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What’s really hurting the audio hobby?

Maybe it’s the audio dealer experience? Where else can newbies go to get started in this hobby. Isn't that where most of you got hooked?  Let me describe my latest visit to an audio store nearby. I won’t use the store name here, as that’s not the point.  Where I live there is really only one audio store left. That’s strange because I live in a very wealthy community. The Friday after Independence day, me and a friend went to this local audio store.  First time back there in years. We are both looking to upgrade. They have 3 audio rooms and two home theater rooms. The hi-end audio room (the store’s term) was an impressive room with extensive acoustic treatments. Mostly McIntosh gear. Sitting in the listening chair, you are looking at 600 watt Mac monoblocks running some nice tower speakers. A massive JL Audio Gotham subwoofer unit sat front and center facing the only listening chair. The McIntosh turntable was spun first. Sloooowww. It took my friend less than five seconds to point out the TT was running slow. The salesman had started to play Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here, and it was noticeably slow. So the salesman flipped the switch to 45 rpm. Yes, that happened. He figured out it was too fast all on his own. Fiddle and poke at the TT for a bit and then the salesman said- "I’ll let them know it’s broke". Then he said he would just stream some music from a server. Bass! All you could hear was bass, and NOT good bass. He turned the subs down a little when asked, but all you could hear was tubby, muddy bass. The big tower speakers were overpowered by the sub.  I really wanted to hear what the main speakers alone sounded like, but could not get the salesman to shut off the subs.  On to the mid-fi room (the store’s term). The salesman tried to play us two different turntables. Neither turntable worked. One would not power up, and one was not hooked up to a system at all. Let me point out we didn’t care what source they used. I did say we both run analog and digital sources. Nothing interesting in the mid-fi room the first time through. Next room (no name) was a wall of bookshelf and small towers run by a wide selection of integrated amps. Not bad sound from some. Again, we were told this is “streaming quality audio”. This was the third time he mentioned we were listening to streaming quality audio. I took a guess at what that meant and asked if we could hear higher quality audio. So he took us back to the mid-fi room. He popped in a CD.I could not tell what CD equipment was being used. I think a Rotel integrated was selected. Everything in the cabinet was black faced behind dark glass. Not sure what CD it was either, but since he only had one, I let it go.

Big change! The Paradigm towers were now making good sounds. A big difference from his “streaming quality” demo. Next we switched to a pair of GE Triton 1s. I seriously might get a pair! They make nice sounds. By far the best thing we heard. There was more that happened that contributed to a poor experience, but I will move on.

Here is my point- What would anyone new to the hobby think of that experience? It took two seasoned audio guys pushing the salesman for over an hour before he played anything worth listening to. Would you buy anything from this place. Would you send a newbie in there? Let me know if I'm off base in thinking these audio stores are killing themselves off by the way they do business. Or is it just my misfortune that I have not been in a good dealer showroom in years?

vinylfan62
mesch
3,394 posts
 
I agree with 8th-note in that there has never been a better time to be interested in this hobby. More choices as to sources, avenues of amplification, and speaker designs at all price levels. The avenues for acquiring the knowledge required have expanded. 

As to the change in percentage of the population that is interested in audio as a hobby, I am not sure. 
elliottbnewcombjr
5,118 posts
 
The dealer experience: stereo, cameras, table saws, anything involving good, better, best, fantastic is and has always been subject to the level of acquired knowledge, seller and buyer, and showroom experience.

Newbies, unprepared, then and now, are like fish in a barrel. And they are looking into a huge pandora's box, often talking to the Pied Piper of the moment.

I'm 71, I grew up during the growth of the industry, NYC: late 60's; 70's; 80's. My office was on 44th, 1 block from Stereo Alley (after it moved twice). Harvey's was the premier store 45th and 5th ave. Others scattered around the city. Leonard Radio was in the ground floor of my building, the original Hammond Organ showroom.

A few dealers around me in NJ, the closest Stuarts Audio still going in Westfield.

My acquired knowledge allowed me to know if a salesman (no women then, or now that I have met) knew what I knew, and more, and if truthful. You became friends, ..., my friend Wayne at Harvey's used to call me when a nice piece came in on trade so I would know to watch the used shelved in the back. I still have Carver Tuner, Carver Cube, Tandberg Receiver, Velodyne Subwoofer. My friend Phil at Leonard's called me when Ray took in a pair of JSE infinete Slope Model 2's that he knew I absolutely loved. Together we hustled them out of Ray's grasp into mine.

Other showrooms around NYC, rarely visited, the experience was NEVER great, but varied from pretty good to very poor. None of them had any respect for my knowledge or knowledgeable questions. These were ones I had to block out some time and travel to get there, so the disappointment was magnified by that.

Stereo Exchange was and still is a good experience, They rely on you knowing what you want, or might want based on their stock and prices. More of a flea market of quality stuff only.

Original 47th Street Photo, when it was upstairs on 47th street, was basically "Come back when you know what you want!". 

Today, fewer dealers, an enormous myriad of choices, much harder to educate yourself about it all, (same for salesman), and the unlikelihood of becoming friends by repeated visits, makes it a whole different world.

Good luck to us, heaven help the newbie.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Mail order.  Companies selling direct and stores like Music Direct.

What can't be denied is that independent B&M stores are disappearing.  15 years ago where I live there were two; today there are none.  Now if I want to go to the nearest (and not most ideal) store, it's a 2-hour drive.

Mail order and trial periods with return privileges start to look better and better.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
None of them had any respect for my knowledge or knowledgeable questions.
  @elliottbnewcombjr

In a world where everyone is waiting to talk, there is a bushel of truth in what you say.
winoguy17
1,083 posts
 
My last experience in a B&M store was so bad I promised myself I was done  and would take my chances buying online.. I called this store to verify hours and get directions, said I would like to come down the next day ( 2 hr. drive ) and hear a certain speaker they had. Come on down , we open at 10:00 am,no problem. When I showed up the next morning I was met by an arrogant greaseball who said, " I dont know who told you to come down today, we operate by appointment ’ ( there was no one else in the store the whole time I was there ) When I said I had driven 2 hours to hear the speakers , he rolled his eyes, told me to go get lunch somewhere,come back in an hour and he would see what he could do. When I came back he had a system set up and let me listen to a few tracks he had selected ( I brought my own music ) I quite liked the speakers and asked if it was possible to try them in my home if I left him my credit card . " Oh no , we only do that for our customers! ’ he said laughing. When I asked what he would sell them for , cash, he quoted me full retail price. I asked if there is discount for paying cash, he said again, "oh no, we only do that for our customers " I pulled a very large wad of $100. bills out , waved it in his face, and said I was going somewhere that I could be a customer too. I also called him several things that are not fit for print.
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