Speaker Auditioning--Tucson, AZ--Frustrating

[Matt34]

What a bummer it is around here to actually try and find shops to do proper evaluations. The only dealer within 150miles that carry B&W and Paradigm basically do not stock anything in-store to demo. They have NOTHING at all for Paradigm and they don't usually stock the Sig series so I would have to order them anyways. The only thing they have for B&W is some floor model 804 and 803d, along with some of the CM series.

I may still go up there to give the 804 and CM5 a listen to as the 804 should be close to the 805s and the CM5 just because I haven't heard anything from that series and they are in my price range. That shop is pretty much it for Tucson and the surrounding areas. I would have to extend my search up to the Phoenix area to find anything else.

Edit: My blackberry scribble needed some fixing.

 

[radridd]

Same in my area. The dealers have empty showrooms with lots of literature.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You'd be surprised but even living in the greatest city in the world finding B&W dealer with stock and showroom is not easy task.

 

[Matt34]

I'm sure the economy has played a role in this problem for the past year or two.

 

[jostenmeat]

Hey what's on the audition wishlist as far as B&M brands, outside of Paradigm and B&W?

If it makes you feel any better, I listened to a ton of stuff (well, IMO), and the 804s probably were the winners at the price point. I was very close to buying them. They can image like a mofo man. I had to put my ear to the center to make sure it wasn't playing. The person who followed me into the room afterwards did the same thing to my amusement. They look nice too IMO, are not too large aesthetically like some competition, and it had the top score with my extremely accurate knuckle rap test. No, seriously, seems to be a very well built cabinet; I think I'd break my hand on it if I punched it, whereas with most speakers, it would be the other way around.

I think I'd like to hear some Vandersteen sometime, even if looks are not their forte.

 

[Matt34]

Hey what's on the audition wishlist as far as B&M brands, outside of Paradigm and B&W?

If it makes you feel any better, I listened to a ton of stuff (well, IMO), and the 804s probably were the winners at the price point. I was very close to buying them. They can image like a mofo man. I had to put my ear to the center to make sure it wasn't playing. The person who followed me into the room afterwards did the same thing to my amusement. They look nice too IMO, are not too large aesthetically like some competition, and it had the top score with my extremely accurate knuckle rap test. No, seriously, seems to be a very well built cabinet; I think I'd break my hand on it if I punched it, whereas with most speakers, it would be the other way around.

I think I'd like to hear some Vandersteen sometime, even if looks are not their forte.

They are the only "bontique" a/v shop outside of a Best Buy/Magnolia store in town that I'm aware of. It really is the wild, wild west out here. I'm sure even the demo 804s they have on the floor will be well out of my price range.

 

[jostenmeat]

They are the only "bontique" a/v shop outside of a Best Buy/Magnolia store in town that I'm aware of. It really is the wild, wild west out here. I'm sure even the demo 804s they have on the floor will be well out of my price range.

Hmrz. Well, I know people like to praise ID for having no middle-men, and what not, but IMO their greatest strength is being able to provide nice speakers for those that live in the boonies. Have you heard the Ascend Sierra1, or Salk bookshelves? I am within reasonable distance to a ton of stores, and yet those two brands would make my short wishlist to audition with what I'm guessing your budget is.

Sorry man. Again, if it makes you feel better, even if you DID locate some more authorized dealers, the odds that the room is terrible are rather significant, believe it or not.

 

[Matt34]

Hmrz. Well, I know people like to praise ID for having no middle-men, and what not, but IMO their greatest strength is being able to provide nice speakers for those that live in the boonies. Have you heard the Ascend Sierra1, or Salk bookshelves? I am within reasonable distance to a ton of stores, and yet those two brands would make my short wishlist to audition with what I'm guessing your budget is.

Sorry man. Again, if it makes you feel better, even if you DID locate some more authorized dealers, the odds that the room is terrible are rather significant, believe it or not.

I really wish I had the disposable cash and to do what KEW did and order a bunch of speakers at once and audition them in-house. He did it the right way....but damn if the right way isn't expensive!! Then add in the used market where your dollar can get you a bit more i.e. me wanting to listen to the 805s and Sig 2 because I could only afford them used.

Right now if I could get my ears on the following, it would be: B&W CM5, 805s, Paradigm Studio 20, Sig 2, Sierra1, Salks, Focal Chorus 807, Era D5 and Dynaudio Excite X12.

 

[Adam]

[RANT]
Matt, you must be talking about Wilson Audio. Those guys can suck it, as far as I'm concerned. You might recall me mentioning that the dealer who sold me the B&W sub lied to me/blew me off for two years after selling me a defective one that rattled, and they wouldn't do anything until I got B&W involved (I felt stupid for not thinking about contacting them earlier). That was them. Wilson's kept telling me that "they all do that." The B&W rep immediately informed me that they had a bad production run and that my serial number was from that run. I doubt it would have cost Wilson's anything but time to do the right thing, but they refused to do it.

Everything that they sold that could be bought somewhere else was more expensive in their store - significantly. When I lived by them, they sold some of the same gear as Circuit City but charged a lot more for it. Why? The "service." Yeah, I got serviced...but not how I wanted.
[/RANT]

Jerry's Audio that used to be just down the street from Wilson's was a nice place to shop, and I bought my Yamaha receiver from them. Too bad that they closed down.

 

[mtrycrafts]

They are the only "bontique" a/v shop outside of a Best Buy/Magnolia store in town that I'm aware of. It really is the wild, wild west out here. I'm sure even the demo 804s they have on the floor will be well out of my price range.

I wonder if the makers of those speakers would know who stocks the specific speakers you are interested in, then correlate the shops. Chances are that you will not find one store with both, not with the Internet marketplace being what it is.

