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In Reply to: RE: Focal Aria 936 Speakers posted by couger4u on May 04, 2017 at 12:47:42
Don't take this the wrong way please. But if you're dropping four grand on some speakers, asking US isn't the way to buy these things. Tastes in speaker obviously vary widely.
Your taste and how you perceive them with your ears is the best review you can get.
But seriously, do try to find some audio shops with some speakers and do listen. I've been down that road where I read and read and finally buy a speaker only to thing - ha? that's not exactly what I thought they would have sounded like!
Also more importantly is what system is it matching with, room and intended listening style????
Follow Ups:
But what's the purpose of a forum if you can't get opinions? Someone should be able to ask what others think whether they plan to go for a formal audition or not. Yes, we should all go hear speakers in person but sometimes there's a deal somewhere and we must make a decision to pull the trigger without an audition. Some people are also okay with buying and selling components in lieu of pre-auditioning them. Sometimes the local dealer doesn't really show their products in the best light.
Anyway, no matter how much research you do you'll never really know what speakers will sound best in your home system without a lot of in-situ trial and error.
...as a way to weed out the ones you definitely don't like. But if I was going to drop $4K (or even less) on a pair of speakers, I'd want an in-my-home trial period. After all, you're not going to be listening in the dealer's showroom all the time.
"That was some weird shit".- George Bush
What if there are no stores in a reasonable range from you?
What if the stores don't have anything you like?
Going to a store to listen to speakers on unfamiliar electronics in an unfamiliar room isn't always always a guarantee of success.
What if the demo of good speakers sounds like dog doo?
For example, my wife and I auditioned some Golden Ear Triton 1s at a local store one day. Nice speakers. Crappy demo. They use Tidal in what what must have been a sub-optimal set up. Electronics were Classe'. It sounded horrible. Even my wife, who doesn't pay attention to audio quality commented on how bad it sounded. Flat, dull, with no soundstage worth mentioning. After 5-10 minutes, I convinced him to hook up a CD player and play some of my discs, despite the fact that he didn't understand why. Better, but the speakers were not set up properly. It was clear to me that the speakers were probably better than the demo showed. Bear in mind, this was not some pimpley kid in Best Buy, but an adult in a high end store. He actually thought the crappy sound was good. Did I buy them? No, though I could have lived with them. I didn't want to reward such a god-awful demo.
I ended up buying different speakers online.
Jack
Everything you say here is true. But I will stick with my advice. There are a few alternatives to a brick and mortar audio retailer--trade shows, folks here who might be nearby and willing to provide a listening session, owners selling them used who would demo them, etc. I guess if you have a lot of money, paying $4K for an unheard speaker is not a big deal, but I wouldn't do it.
I posted an inquiry here for nearby audiophiles who have a pair of speakers I wanted to audition. One gentleman about two hours' drive away, invited me to listen at his place with my own program material with which I was familiar. We had a very enjoyable time together. He has since visited me a couple of times and we stay in touch by e-Mail. A new audio friend!
Of course some retailers will allow an in-home demo, but I think that tends to be in the case of very loftily-priced equipment.
All the caveats about demos you mentioned are true. I have experienced these problems too. The conclusion one might draw from that is that there is no reason, ever, to audition equipment because the setup may be inept, is not what you have at home in your own space and with your own equipment. It is a tough problem for certain.
Enjoy your music!
Many if not most online retailers offer a 30 day or more return policy, as well as some manufacturers. Ohm speakers for example, offers a 120 day return policy.
Jack
Both offer in home demo direct. If you don't keep them you pay shipping.
Do not buy speakers you have never heard. Basing a purchase of speakers on reviews is a very risky proposition, particularly at $4K.
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