot of changes. The value of brick-and-mortar stores is continually challenged. Here's a testament to the benefit of local, attentive, skilled support that comes with the sale.

As an aside, with one whole day under my belt, the RELs provide an underlying richness to the sound that allow my YG Acoustic Carmels to take on an expanded soundstage, improved decay and ease of music delivery. To me, it's a very significant benefit.

Thumbs up.

[youravhandyman]

I agree that the brick-and-mortar stores are necessary to preserve what little HiFi St. Louis has left.  Music for Pleasure and the Sound Room are still with us because they have been able to adapt to the changing AV landscape while providing the HiFi products and knowledge that you just can't get at the big box stores.
 
There are still some smaller dealers in town, some with showrooms and some without, that can provide much the same services that you describe above.  Most of them have a presence on the GAS forum and can be a resource to find products and services that you are needing and some that you may not realize yet that you need. 

As I am one of those dealers I thank you for shopping locally.