Poll: Do you listen before buying speakers?

Reach out and touch the speaker, not the driver. This is a Thiel SCS4.

(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)

Buying music or books online makes a lot of sense, but I'd draw the line at speakers.

Maybe there's no place close enough to go to for an in-store demo--a lot of shops closed their doors--precisely because too many people used their service to audition gear, and then bought online to get a lower price.

Nice, so now there are fewer places to hear speakers before you buy them. So even if you're reasonably happy with what you bought online you never had the luxury of comparing one speaker against another and picking the best of your choices. Good enough is good enough.

Over the past 30 years--16 as a high-end audio salesman and 14 as a paid audio reviewer--I've listened to thousands of speakers. My sales experience gave me a deep understanding of how all sorts of people, not just audiophiles, listen to and buy speakers.

Some buyers need to touch the speaker, get a sense of its build quality, and some buyers, even after reading a review, are surprised by the speaker's size or some other quality. It's one thing to read about a speaker or peruse its specifications, seeing and hearing it for yourself is so much better.

I draw upon those experiences when I review speakers, but I still can't predict how each reader will react to their sound. Everyone hears differently, and preferences are all over the place.

Some customers want lots of bass, some just want to play loud, or quietly, some care most abut stereo imaging. One guy plays dance music, another only opera. But most speaker shoppers can't articulate what they want from a speaker. That's the rub, and why reviews, even ones as well written as mine for CNET and magazines, may not be the best possible guide to the right speaker.

"Good sound" is just too vague to be of much help to anyone. You have to listen to know for sure.

Did you hear your speakers before you bought them?

Did you get to hear and compare a few speakers before you made your purchase?

Did you go to a store to listen, but bought online?

Did you settle on a speaker based solely on reviews or user comments?

Are you happy with the speakers you bought online, did they measure up to your expectations?

Or did you make the effort to go to a few stores and listen for yourself?

[technologyRules]

I was able to listen to my speakers first, but the salesman had the volume up too high for my taste, and I forgot to bring my own music. This last item is really important, listening to music you're familiar with really helps in the decision process.

Of course speakers in a store environment will sound different than in your home too -- so perhaps buying without listening is just the same.

[cheinonen]

All the speakers that I've bought have been after reviewing them in a store, though I did buy a pair of them used online later after I initially heard them in store (I had moved since I reviewed them in-store and had no local dealer at that point). I've gone listening with friends a few times and we rarely agree on the speakers that we like the best. In the past, I loved the sound of the B&W 600 series, where my friend hated them and preferred the sound from Monitor Audio speakers. I believe the only pair we actually agreed on were some Martin Logan Aeon's that we both loved and couldn't afford at the time. The sound is such a subjective thing, however, that I can't imagine buying online before listening in a store, unless I was certain I could return them easily.

[feverboy777]

Yes I listen first. I bought a pair of Quad 57's years ago after hearing them at a friends house.

I would never tell anybody to go to a Big Box store and put there ears up to the box and listen to what they hear. ;-)

Since everybody's hearing is different I tell people don't take anyones word for it, bring your own CD/LP's and give it a listen.

[bob.mcclenahan]

I purchased a set of Ushers after listening to them in the store. I got them and didn't like them anymore in my room. I don't think the speakers are poor; I think my room stinks. So even listening to speakers before you buy doesn't guarantee you'll like them in your room.

[one_flat_monkey]

I would rather shower in prison than purchase speakers without first listening to them, with the possible exception of earbuds, which aren't exactly speakers, but function as such.

I agree that it's dicey purchasing speakers without auditioning them in your own home. A couple of stores I have visited let you do that, on a 24 hours trial basis. But you had to sign over the title to your home.

[Sugith1]

I've only bought serious speakers after listening to them in store. Luckily I live in a major metropolitan center which has number of stores, though only a few worth purchasing from, (ie. not big box stores.) BUT they still don't sound the "same" at home with my system in my room than they do in the store. (Just as good, but subjectively different.)

That's why you should try and patronize stores that will at least give you an opportunity to exchange them.

And online shipping costs? The cost of shipping can really eat into your "savings" if you need to exchange them.

[half_n_half17]

Yep I listened to about 15 different speakers before I decided on a set of Dali's. I learned a ton about what I like in a speaker in the process.

[one_flat_monkey]

my brother lives in Finland...

we shopped several speakers and he purchased Dalis. sweet!

[coprock]

Speaker placement, furniture and room and wall treatments are all essential to dialing in your preferred sound. Purchasing the speakers is only the beginning of finding great sound. This is particularly true of subwoofers and finding the best placement, volume and low-pass filter setting. It can take significant time but is worth the effort.

