Shopping Local Audio Gear is Getting More and More Challenging

[VonMagnum]

Likewise you're a reflection of the idiotic right I suppose....not that that's much to aspire to.

Idiotic Right? Yes, some of them are idiots. But then there's also the 'I don't know WTF gender I am (because I apparently can't see what's between my legs) so I'll just make up 100 more and try to cram them down society's throat' (denying biological science while claiming it's the other side that denies "science"), socialism/communism mandate loving, reverse racism hatred pushing, ability to defend or express my true opinions without someone trying to get me fired denying/canceling, baby-murdering moronic Left.

Anyone with any brains can see moderation is the key, not extremism, but then whoever said most of society has any real brains?

 

[gene]

A followup article I linked to this forum thread:

Is Home Theater As We Knew It – Dead?

Home theater is accessible for almost everyone today and is easier to use and more affordable than ever. But are true home theaters a thing of the past? Read on to find out.

www.audioholics.com

 

[Bobby Bass]

A followup article I linked to this forum thread:

Is Home Theater As We Knew It – Dead?

Home theater is accessible for almost everyone today and is easier to use and more affordable than ever. But are true home theaters a thing of the past? Read on to find out.

www.audioholics.com

Great article thanks. It matches my experience over the years. I now have an upgraded 2 channel system in the same room that had my 7.2 home theater system and the family is watching the 2 main TVs with Sonos 1.1 systems. Stream both TV since I cut the cable and most of my music. Agree it’s a great time to listen to music and watch the screen.

 

[MrBoat]

Sales/marketers have rooted every penny (too many noncontributing hands in the pies now) there is from industry. Is why DIY also costs as much as it does now. Used to really be able to save substantially with DIY, but no more.

One of the biggest things I dislike about modern sales outlets is that they are all forced to pay what the manufacturer tells them they must so as not to undercut other affiliated distributors. If you are creative with your overhead, you are not allowed to pass on your savings to the customer and it basically kills any real competitiveness with all but the largest bulk purchasers. It ended up being about whatever minor differences for better service being the deciding factor, and that's about all us consumers are allowed to quibble over.

Internet direct is yet another joke. Avoiding distributorships should save a LOT of cost, yet ID companies products are relatively competitively priced with their outlet dwelling counterparts. So basically, they are just keeping the savings for themselves, and claiming that their products values are just worth that much more.

I'm out of the market for good. I'd rather let new product buyers deal with it, let them guinea pig it for me, and then just pick it up used further down the road. I'm still a good 10 years behind in the technology, to where dated things are still like new to me. How can I do this? Because audio tech really hasn't advanced all that far, so the basics are still valid.

 

[Tankini]

There is 0 Home audio store front's here. Use to have half a dozen 20 years ago. At least a dozen that sold TVs and You could get it serviced all gone now since Wal Mart, Lowes, etc, moved in. They all went out of business eventually. Not just home audio the mom and pop locally owned supermarkets they're just about gone too there's only a few left.

 

[Verdinut]

IMO governments should start to tighten merger controls, without which we might end up with several monopolistic markets. In a purely monopolistic model, the monopoly firm can restrict output, raise prices, and enjoy super-normal profits in the long run.

 

[Mikado463]

IMO governments should start to tighten merger controls, without which we might end up with several monopolistic markets. In a purely monopolistic model, the monopoly firm can restrict output, raise prices, and enjoy super-normal profits in the long run.

I know it well, my industry (railroading) has seen just that post the Penn Central merger of '68

 

[crazyfingers]

Anyone within reasonable driving distance of Framingham MA should give these guys a visit. I started buying stuff from them in the late 1970's and they are still around and doing OK so far as I can tell. They have a nice listening room, do installs, sell used stuff and new.

I had a long period when I didn't upgrade anything. Kids and stuff. But when I got back into the market I was glad they were still around. I'll be visiting them tomorrow to pick up my NAD Amp.

The manager who sold me my Allison Three speakers around 1978 is still there.

Natural Sound (508) 879-3556

Turn your Metro West, MA home into one featuring music in any room—including outdoors—, a killer home theater and whatever your imagine for your audio/video nee

natural-sound.com

 

[Cos]

My dealer in Naperville IL, closed it's doors. I had been buying from him for over 20 years. I have had success with Simply Stereo in Palatine IL and working with the dealers I have met on this site and others. Nothing matches the experience of shopping in person, but it is much more important to buy from who you trust.

