To audition or not to audition?

[petrat]

Funny, now I come to think of it ... I only audition when I already have doubts. Saved quite a bit of money that way. Speakers are the most difficult ime. I've walked away from quite a few 'rave review' speakers because they sounded terrible in a dealer dem. Dunno, maybe they'd have been fine at home, but if a professional dealer can't get them to sound half decent, then I won't be taking the gamble.

[petrat]

it used to be easy to sell but now its much harder . i take a bit more care now in choosing kit

Me too. Even buying second-hand, the two best amplifiers I've sold in recent years both cost me a bundle of money when I sold them on, because they aren't well-known brands.

[YNWaN]

I always try before I buy, even before I build (DIY).

[hifi_dave]

I don't recall ever buying anything without an audition first and in my demo room. The only times I haven't has been vintage gear on E-Bay and that has rarely ended well..

[Beobloke]

If it's a component intended for long-term use in my main system, then it will always be auditioned. If it's just something old/interesting I fancy trying out, then I just go for it. Auditionng wouldn't work in many of these cases, anyway, as the items in question are often broken!

[57charles]

Bought my last two sets of speakers blind. Tannoy Ascots and KEF Corellis. I knew what they'd sound like, having heard similar (but not identical) models. Wasn't disappointed and still have them. Unfortunately, to make space, I may have to part with the Corellis and I've got rather attached to them, they're damn good.

Corellis = bextrene quack (and quite a lot of it).

[walpurgis]

Corellis = bextrene quack (and quite a lot of it).

No. Not here.

[57charles]

No. Not here.

Bought an immaculate boxed pair a few years ago without audition. Awful unbearable bextrene quack - had to get rid of them. Very disappointing. No quack with Celestion SL 700E nor Spendor SP2/3r2 although perhaps an unfair comparison....