High end audio is no different than other high cost consumer products. While there may be synergy between manufacturer's products (Wilson & Krell, Magnepan & Audio Research, Avalon & Spectral, etc), marketing factors are also a major influence in what dealer carries what product lines. There are only a small number of high profile, high end manufacturers and within any given market, an even smaller number of high end dealers. If you're Krell, is it good business to sell from a dealer that also carries Spectral, Mark Levinson and Rowland? Why would Audio Research sell from a dealer who carries Conrad-Johnson? It would be great for the consumer to be able to go into one place and hear every major brand, but direct competition is not in the manufacturers', nor the dealers', best interest. BTW, this arrangement is not some diabolical conspiracy, it's simply good business practice.
Some of the biggest audio places carry..
Stores that are ultra high end like Goodwins Audio And Overture Audio and Progressive Audio and many others seem to carry Avalon and Spectral, They seem to prefer it to all the Krells and Levinson and Pass and Conrad-Johnson And Audio Research, which more of these stores also carry. They all of coarse carry MIT. I think that when you get into ultra high end it becomes more a factor of buying as a system. And I think Avalon/Spectral/MIT are some of the best sound money can buy. Anyone agree? Spectral gear is very analytical, but when their hooked to a laid back Avalon, and "smoothed" out by MIT, their the most detailed sound out there