Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Originally posted by: Blurry
No, I would never want to waste too time for the dealer's - I usually spend about 10-15mins per person max - personally I'd feel bad to spend all that time listening and then not buy anything.
I told most of the salespersons up front that I wasn't ready to buy - just to find out what kind of sound I like. All were more than understanding - letting me to try out each speaker by myself.
Thanks for the link to audiogon - I've been looking for a site like this and somehow have not stumbled across one yet.
You're new to this, but at some point you'll have to get over that sense of "wasting the dealer's time". You're wasting his time if you never intend to buy, but you don't seem to be like that. No one expects you to make a $5K+ decision in the matter of minutes, let alone hours or days. If you visit him consistently, he'll know that you're serious (or at least more so than the next guy) and won't mind one bit that you're auditioning speakers. After you've made your first purchase, if you stick with the dealer, the relationship can become very beneficial. Back in Michigan, there were 2 main dealers that I would pop into consistently - they knew me by name and didn't care about leaving me in a room for hours if I wanted.
A little more time and you'll become more comfortable with the entire process. In only 10-15 minutes, all you can really get is a broad overview of a speaker's/amp's/pre-amp's characteristics. It'll take much longer to really grasp the nuances and only then should you be considering a purchase.
YES!!! Preach it evil one!!
Blurry, if you take nothing else from this thread, please listen to Yoda! You already rushed into the Gallo's. Don't make the same mistake twice!
Take a couple of your favorite CD's, and go listen to those B&W speakers again. Make sure they are the speaker for you before you talk to your dad.
When you started this thread, you were looking to spend less than 10k for your whole setup. Now after spending less than 15 minutes with the 802D's you are willing to blow your budget plus another 4k just on speakers???
I'm sorry, but that just sounds crazy to me. I bet your dad might feel the same way.
I haven't been able to pop into this thread for a few days, but after reading the updates have some comments to make.
Yoda and Muadib already made great points.
First off, you have a budget for a reason. Stick with it, unless you A) think the massive jump in price is worth the incremental jump in sound or B) have lots more money to spend. Judging by your comment about your father, I would say you shouldn't get the 802D's new. Even with 10% off, you're still looking at 12,600+tax which is more than I paid for my car brand new.
Secondly, if you take one step down from those (the 803D), you are still in the $8k/pair range with 10% off. That's your entire budget again. Unless you plan to up your budget to the $14k range (I would advise against this unless you have lots of cash to throw around with the economy being unstable and all), I would drop down from the D level stuff from B&W. The 803S is about $5500/pair with 10% off, which is about where speakers need to be for your starting budget.
Third, if you are stopping in for only 15 minutes you are not getting the whole feel of the speaker. You need to make a cd with 15-20 tracks of music you know very well (or buy a high quality cd with a very dynamic assortment of tracks), and listen to them. Focus on the characteristics of the vocals, stringed instruments, wind instruments, percussion, etc. Speakers (even in this price range) tend to do really well in one or two of those groups, and the rest just above average. The longer you listen the more subtle things you will pick up on.
Fourth, don't worry about the dealer right now. This is about you, so do what YOU have to so you find the ideal speaker for you. The dealers deal with asshole customers all the time, so if you are nice and tell them "hey I am interested in speaker x, and have some music I brought with that I wanted to audition on them for a bit. Do you mind if I spend some quality time listening?" They will be okay with it, and understand that you need time to make a decision. When I was looking about a year ago, the one store near me knew me by name and offered me a job at one point because I was in there so much. We got to a level where they wouldn't even go with me, and I worked the equipment myself.
Fifth, when you decide on a speaker, then start looking on audiogon and other sites to see if you can find them used. For example
803D+center for $7500+shipping. If you don't want used, or decide to buy from the dealer that's your choice but nothing is wrong with buying used.
Sixth, you have many more brands to check out. Find a local Focal dealer, and take a listen to the 10xx series (1007be, 1027be, and 1037be). Look at many of the other brands mentioned in this thread. If you like the sound of B&W, I'd bet you'll like the sound of the Focals as well. B&W and Focal are the two brands I would buy speakers from that I have auditioned, with the nod towards Focal currently (in my budget). It's tiring yes, but will be well worth it. Go listen to as many brands as you can.
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