Home Theater Product Buying

[gene]

We would like to know what influences your product buying decisions most. Please feel free to comment if your reason(s) aren't listed in our poll options.

 

[JJMP50]

Gravitational Influence

In reality it is a combination of all of the above. I usually start with the forum discussions, then read every review I can find, then the demo.

 

[Takeereasy]

For myself price (value) is probably the most important factor, but I still value the opinions of others and I've only ever bought one piece of AV equipment without a demo.

 

[kiran_sham]

I got good inputs from this discussion forum

I almost landed nowhere when I bought a Bose speaker system and then found that the users did not have too many good things to say about it in this discussion forum. I came across this forum only when I needed some help trying to set up the system. I just returned back the Bose system and bought Klipsch+Polk speakers on a SALE. I am very happy about the performance now.

 

[claudermilk]

It's really a combination. Price narrows down what's available within the budget, then reviews & forum discussions help narrow that down a bit (usually--sometimes it works the other way!). Finally the demos of the final short list is waht makes the final buying decision.

 

[sjdgpt]

Printed material, whether it is an advertisement, or product review, is almost always the first factor.

Something to read and thing about.

Yes, product reviews are very important, and typically more so than manufacturer's literature. But, literature from a highly respected company, especially literature that compares their own product lines, can be even more useful.

 

[sjdgpt]

Ooops, the other factors.


WAF, MAF, GAF

Wife, mother, girlfriend ..... acceptance factor.


Depth of Wallet

I guess that one is always self explanitory.

 

[Privateer]

The Moons Gravitational Pull on the Earth

I could not resist.

 

[mcwilson]

Tough call

Reviews, Forum discussions, demos...

Man those are like 1A, 1B, and 1C. In any order

 

[sudyke]

Definately the Moon's gravitational pull on the Earth! I see something I like... look just a littlebit around, and then I buy it if I have enough money. For many men shopping for HT stuff is like teenage girls shopping for clothes... They look at 156 different types, in 70 different shops, and at the end they go back to the first shop and buy the first thing they looked at.

HIT ME!!!

 

[algernon]

I picked product reviews, but forum discussions and user reviews play a large role. Also price is certainly a factor.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Well since I'm getting ready to make my first real purchase I'd have to say forums have been the most help, its nice to hear what other people have to say about a product because I think consumer opinion is extremely important.

 

[WooHoo]

Gotta see or hear it before I buy it. The reviews and the forum discussion help steer me toward or away from some products. Once I have narrowed it down to a couple of choices, then I validate them in the forum through either posting questions or searching threads already covering the products. Works for me!

 

[wilmeland]

hands on a "must"

Reviews & forums are interesting & a good starting point, but ultimately I believe my eyes, ears & sense of touch. You have to play it & play with it!

 

[mitch57]

Because I look at a combination of things I didn't even vote. I first do research. But sometimes I hear about or see and actually hear a demo and then I start doing research on that particular product.

In a nut shell.... it's like many of the posts on this thread. It's a combination of some or all of the listed factors.

 

[JoeE SP9]

I guess I'm just old fashioned. I have to hear a piece of equipment preferrably in my listening room before I decide to buy. I have been at this hobby for a long time; since 1967, so I have a lot of background to rely on. In the past few years I've been either building my own gear or modifying gear I purchased. One thing that has kept me off of the replace/upgrade track is that I have never owned a receiver. I prefer the greater flexibility separates allow. Also, separates are usually not replaced with a new model every year.