+ Reply to Thread
Page 4 of 8 FirstFirst ... 23456 ... LastLast
Results 31 to 40 of 78

Thread: When did you last visit a HiFi dealer ?

  1. #31
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

    Posts: 11,215
    I'm Allen.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Beobloke View Post
    You'd probably walk out bankrupt if you did!

    Can't face paying through the nose on new prices , Much rather buy good used , that way you can buy twice as much
    [

  2. #32
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: Nottingham

    Posts: 625
    I'm Ian.

    Default

    I wonder if AV installs and TVs are keeping dealers afloat

  3. #33
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: East Riding of Yorkshire these days

    Posts: 4,779
    I'm Shaun.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Audio Al View Post
    Nice and local then
    lol, I guess it depends on your individual concept of local. Once you've added fuel costs and in my case, bridge fees, the cost of travel is a bit steep. Without knowing any better I'd say my best hi-fi alternative would be in Sheffield, maybe 70 miles each way. For purchasing Croft or anything of that ilk I cannot imagine the distances and costs involved. Even my Prima Luna pre/powers had to be bought from a place in Peterborough. I tend to think that if you don't really want mainstream then the level of difficulty is quite big. Has it always been that way..? Maybe it has but my home town used to have two good hi-fi showrooms, it now has none.

  4. #34
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: Nottingham

    Posts: 625
    I'm Ian.

    Default

    Nottingham seems to be holding up well, the only dealer I can remember closing was Forum HiFi - many many years back. I think all of the following are still going, appologies if I have missed anyone:


    Retail

    Castle sound and Vision
    Definitive Audio
    John Kirk HiFi
    Nottingham HiFi
    Richer Sunds
    Sevenoaks Sound and Vision
    Superfi ( Nottingham HiFi)


    Manufacturers
    Art Audio
    Audio Synthesis
    John Wood Audio
    Nottingham Analogue

  5. #35
    Join Date: Mar 2012

    Location: Ireland

    Posts: 29
    I'm colum.

    Default

    I drove from Ireland to Southern England to demo HIFI over 7 years ago, you are so spoilt for choice...
    40 miles I would do that for a takeaway!!
    I actually do not know how a hifi dealer would survive, most of my purchases have been off forums and bought on good advice from here and other forums.

  6. #36
    Join Date: Aug 2017

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 41
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    When Radford's were still going I'd be in there at least once a week and also spent a lot of money, these days I visit Paul Roberts most weeks, although mainly because they now share the space with a record shop that I sell some doubles to, I have bought a couple of Teac DACs from them and got them to order me a Roksan armboard and the odd cart, but they don't really stock much for me. The local Sevenoaks have always been friendly and helpful when I've popped in, perhaps once every couple of years, likewise Richer Sounds have been consistent for the last thirty years or so, although they don't really stock what I want these days. I haven't been in our local Audio T in many years, used to be in there all the time in the eighties when it was Absolute Sound And Video, but got put off in the nineties by poor staff and have never gone back, I really should give them another go, we also have at least one interesting used store which I have yet to make a visit to. There are a few things I want to eventually purchase when funds allow, I'd prefer to buy them new and I have a couple of shops I'm happy to deal with mail order, plus I plan on spending some more money with Hugo at Ammonite sometime in the future. I do miss having a good shop on my doorstep, seeing and listening to a wide variety of gear was a fantastic learning opportunity and resource, buying online is no substitute.

  7. #37
    Join Date: Aug 2018

    Location: London Knightsbridge

    Posts: 414
    I'm Nari.

    Default

    Interesting thread the days of the so called hi street dealer that you could visit and see interesting bits has gone. I remember the good old days I used to visit Subjective audio in the 80,s and there was so much interesting esoterica, you could go to audio T and the the likes who had some of the wall equiptment, you have to admire our very own David Wren of Radlett Audio who was like a pioneer back in the day selling nice quirky gear whos shop in wattling Street was amazing haven with so much interesting bits lurking around I remember being mesmorised by what was on offer, then Vinyl Tube Audio in London so many great Valve amps and lovely turntables. These sort of outfits hardly exist these days even good old Walrus had to shut shop.

