Try this for grins. Go to Devore Fidelity’s website and scroll through each authorized dealer, hitting the hyperlink to view each dealer’s site and lines. With some exceptions you will see that the vast majority carry what I call the small niche brands such as Well Tempered, Shindo, Leben, Sugden, et al. If audio dealers were movie theaters, they would be the small art houses rather than AMC Loews. These dealers are doing what they do for the love of the pursuit or they would not be selling such niche brands. By and large the owners of these shops will do whatever they can to please the customer but just don’t have the resources to cover the potential loss of income if a product is not available for audition because is out on loan and the inevitable wear and tear to the exterior finish of a delicate loudspeaker from being carted in and out of the store. I am not in the industry but having visited my Devore dealer selling out of his home as a pursuit of love supplementing his day job, this is my impression.
Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home
So, I had a great experience listening to some Devore 0/96 speakers yesterday. The challenge for me is that the room I heard them in is wildly different than any other room I’d ever listen in. (I’ll share a photo, below.) I really have no idea if spending $13k plus on these speakers would work out. I’d need to try them at home.
For all I know, these dealers might be ok with me trying some speakers at home. I don’t know and am not yet ready to ask.
But I’m curious whether folks here have any stories to tell about the reactions they’ve gotten when they’ve asked to try speakers at their home. If you have a story, especially if it’s a more expensive speaker, I’d love to hear your story. How did you convince them? If they turned you down, what was the reason? Did you agree?