[buzzvader]

No, I originally didn't. My first system was purchased from Warehouse Sound in California and I changed the speakers to large walnut Advents. That was in 1973. I still have them and they still sound great. I found out, however, I liked Magneplanars even more, along with Ampzilla and Audio Research amplifiers. Nothing quite sounds the same once you get it home, no matter what you spend. Most equipment sounds pretty good, but never the same under ideal conditions. I still think vinyl sounds better than CD's or DVD's.
Everyone hears a little differently or a little prejudicially, whatever the recommendation.

[John72953]

After much research and audioning at a number of high-end audio dealers, I finally settled on TOTEM speakers, although I hadn't decided on a particular model. As such, I did more auditiong and listened to their ARRO, STTAF and HAWK floorstanders. I had a positive interaction with all three, but in the end choose the STTAF's. Once I brought them home, it took me another 6 months or so to get their placement right, whether or not to incorporate toe-in, experimentting with different cables, bi-amping, etc.

Point being, the auditioning really only starts once you bring them home!

[TXinD76121]

I've never purchased online after using a store to audition. But where exactly am I supposed to listen to speakers? The only "audio" store near me is proud that they still maintain two "sound only" rooms (in a sea of home theater). In those rooms are maybe three brands of speakers, at multiple price points for every brand. All of which are basically more expensive versions of what Circuit City might have carried. And none of which I'm at all interested in.

I actually need new speakers right now. I purchased my current ones as a stopgap because the shopping experience was so frustrating LAST time. I meant to keep them for six months while I continued shopping. That was 1998. This time I'm researching online, and will probably have to buy without hearing--I'll just have to buy something I think I might like, try it, and decide whether I can live with it; if I can't, I'll have to sell and buy something else. Frustrating, but there really isn't much alternative.

Hi-fi has never been easy to buy but I think it's gotten much harder in recent years. Maybe if you live in NYC or Los Angeles it's still okay.

I've been helping friends buy speakers and thinking about my own tastes that I've gotten pretty organized about how I evaluate speakers. One of the big thing I realized is that people like different things about music and that influences the type of gear they will like (perhaps speakers above all). Give you two contrasts - I and my father-in-law both love symphony orchestras. But I like to sit up front in the first few rows, where I can hear the various instruments and the sound is loud and dynamic. My father-in-law by contrast likes to sit the last few rows where he can hear the blend of all the music together (perhaps influenced by his time as a violinist).

As you can imagine we shop for speakers a little differently. I pay a lot of attention to resolution and dynamics, and often bring recordings that allow me to test out places where speakers are traditionally weak. Most of the time I'll trade-off resolution for imaging. My father-in-law listens to the overall balance of the speaker and pays more attention to the sound stage. Neither approach is "RIGHT", the important thing is to recognize what parts you like. Unfortunately this can take some time, and I churned through some gear as my ear became better educated.

I only bought speakers without listening to them once (because I heard others in the same line and thought these would be as good - wrong!), can't recommend against this strongly enough At the very least make sure you can return them. More than that, you really need to compare them to others. Of course no one store will carry all the brands you are interested in. The way I solved that problem the last time I was seriously speaker shopping (about 4 year ago, looking for home theater bookshelf speakers) was to carry a pair of speakers with me so I could compare them (Polk Lsi 7).

I try to respect the local stores, and purchase from them. But the speaker I ended up buying was discontinued so I had to purchase them through ebay instead (several sets of Klipsch RB-7). Once I had the first set at home, I compared them to my long time reference speakers (now almost 30 year-old ADS 810) and found they had many similarities. Both have great micro-dynamics, very good transient bass (although not so deep that adding a good sub will help), and a very revealing high end. The last is a bit controversial, but it helps me enjoy my music - ultimately the most important part.

[cjguest]

Especially with pricier models, I think that one should absolutely audition speakers rather than just purchasing on specs alone. Even though the in-shop comparison isn't *exactly* the same as one's listening room, taking some familiar music to the shop and spending some time listening will go a long way towards making the decision easier.

[sharpnine]

I agree you need to audition speakers, although I think this is true for all components. But you really live with, and interact with speakers, more than any other components. How they work in a room is important, but it is also true that actually bringing home and auditioning a pair is difficult. The good full-range ones are large, and setup can be time consuming and difficult.

The thing is, I find that almost any audio component doesn't sound its best when I first set it up. Despite the obvious need to run-in, I find that it is only after weeks or months of adjustments and tweaks, and perhaps changing my own way of listening, that I fully appreciate a nice pair of speakers or any other component.

