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In Reply to: RE: I think a useful comparison can be made to Linn ... posted by josh358 on January 19, 2011 at 16:02:30
Regarding tweaks - I wonder how many have two sets of speakers and the environment to compare the before and after, in a "blind" manner?
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I've known audiophiles to do blind comparisons. It isn't easy to do with speakers, though, since they're difficult to hide and their sound is so dependent on their position in the room -- particularly planars. We've all switched between speakers at a dealers, and while you can tell a lot from that comparison, you never really know for sure until you get them home and set them up in your living room. I think that's one of the reasons that planars suffer at dealers, those of us who have owned them know how much their performance can be boosted with optimal placement, but at a dealers they rarely get that kind of attention.
"I think that's one of the reasons that planars suffer at dealers, those of us who have owned them know how much their performance can be boosted with optimal placement, but at a dealers they rarely get that kind of attention."
Yeah, the dealer rep who was demoing 1.7s to me complained bitterly how they haven't been placed properly in the demo room. Wtf? Why doesn't he do it, then?
Maybe he wasn't given that option? One of the problems dealers have is that they have no way to demonstrate most of their speakers in optimal locations. They can take a few fancy products and give them entire rooms, but most have to sit on the shelf, literally or figuratively. Which does more harm to dipoles than to boxes. Another problem is that the somewhat funereal acoustics of these places are generally optimized for omnis. Dipoles are better in a more "normal" acoustic, indeed, it seems to me that they're ability to sound good without specialized room treatment is one of their positive points: if it has sufficient breathing space, a dipole will image beautifully in a regular living room.
"Maybe he wasn't given that option? One of the problems dealers have is that they have no way to demonstrate most of their speakers in optimal locations. They can take a few fancy products and give them entire rooms, but most have to sit on the shelf, literally or figuratively. Which does more harm to dipoles than to boxes. Another problem is that the somewhat funereal acoustics of these places are generally optimized for omnis. Dipoles are better in a more "normal" acoustic, indeed, it seems to me that they're ability to sound good without specialized room treatment is one of their positive points: if it has sufficient breathing space, a dipole will image beautifully in a regular living room."
That's the thing that stumped me -- he took me to the room dedicated to Maggies! 1.7s were all set for demoing, and he had a pair of 3.6s standing in the corner. This was the arrangement they had for months in their store. And yet, he was bitching how poorly are 1.7s placed in THEIR OWN DEDICATED SHOWROOM!
My immediate thought was what's stopping him, the salesman, from placing them properly? I mean, they are already standing there, the lone speakers to be showcased.
I hear you about the funeral-like showroom settings. That arrangement is indeed not optimal for Maggies. But again, we're talking about complete lack of enthusiasm on behalf of the salesforce to try and move those babies. they all seemed positively annoyed by being somehow 'tricked' into carrying Maggies on the floor.
Go figure!
Knowing salesman, they were probably thinking about how much they'd be making if you were buying a pair of Wilsons. I guess you can't blame them, since their income depends on commissions, and it takes just as much effort to demo an inexpensive item as a costly one.
"Knowing salesman, they were probably thinking about how much they'd be making if you were buying a pair of Wilsons. I guess you can't blame them, since their income depends on commissions, and it takes just as much effort to demo an inexpensive item as a costly one."
I didn't get the impression that I was stealing him away from the customers lining up to buy Wilsons, or anything else for that matter. The store was spookily empty, I was the only customer in there, and I did stay for a substantial length of time.
Now, wouldn't you think that making a sale, even at a low commission, is better than making no sale that day?
Strange, isn't it? I wonder that whenever a salesman pulls that "Why are you interrupting my day" bit. Some kind of negative psychology sales technique, perhaps? Or perhaps just that snobby doorman attitude that some high end audio stores are known for?
My Maggie dealer in Tampa, Florida played 1.6's and 1.7's for me moving them in and out of the room and set them up really good. They both sounded excellent and I bought the 1.6's on the spot. The dealer was most accomodating
Alan
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