 

[Kleinst]

Sales/marketers have rooted every penny (too many noncontributing hands in the pies now) there is from industry. Is why DIY also costs as much as it does now. Used to really be able to save substantially with DIY, but no more.

One of the biggest things I dislike about modern sales outlets is that they are all forced to pay what the manufacturer tells them they must so as not to undercut other affiliated distributors. If you are creative with your overhead, you are not allowed to pass on your savings to the customer and it basically kills any real competitiveness with all but the largest bulk purchasers. It ended up being about whatever minor differences for better service being the deciding factor, and that's about all us consumers are allowed to quibble over.

Internet direct is yet another joke. Avoiding distributorships should save a LOT of cost, yet ID companies products are relatively competitively priced with their outlet dwelling counterparts. So basically, they are just keeping the savings for themselves, and claiming that their products values are just worth that much more.

I'm out of the market for good. I'd rather let new product buyers deal with it, let them guinea pig it for me, and then just pick it up used further down the road. I'm still a good 10 years behind in the technology, to where dated things are still like new to me. How can I do this? Because audio tech really hasn't advanced all that far, so the basics are still valid.

To this point, as part of a killer package I got used recently was included a Denon 4300. I have a Denon 4700. I went to do comparisons on these two AVRs and realized that other than one 8K HDMI port, they are really close to the same. The DAC chip might be slightly better. But both 9 channel (11 preouts). Both have Atmos which I use. Both compatable with the Audyssey app. Both the same power. And that's 4 year/models apart. So it's true you can still do well on the used market if you are agressive and get lucky.

I will say that there are also a lot of myopic people on the used market who think their stuff is worth a ton!

 

[Bobby Bass]

Anyone within reasonable driving distance of Framingham MA should give these guys a visit. I started buying stuff from them in the late 1970's and they are still around and doing OK so far as I can tell. They have a nice listening room, do installs, sell used stuff and new.

I had a long period when I didn't upgrade anything. Kids and stuff. But when I got back into the market I was glad they were still around. I'll be visiting them tomorrow to pick up my NAD Amp.

The manager who sold me my Allison Three speakers around 1978 is still there.

Natural Sound (508) 879-3556

Turn your Metro West, MA home into one featuring music in any room—including outdoors—, a killer home theater and whatever your imagine for your audio/video nee

natural-sound.com

Good to know thanks. I’ve shopped at Safe and Sound in Chicopee, MA and their setup is great. Online too. They Have an extensive display and listening rooms they can setup with the equipment you want to listen to before buying. I started as a kid shopping at Tech Hi Fi in Worcester that was started by a few guys from WPI. They were jerks because I was a kid with little money but I loved stopping by and checking out the equipment. Actually bought something once and they screwed me And wouldn’t let me return it. Wasn’t sad when they went out of business. Get treated differently at stores now that I’m old and they figure I can afford what I’m looking at.

 

[crazyfingers]

Tech Hi Fi

Somehow that name rings a bell. I didn't leave the Natick/Framingham area much to shop. I wonder if they had a branch around there? Between Tweeter and Natural Sound I found what I needed but somehow I recall the Tech Hi Fi name. But I wouldn't have gone all the way to Worcester. Radio ads maybe...

Anyway, Natural Sound opens at 11am and I'll shortly be on the road to get my NAD C 298 Amp.

 

[MrBoat]

To this point, as part of a killer package I got used recently was included a Denon 4300. I have a Denon 4700. I went to do comparisons on these two AVRs and realized that other than one 8K HDMI port, they are really close to the same. The DAC chip might be slightly better. But both 9 channel (11 preouts). Both have Atmos which I use. Both compatable with the Audyssey app. Both the same power. And that's 4 year/models apart. So it's true you can still do well on the used market if you are agressive and get lucky.

I will say that there are also a lot of myopic people on the used market who think their stuff is worth a ton!

I have noticed used gear prices coming down, though, and items that were once coveted as collectors items, sitting on the auction block much longer now. I think buyers are either getting wise to it, or the current state of the economy has us in a more favorable buyers situation, at least for the time being.

