Always wondered about how to get 'Hands On' with Audio

[timetohunt]

As I keep reading the endless information and disinformation on audio products, system setups, pairing components etc.

I have always wondered how many of you are able to have so much emperical knowledge on the subject. The 'hands on' if you will. I realize than many of you have been at this for a long time and some may even be in the industry itself.

I keep hearing about 'auditions'. I can't seem to be able to relate what I hear in store x to what is going to happen in my listening room. I simply don't have enough reference data in my brain to make sense of it. Do you establish relationships with audio boutiques in such that they allow you to take a unit home and try it out? I thought there might be audio clubs to help with this as well. Not much around here as I am way back in the woods, the nearest large cities are Baltimore and DC both over 100 miles away.

I patronize the one semi high end audio store that is in Hagertown MD. But their brands are limited but far and away above anything else. And I don't think they will let me take home a Mcintosh amp just to try it out. Although I have given them $4k worth of business on speakers and cables over the past year. Should I ask?

Basically, I read as much as I can, as you know that is not the final word with an audio purchase. But what I really want to do right now is to try out some disc players, amps, and receivers with my speaker set up. Not sure how all of you get to try all the stuff out to know so much. How?

 

[jagxtype]

Tell them its a condition of you purchasing their product. And be nice about it.

 

[Phil Taylor]

Tell them its a condition of you purchasing their product. And be nice about it.

I agree - politely remind them of the $4K you've spent with them over the past year and state that they stand to gain even more sales from your considered purchases. Listen very critically in-store to media you have brought from home and with which you are VERY familiar to find what you really want to audition at home as I doubt they would let you take more than one or two (unless you become real good friends with the manager).

 

[mtrycrafts]

As I keep reading the endless information and disinformation on audio products, system setups, pairing components etc.

I have always wondered how many of you are able to have so much emperical knowledge on the subject. The 'hands on' if you will. I realize than many of you have been at this for a long time and some may even be in the industry itself.

I keep hearing about 'auditions'. I can't seem to be able to relate what I hear in store x to what is going to happen in my listening room. I simply don't have enough reference data in my brain to make sense of it. Do you establish relationships with audio boutiques in such that they allow you to take a unit home and try it out? I thought there might be audio clubs to help with this as well. Not much around here as I am way back in the woods, the nearest large cities are Baltimore and DC both over 100 miles away.

I patronize the one semi high end audio store that is in Hagertown MD. But their brands are limited but far and away above anything else. And I don't think they will let me take home a Mcintosh amp just to try it out. Although I have given them $4k worth of business on speakers and cables over the past year. Should I ask?

Basically, I read as much as I can, as you know that is not the final word with an audio purchase. But what I really want to do right now is to try out some disc players, amps, and receivers with my speaker set up. Not sure how all of you get to try all the stuff out to know so much. How?

Also, may want to ask if you can bring your speakers to the store, then you could try whatever there with their acoustics and component? Or take your receiver as well?

Friends?

You have to be very careful how you compare anything as human bias gets in the way at every corner, no ifs about it and it has no 'off' switch.

You may want to read more about what makes component different or audibly the same?