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The Demise of the Hi-End Audio Store

Ok. So I've read hundred's of forum posts from a lot of people and one question keeps popping into my head. Where does everyone listen (test out) all of this equipment? I don't know about you but I live in a fairly populated area, Cleveland/Akron Ohio area, and while there are a few (and I only mean a few) high end audio stores in my area, there are limited hi end brands in those stores. Ten years ago that was a different story, but this is the reality today.

So while I want to listen to equipment I'm interested in (Jolida, Prima Luna, Silverline, LSA, the list goes on and on), there isn't the opportunity.

Does everyone really travel hundreds of miles to listen to new components or do you do your research and buy what you think will work and go from there?

Thanks
panfish
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Buconcero, Rcprince, Dodgealum,
I also visited the second floor as they advertised Wavelength Audio products.
I was cheerfully greeted. Upon my query about Wavelength, was brought over to see their Brick Dac. When I explained that I was actually interested in amplifiers, the salesman said "we don't carry those" and walked away.
I was the only costumer in the store at the time.
Needless to say I ended up buying two pairs here.
I am now a very happy, multiple return costumer, here.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,610 posts
 
Harri009

The Soundstation Bartlesville OK is another excellent store in your state

Good Listening

Peter
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Since the hi-end model shifted to making a lot of money off each unit from making a decent amount off more units, stores can only operate in places with a large amount of fools with a lot of money. In the USA this means the financial centers like NYC, SF and CHI.
chayro
2,925 posts
 
Nice one, Schubert. So all those who shop at hi-end stores are fools with a lot of money? Pretty broad brush, I would say.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Friends, we are a dying breed, ageing and falling in numbers. Shops, high or low end, can only be supported by a customer base, it is tiny. Take a look at the magazines, they were sold in the 100's of thousands in the 70's. I think it was reported recently that HiFi+ had a worldwide sale of 6 or 8000, that's all. I know they have an online version, but the market is tiny.
Paradoxically we have more and more brands, often selling a few high cost units a year, built by hand, to order.
These numbers, this market, can't really support expensive, bricks and mortar stores. Even in large conurbations, I do'nt know how they survive. In Minnesota, where Great Northern Sound was, till it closed, sadly, you do'nt really have a passing trade.
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