Purchasing difficult to find speakers

modesto -- Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:49

Can anyone provide any advice on purchasing speakers without the ability to listen to them first?
I have read so many reviews from several magazines and try to find agreement which is difficult enough. The real problem is that many recommended speakers are not available in my area for demo.
Modesto

Steven Stone -- Sat, 12/04/2010 - 10:34

I would humbly suggest starting your speaker search with speakers that you CAN listen to.

Then find reviews of those speakers. Compare your opinions with the reviewer's. If there is a high incidence of compatibility, then look at the other reviews by that reviewer for speakers that may work.

But still, the nature of room interactions, especially with full-range floor-standing speakers means that a real and meaningful sonic picture will only happen when you have your speakers in YOUR room.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

staxguy -- Sat, 12/04/2010 - 14:22

Modesto,
If your budget would accomodate it, I would suggest taking a review trip to New York, California, Europe, Hong Kong, etc. or where ever else you can find the speakers you are interested in. I once took a trip to Thailand to check out those Norh long drum speakers, and was rewarded with a great vacation as a result. Dealers should be more than friendly, though you may need a translator, and it is pretty easy to do the research online as to where you can actually find what you are looking for. Some manufactuers welcome visits, as well. Perhaps if you list here what you are looking to find, someone could suggest dealers in their area that carry what you are looking for, and are happy to do in-store demonstrations.
Steven Stone's recomendation is a good one: it's a lot easier to audion and buy what's readily available (and less hazardous) than it is to import foreign products, seight unseen. I'd say if you're looking for something both exotic and expensive, you deserve a buying trip to check out the merchandise first-hand and to arrange for terms and delivery.
Good luck, Modesto.

Staxguy

Garth Nelson -- Sat, 12/04/2010 - 16:32

I found myself with the same problem so I went to the rocky mountian audio show. The shows are not the best place to listen but it let me hear and see a lot of gear in 3 days. I was able to narrow it down many I read great reviews on I did not care for some I did, many more I could not afford. The show did give me a way to what I needed to pick. If you do go to the RMAF make a short list of the rooms you like and return early the next day as you will get longer to listen and talk to who ever is in charge. As stated above a trip to a major city works but but not as many choices as a show thou the stores will most likely be better set up in better rooms. I hope this helps. By the way I picked the Martin Logan CLXs to buy. A good dealer no matter how far away will help you the most reviews are a start and that is all it takes effort to find a good match to what you like what you can afford and what will fit into your room and life style. Hope this helps remember to close your eyes and listen until they throw you out just kidding.

Garth