So the key is getting speakers you can live with, and making the best decision you can before making a commitment--finding something you are highly likely to appreciate over time. I like if possible to buy local, supporting a local business, and have a place to return them if they needed to be repaired.

I purchased a new pair of speakers recently, at about $4000, way more than I ever spent on any audio component. I ended up with Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus. I made a CD compilation of a variety of my favorite and well known tracks, and brought that into a local Magnolia store, with my wife in tow (spending this much I wanted her agreement). My older speakers (B&W 600 series) performed well on small groups but not so well on symphony or big band, more complex stuff. I audtioned a variety of speakers, in a good environment, including some planar, and some similar to the SFs.

I liked the SFs for the sound, they did well on all tracks, but I also loved the looks, the italian design, and felt I would be happy to share a space with these unique speakers. Listening at home I came to realize they did have a more laid back feel than I was used to (back of the auditorium rather than right up front) but I got used to that difference quickly and am now very happy with them.

It does take some experience in selection, but also patience and diligence. I invested in really good speaker cable, stone supports under the speakers, lots of experimenting with placement. It all made a difference. Amplification makes a huge difference with speakers--there needs to be some synergy there. I run the SFs with a Rogue Audio tube amp.

Now the local dealer Magnolia is out of business--oh well I did my best to support them.

[54321ron]

I bought speakers online without first listening, twice, and am quite satisfied with both purchases.

First, I bought a pair of Magnepan MMGW. I relied on great reviews, low price, & in-home trial period. Now I have an all Maggie system for HT, (MC1s (bought locally at dealer) for LR, 2 pairs of MMGws for center & surrround) & I love it.

Second, I bought the NHT Xd 2.1 system at a 50% discount. I decided to buy this system even though I never heard it, relying on reviews & reading what I can on various forums. I also listened to different systems locally before buying the Xd including other active systems that Klipsch & Definitive had for about the same price. In the end, considering the innovation & design of the Xd & the incredible price, I thought it was worth the risk. I have no regrets. I think I got a top notch system. After I got it home, I took a listen to the other speakers I heard before buying & they were not in the same class.

[arjungandhi]

Thankfully in Toronto there are a few good audio stores, and I have had the privilege of testing before buying. Frankly I don't feel comfortable without doing so. Now headphones are a different story; those I'm more flexible.

[osynnek]

It's been more than 10 years since I bought my last set of speakers. The speakers I ended up buying were reviewed in Stereophile, or maybe they weren't, but I have been unable to obtain a copy of the review. However, buying speakers was a 6+ month process of visiting the store(s), bringing my own listening material and getting the dealer to set up a system similar to my home system and room size. Never was I pressured into buying anything. But when the right sound hit, even my wife noticed. The dealer was so good that to this day, I still buy most of my equipment or recommend others to them. Certainly not the absolute best price, but the highest quality in salesmanship and product. The speakers work so well in my home that I have not had a need to upgrade speakers despite having upgraded almost every component everywhere else. However, my latest upgrade in amplification (YBA) has exposed the limits of these speakers so the cycle may begin again.

[stepyourgameup]

Aperion let's you audition speakers in your room for 30 days and will pay for the return shipping if you don't like them. How cool is that?

[seehunt]

My first system purchase was directed by the dealer, as it often is. Dealer's can manipulate speaker selection easily by manipulating volumes, placement etc.. This does not mean that the choice was a poor one. Twenty years later I am still happy with the purchase. Today, as I begin my quest to upgrade, the truth seems to be that most speakers sound so much better than my old ones. They are driven by better receivers or amps, and have newer and better speaker technology. Yet I go ome after a listening session and spend some time with my old system and have to admit the differences are subtle at best and my old system still sounds very good. There are fewer and fewer places to listen, most "dealers" are really just installers and do not have a listening room. THey know they can't go wrong by recommending one of the highly rated systems, so that is what they do. There is certainly logic to their approach. Despite the fact that there are always people who will disagree, I certainly do not have the "ears" and experience to tell a great system from a dog the way that the professional reviewer's such as yourself do.

[DaveOCP]

I buy my speakers from Audiogon, generally without listening to them first. I would never buy used speakers on eBay - you get "great condition" speakers with crinkled tweeters, scratched and damaged finishes, etc.

Audiogon is a completely different experience. The folks on there take GREAT care of their equipment, and are very upfront about even the most minor blemishes and issues. Used speakers tend to sell for 1/2 to 1/3 of their original price, so I can get much better speakers than I would otherwise be able to afford. I can set them up, experiment with them for as long as I like, and if I ultimately don't like them, I just put them back up for sale and generally recover everything I paid originally. It's a good system. Unless a dealer has a room that's exactly like yours, with your furniture and equipment, auditioning is almost pointless.