 

[crazyfingers]

Tech Hi Fi

Yup. When I was at Natural Sound today the guys there confirmed that there was one just up the road from them in Framingham. There were a bunch around MA and NE. One of the guys worked there for a while. They went out of business. I got the sense that the bosses were not well liked.

They also told me that there is a repair shop in Hanson, MA in southeast MA operating under the name Tech Hi Fi. Totally different company. I googled it up and it looks like they've expanded into a fully equipment retail store and also has a Strawberries inside, and still repair vintage equipment. Google Map tells me it's a 40 minute drive. I called them. The repair guy is on vacation. But I wonder if it's worth getting that Carver M400 amp fixed. My guess is no but doesn't hurt to ask.

Tech Hifi - Stereo Repair, Vintage Turntable, Vintage Speakers

Retail vintage audio store specializing in stereo repair and restoration of turntables, speakers, amplifiers, cassette and reel to reel decks.

www.techhifi.com

 

[davidscott]

Idiotic Right? Yes, some of them are idiots. But then there's also the 'I don't know WTF gender I am (because I apparently can't see what's between my legs) so I'll just make up 100 more and try to cram them down society's throat' (denying biological science while claiming it's the other side that denies "science"), socialism/communism mandate loving, reverse racism hatred pushing, ability to defend or express my true opinions without someone trying to get me fired denying/canceling, baby-murdering moronic Left.

Anyone with any brains can see moderation is the key, not extremism, but then whoever said most of society has any real brains?

Moderation is the key. Too bad our citizens can't embrace it.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Yup. When I was at Natural Sound today the guys there confirmed that there was one just up the road from them in Framingham. There were a bunch around MA and NE. One of the guys worked there for a while. They went out of business. I got the sense that the bosses were not well liked.

They also told me that there is a repair shop in Hanson, MA in southeast MA operating under the name Tech Hi Fi. Totally different company. I googled it up and it looks like they've expanded into a fully equipment retail store and also has a Strawberries inside, and still repair vintage equipment. Google Map tells me it's a 40 minute drive. I called them. The repair guy is on vacation. But I wonder if it's worth getting that Carver M400 amp fixed. My guess is no but doesn't hurt to ask.

Tech Hifi - Stereo Repair, Vintage Turntable, Vintage Speakers

Retail vintage audio store specializing in stereo repair and restoration of turntables, speakers, amplifiers, cassette and reel to reel decks.

www.techhifi.com

Cool Let us know how the amp sounds. Not surprised about the bosses based on my experience. Agree Nothing wrong with asking. May have to check them out. I’ve been waiting to have the amp from one of my old Cambridge SoundWorks T500 tower powered speakers repaired since April and the repair guy I sent it to has unfortunately had some health issues. Tried a local guy before that and he did nothing expect chip and mark up the flawless finish. Ugh!

 

[crazyfingers]

Let us know how the amp sounds

My post on the amp is here. It's been a few more hours of playing all my favorite songs for testing sound quality and I'm liking it more and more.

And in terms of functionality, these 12V Triggers are new to me and I love it. I start playing a song on the NAD preamp and the power amp snaps on flawlessly.

New power amp time

I got the NAD C 298 today and set it up. For the time being I don't plan to stack it with the NAD C 658 Preamp/Streamer. The streamer is getting great reception now on the top shelf. The Turntable is not in an ideal spot. I lack furniture to change things at the moment but it needs to be close...

forums.audioholics.com

 

[Bobby Bass]

Checked out the website and they don’t service CSW powered speakers. Oh well. Nothing lasts forever but I will never buy powered speakers ever again. Buyers beware!

 

[crazyfingers]

Unfortunate

 

[MrBoat]

Checked out the website and they don’t service CSW powered speakers. Oh well. Nothing lasts forever but I will never buy powered speakers ever again. Buyers beware!

While I also would typically avoid powered speakers for that very reason, I have had a pair of JBL LSR305s that have been on continuously at work for about 6 years now. Still, I buy equipment expecting 20 years out of it so I doubt they will make that.

Here you can see them peeking at me through the work project. I like that the XLR cables don't pick up the noise from the welder's high frequency function. The HF makes compasses and such spin wildly and interferes with regular FM radio, otherwise. They sound pretty darn good seing as they were only around $200 a pair on sale back then.