[TRM]

To me is just represents a growing problem.  I dont feel a speaker is something that should be purchased on-line while you are buying a cd or digital picture frame or something. It is something you should take the time to listen to and decide upon. Our country is becoming so lazy that people dont want to do any work, they simply want things handed to them.

I think you're greatly over-thinking things. They're just speakers.

I also believe it is increasingly difficult for audio dealers to survive and this just makes it worse. I enjoy having a relationship with a dealer and demoing and possibly buying products with them. Obviously this is only my feelings and YMMV

This I can get on board with

[Wayner]

Here in Minnesota, almost all of the shops have closed. Tis a sign of the times I guess. Everyone will do what they can to survive.

Wayner

[Brian Walsh]

Is this what this hobby is coming to? very strange...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?ie=UTF8&docId=1000234781

Strange isn't the first word that comes to mind.

[jwes]

Why is it bad that ML's are being sold on Amazon?

George 

To me is just represents a growing problem.  I dont feel a speaker is something that should be purchased on-line while you are buying a cd or digital picture frame or something. It is something you should take the time to listen to and decide upon. Our country is becoming so lazy that people dont want to do any work, they simply want things handed to them. I also believe it is increasingly difficult for audio dealers to survive and this just makes it worse. I enjoy having a relationship with a dealer and demoing and possibly buying products with them. Obviously this is only my feelings and YMMV

This is probably the ideal scenario (working with the local dealer), but it's not that bad to see higher end equipment in a broader domain.  Maybe this will help to reignite the interest in this great hobby.  As it was with me, once you get a taste, you keep going!