[wm]

I live in Florence, MT and am wondering if there is anywhere within 200-300 miles where I can go to listen to good quality gear?

[Folsom]

PM, I'll take you to one of the best sounding system you'll ever hear.

[JLM]

Lots of wide open spaces between audiophiles outside the big cites.  And the fussier you get, the wider open those spaces get.  For instance where I live (Michigan) last I checked there was one dealer that sold (barely) tube amps.

Just one of the downsides of giving up the metro lifestyle.  Thank goodness for the internet.

[ArthurDent]

Got to imagine there is a shop or two in Coeur d'Alene, and Spokane. Maybe vinyl_lady will chime in with some thoughts, she'll know the area like her backyard (which effectively it is  ).

[Folsom]

Missoula might be the only place. Acoustic Vision carries a few things. DB sound is out of business.

Spokane didn't have any for years, and I doubt a new store would open. Don't know about CDA, it's not big, but people with money are around all summer.

[saeyedoc]

Used to live in Bozeman, was going to suggest Thirsty Ear, but I see they are no longer there, anyone know what happened to them? Guess the market for $100k speakers in a college town of 38000 dried up.

[Carl V]

Butte Born & Went to Carroll in Helena.
Recent rips back yielded few Hi-Fi sources.

Maybe BIG SKY
http://www.bigskyaudiomt.com/

In Bozeman perhaps
http://poindexters.com/services/residential

[wm]

Thanks for the input.  I did find Audio Elation which is only about 10 minutes away.  I went over for a short listening session.  They seem like nice people.  I have decided I have a lot of work to do before I figure out what I want.

[acresm22]

Used to live in Bozeman, was going to suggest Thirsty Ear, but I see they are no longer there, anyone know what happened to them? Guess the market for $100k speakers in a college town of 38000 dried up.

Thirsty Ear is no more, but several of the guys who worked there now own Audio Artisans in Bozeman. It's more of a custom install business, but they do have a showroom with some systems set up.

Thirsty Ear closed its doors about 7-8 years ago I think.

[Randy]

As far as I know there isn't a single "high end" shop in this state of about 100,000 square miles. Casper used to have one where I once bought a pair of Maggies, and an AR tt.  It is long gone, however.

[bladesmith]

Many customers won't come back after they have been taken down the rabit hole.
In turn, the dealer goes out of business.
Simple economics.

Good luck.