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I have three good audio retailers in Columbus. Still, they don't carry everything, and my money is hard-enough earned that if I'm going to drop a couple kilobucks on something, I'm gonna make darned sure it's the best I can afford.

Living in MD now, I traveled to Orchard Park NY to audition speakers at my old stereo shop where I spent most of my youth and my money chasing the "dream."

Went to Canada to purchase my Paradigm (when the Canadian dollar was much lower). Excellent speakers.

If an item such as an amp is getting a lot of really positive reviews, and it is not turning up in abundance on the used market, I will take a chance when it does turn up used at a reasonable price. That way I don't take to much of a hit if I do not like it. But I study a long time before I buy. The less expensive, the more likely I am to take a chance on new.

To Fidelis in southern New Hampshire, a great store and definitely worth the trip.

Every mile was worth it! I didn't buy what I drove to hear, but did buy what I heard because I drove.

To audition one Stanton CS-100 cartridge, I flew from Puerto Rico to New Jersey, to a friend's home, who owned one such model.

Because of a Sam Tellig review, five years ago I went from Caracas, Venezuela to Paris, France to audition a pair of Focal-JM Labs Electra 926, which I bought. I have never regretted it: The sound is clear, ultra-fast, and the details are always easy to recognize. A tad on the dry side, paired with my warm CD player (old Sony XA7ES, Class B for years) and a McIntosh amp, they make music!

First high end gear I ever bought. I was 16 and I bought a Mcintosh amp. Saved up a whole year to buy it.

I drove nearly 100 miles to purchase a pair of subwoofers many years ago. It was worth the drive and I only recently sold one.

About 35-40 miles in the Los Angeles basin.

It is easier to buy and sell through the Internet. Hi-fi shops are obsolete.

Von Schweikert VR-1 Bookshelf Speakers. Got a good price, too.

A good question posted by Stereophile staff. How obsessive and compulsive is the average audiophile's love of gizmo-audio components? Look at the big picture in perspective. These components are the means to an end: music. Just enjoy the music. I was obsessed with hi-fi components for more than 30 years, until I settled down finally to the intended result: Just enjoy the music. Mission accomplished in the end.

One trip of about 100 miles to purchase, but about 1000 miles of traveling to audition items before the actual purchase.

When I trave,l I find a high-end audio shop. Then I audition anything I am interested in buying. Have gone 350 miles just to audition speakers.

Travelled to the Austraillian Outback to hear native Aboriginal drum circles for comparison purposes to my custom constructed speakers and amplifiers powered by small nuclear reactors. Upon listening, I found it cheaper to purchase and relocate the tribe rather than invest in audio equipment.

Not far.

Flew from CT to MI to listen to the new IDS-25 speakers designed by Roger Russel. Bought a pair and enjoy them very much. Fabulous.

I was temporarily living in the Akron, Ohio area and went back to my home base of Montreal to audition speakers. Each way was about 700 miles or so. The irony is I ended up buying my speakers in Ohio, 10 miles from where I was living.

Not far. I'll happily buy used unheard if there is a good chance I can re-sell the item if I don't like it.