 

[Matt34]

[RANT]
Matt, you must be talking about Wilson Audio. Those guys can suck it, as far as I'm concerned. You might recall me mentioning that the dealer who sold me the B&W sub lied to me/blew me off for two years after selling me a defective one that rattled, and they wouldn't do anything until I got B&W involved (I felt stupid for not thinking about contacting them earlier). That was them. Wilson's kept telling me that "they all do that." The B&W rep immediately informed me that they had a bad production run and that my serial number was from that run. I doubt it would have cost Wilson's anything but time to do the right thing, but they refused to do it.

Everything that they sold that could be bought somewhere else was more expensive in their store - significantly. When I lived by them, they sold some of the same gear as Circuit City but charged a lot more for it. Why? The "service." Yeah, I got serviced...but not how I wanted.
[/RANT]

Jerry's Audio that used to be just down the street from Wilson's was a nice place to shop, and I bought my Yamaha receiver from them. Too bad that they closed down.

Yup, they are the only ones I'm aware of and vaguely remember your issue with your old sub. I've been in there once before just browsing while waiting on my wife as she was at the Seas Chocolate store down the street. The guy I talked to on the phone today was nice and helpful but I'm mainly going there to just have a look-see. Never really planned on buying from them unless they have a smoking deal on some floor models.

 

[Adam]

Yup, they are the only ones I'm aware of and vaguely remember your issue with your old sub. I've been in there once before just browsing while waiting on my wife as she was at the Seas Chocolate store down the street. The guy I talked to on the phone today was nice and helpful but I'm mainly going there to just have a look-see. Never really planned on buying from them unless they have a smoking deal on some floor models.

Ewww. I remember that candy place. I'm still surprised that I never walked in there.

They were always really nice to me, too...until after I bought from them and got a defective unit. Then they couldn't get me out of the store fast enough. I still remember the owner finally flat out telling me that they were NOT going to do anything about my sub - in a fairly upset and rude way, actually. Well, apparently until B&W called them and told them to replace it. BTW, I don't think that I was ever a jerk to them, so it's not like I gave them some personal reason to treat me that way.

 

[MatthewB.]

Matt, after being born and raised in Tucson, I lasted one whole day after college till getting the hell out of there. Moved To Phoenix and have been much happier (btw more A/V boutiques)

Growing up there, I felt Tuscon only appealed to two types of people.

1. people with more money than common sense
2. College Sports fans.

I was neither, so spent all my high school and college days drinking and screwing I sensed if I didn't get out, I would be dead of cirrhosis and pondering why it burns when I pee. Granted Phoenix isnt all that much better, but there is alot more to do, but Phoenix comprises of two types of people.

1. Poor people who think they're rich and still have no common sense
2. Wanna be college sports fans who realize the UofAZ will always beat them to a pulp.

 

[Matt34]

BTW- does anyone know what Salk's return policy is? I don't see it on their site.

 

[Adam]

Growing up there, I felt Tuscon only appealed to two types of people.

1. people with more money than common sense
2. College Sports fans.

Come to think of it, I only moved here because my brother (who likes college sports) liked it here. I thought it was too brown.

Now I love it, yet I don't like college sports - guess that just confirms what you all have know for a while. Oh, and I don't have much money...

 

[griffinconst]

BTW- does anyone know what Salk's return policy is? I don't see it on their site.

Hey Matt...check with Swerd about all things Salk. Can you say fanboy?

 

[Matt34]

Hey Matt...check with Swerd about all things Salk. Can you say fanboy?

Yeah, I should PM him. I finally found a decent pic of the song surrounds with jsalk stands in one of the "standard" Walnut curly finishes.

I really like the way those look!! I can just imagine using that veneer on my sub as well!

 

[Warpdrv]

Walnut is spectacular when done right.... I favor it up there with Rosewood ...
And you really would do well with some songtowers or song surrounds, they are great sounding speakers, no question about it....

Get on audiocircle's salk thread or the thread at AVS and start asking for an audition in the area, heck I'm sure Jim will even contact them for you to see if someone will have some around.

 

[Matt34]

Walnut is spectacular when done right.... I favor it up there with Rosewood ...
And you really would do well with some songtowers or song surrounds, they are great sounding speakers, no question about it....

Get on audiocircle's salk thread or the thread at AVS and start asking for an audition in the area, heck I'm sure Jim will even contact them for you to see if someone will have some around.

The ST QWT are just over what I really feel comfortable spending plus I'm trying to focus my search on bookshelf speakers now, I think with my budget I'll get more for my money. I know you, Nuance and the rest of the WI crew really liked the Salks and that has stuck with me since they first hit mainstream around here.

 

[highfigh]

[RANT]
Matt, you must be talking about Wilson Audio. Those guys can suck it, as far as I'm concerned. You might recall me mentioning that the dealer who sold me the B&W sub lied to me/blew me off for two years after selling me a defective one that rattled, and they wouldn't do anything until I got B&W involved (I felt stupid for not thinking about contacting them earlier). That was them. Wilson's kept telling me that "they all do that." The B&W rep immediately informed me that they had a bad production run and that my serial number was from that run. I doubt it would have cost Wilson's anything but time to do the right thing, but they refused to do it.

Everything that they sold that could be bought somewhere else was more expensive in their store - significantly. When I lived by them, they sold some of the same gear as Circuit City but charged a lot more for it. Why? The "service." Yeah, I got serviced...but not how I wanted.
[/RANT]


Jerry's Audio that used to be just down the street from Wilson's was a nice place to shop, and I bought my Yamaha receiver from them. Too bad that they closed down.

Jerry's AV? On Camelback? Their site is still up:
http://www.jerrysav.com/wlk.html