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That's why at this point, I've given up on products carried by local dealers. There is one (not counting something like Best Buy's Magnolia which is about a dozen miles from me) real audio store within 40+ or so miles from where I currently live. They are open 3 days a week and it is not a huge store (I have more systems in my house). There's probably a couple things in the store (no Maggies) that I certainly would find likeable sound quality wise, but there are alternatives on direct to consumer sales. The question becomes how much value added does the local dealer provide in the event of an issue. If one buys a well built product from a reputable direct to consumer company for me the answer is that the local dealer provides almost no added value.
it's true but for one thing -- how do you compare components? I used to be able to go over to Lyric say and compare stuff, but now that I live in the boonies I don't have that opportunity. And show sound sucks, they're typically playing useless demo tracks too loud in rooms with bad power and worse acoustics. So now I look at reviews, see what people say online, etc. Then buy online or used. But it's still pot luck, sometimes I get something that delights me, sometimes not. Buying something from a dealer wasn't 100% but you could tell in about 5 seconds if something was interesting enough to take home.
My main system is to the point as of today that unless something happens, probably will not be major changes (perhaps down the road a new DAC or music server). I've actually had good luck at shows. Two years back at a show, a review site had 5 DACs with levels equalized for comparison and I ended up buying a DAC for a secondary system based on the demo (and I did it at a time when it wasn't crowded). I also bought a demo preamp at the same show for the secondary systems under a similar situation. Many companies today will let you have a home trial (and in many cases the worst you're out is one way shipping).If I were to change something like speakers, I've already heard enough things and have preferences of what I'd want to get. More or less, I have the same feel for electronics with the exception of digital components which change more rapidly. I've found going to dealers results in a limited demo of what they carry (and I'm not talking about a dealer like Lyric that may carry many things - I used to live in NYC). Even where I used to live, where there were more dealers (probably about 6 to 8 within 25+ miles), a demo was only of limited value. One dealer carried one brand which probably was 60-65% of what was on his floor. Another did not have a good reputation. Another would bad mouth everyone else's stuff, another was just so opinionated and not all that knowledgeable about what other people sold, although he thought he was, etc. I once took a ride (where I used to live) to hear something an hour and three quarters away (one way) and left after 10 minutes and drove all the way home as the guy was an audio joke. As an example the one local dealer I have now (open 3 days a week) has a small house as a store. There is one decent sized room with a hallway with one system, a small/average room with another system and one bigger room that had enough components to maybe have 3 systems of electronics and he has a few pair of speakers in the hallway to swap in. So honestly I do have more components in my house currently and of what he carries there is nothing speaker wise for the money I'd really want and a couple of brands of electronics I could consider (I like the sound quality) but honestly I would probably choose something else given the dollars they cost. I can honestly say that over the past dozen years, I heard one demo at one store where I used to live that was really impressive (and definitely more money than what I would spend). I've heard really expensive systems and gone home and preferred what I have (not that mine is cheap).I've owned so many things over the years and sold so many things that now I just rotate things to back-up systems. I just bought a receiver for a back-up HT and moved things around and have 12-13 year old Sony ES receiver I was using in my office that I'm going to give to a friend. Where I used to live, I'd say it was probable I could hear something at one of the local dealers that might be of consideration somewhere for sure in one of my system. Right now, I don't see a possibility of that happening where I live. I really like the Maggie dealer I visited in FL on one trip down while my house was being built. He had lots to choose from and was knowledgeable. It is 2.5 hours one way for me (and assuming decent traffic).
What I would like is a smaller 20.7! Hell, I'd buy that one and I'm sure you'd see a lot of 3.7s being traded in because the sound quality would be such a huge step up.Be too big for factory direct/30 day trial, though.
As an example the one local dealer I have now (open 3 days a week) has a small house as a store. There is one decent sized room with a hallway with one system, a small/average room with another system and one bigger room that had enough components to maybe have 3 systems of electronics and he has a few pair of speakers in the hallway to swap in.
That's really sad, but pretty much the way things are now. I wish I'd been at that DAC demo
It was 2013 - http://www.enjoythemusic.com/capitol_audiofest_2013/part1/page2.htmIt is down the page. I bought my Meitner lightly used from a guy on Audiogon who bought it lightly used from someone else and it was barely broken in. He didn't have enough digital and bought a Benchmark, one of the DACs included in the stack. I was with someone in the room early on Friday afternoon and besides John Gatski of Everything who had the room only Alan Silverman (the recording engineer who was speaking at the CAF) was there. I had a thumb drive and of all the DACs on PCM, I preferred the Teac. I told the guy I bought the Meitner from. He bought one and after comparing it to the Benchmark sold his.I agree it's sad
The primary advantage of this setup is that my phone battery dies after about 3 hours, forcing me to stop listening and eat.)
What do you guys want - a 20.7 for the desktop? ...
What do you guys want - a 20.7 for the desktop? Just kidding, perfect 20.7 dimensions for me would be 79"(H) x 20"(W) x 2.5"(D). That would shave 18" off the width of a pair. I'd even use it with dual DWMs. Now let's see what Magnepan can offer.