    We still have some fantastic dealers who stock some interesting great bits but most of them are forced to work from home for economic reasons, the likes of Radlett audio, guildford audio, acoustic arts all work from home still managing to supply some great gear and provide fantastic knowledgable service but as for high street retailers nah they either are forced to sell AV or boring run of the mill gear. I visit a rather quirky dealer in Watford regularly Unique Audio who works from from and is able to demo gear that would simply not be possible to listen to in a normal shop as the market is just so small and specialised. Because he is passionate and small with low overheads he is able to invest in some great items that would not be possible.

    We do have the odd wonderful dealer who has a commercial premises who are able to stock some high end maybe more mainstream gear but we have the the likes of Midland audio and definitive audio who are trying to facilitate the market which is simply no easy. My hats of to all these dealers who are trying there best to make a living in a hard market.

    I often visit Hong Kong and singapore the markets are very different in asia where there are so many dealers who can demo all sorts of weird and wonderful bits even there many dont work from conventional shops. Uk hifi shops to me are the thing of the past and I as a punter have to be very selective as to where I spend my dosh. Compared to some countries we are forunate that we have some choice and because the UK has some great history and is established many dealers try and stick it out one way of the other.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  8. #38
    Join Date: Apr 2009

    Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex

    Posts: 7,087
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    Thanks Nari for the plug.

    Fortunately, I still have a steady influx of customers to my little haven. Of course, it's not like it was in the good ol' days but enough to keep me happy and amused.I enjoy demonstrating Hi-Fi to nice people - after all, it's just a bit of plugging and unplugging whilst putting the world to rights and playing music.. What's not to like !!!

  9. #39
    Join Date: Aug 2018

    Location: London Knightsbridge

    Posts: 414
    I'm Nari.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hifi_dave View Post
    Thanks Nari for the plug.

    Fortunately, I still have a steady influx of customers to my little haven. Of course, it's not like it was in the good ol' days but enough to keep me happy and amused.I enjoy demonstrating Hi-Fi to nice people - after all, it's just a bit of plugging and unplugging whilst putting the world to rights and playing music.. What's not to like !!!
    Was not really meant to be a plug but I do remember the wonderful shop and going down the to the basement and starring at Tom Flechers Mentor reference and how even back then when no one cared you had a bastin 301 in the corner, I also appreciate what it takes for good dealers like yourself to stay in business and also motivated as getting rich is certainly what it is about as you say it passion for what you do and this passion deserves a influx of customers. Sadly I never purchased anything from you as I was already heading into another direction, I also remeber the Holly Well Hill shop which was nice but to me wattling street had a special feel.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  10. #40
    Join Date: Jul 2018

    Location: Cheshire

    Posts: 41
    I'm John.

    Default

    I recently joined the Harbeth users forum (and that’s an interesting exercise in itself!) where the principal moderator is the guy who designs the speakers and presumably runs the company. He posts a lot of threads himself and it’s apparent that Harbeth and specialist Hifi manufacturers in general are concerned about the rate of closures of specialist shops from the high street. One other concern they have is the age demographic of hifi enthusiasts, apparently we are all old and wrinkly (true in my case!). Young people don’t buy system separates, their music is on the go, iPods, iPhones etc.

    The internet has radically changed how we shop, if you go to a specialist dealer he will carry in stock only a few brands so your decision making choices are limited. On forums like this one you get unbiased and informed opinions based on experience. I’ve been a member of this forum for only a few months, but in that time I have changed how I access Tidal and upgraded my interconnect cables, all based on the experiences of other members and this has resulted in a significant improvement in the sound quality from my system for not much cost. Not something you would get from Richer Sounds.

    Maybe one way forward is through regional Hifi shows and audio fairs where dealers and manufacturers can get together to demonstrate their products.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 4 of 8 FirstFirst ... 23456 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •