Having worked in a local shop you'd be surprised at how little playing time most demo speakers get.Even the most popular models only get short burst of use even on busy days.It's not like there hooked up playing all day.The most likely source of potential damage is less than carefull employees knocking them about.So get a feel for your dealers concern for the eqipment he sells.Take a peek in the listening rooms to see if care was taken in set up and cableing.It won't take long to figure where the shops heart is and yes well cared for demo gear is a good investment.
Buying Dealer Demos
There are great deals to be had by buying speakers that have been used as dealer demos. The upside is the price, as well as the fact that you get the full warranty and support of your local dealer. The downside is if these speakers are used as the dealers main two-channel demo system, they will get usage in one year equivalent to 3 to 4 years in my home. The speakers I am buying are very high quality speakers, and have been driven by excellent electronics. They also sound great! Should I be concerned about the overall lifespan/performance of these speakers?