I live in what can be called a big city + 1.5 mil.
Over the years i've seen "serious" hi-fi stores in my city decline to a handful (5 or 6).
70 to 80% of my time I listen to music in stereo but since I have a big blu-ray collection I recently upgraded my whole A/V system: 4k TV....Oppo BDP-103 player...B&W sub and so on.
Next to be upgraded was my receiver.
Yes I know integrated amps or power amps are better but it's a big trade off FOR ME given that now I run my WHOLE A/V system from my iPhone (Oppo app and LG tv app) and all the remotes are tucked away in the drawers.
I'm at a stage where i'm over buying "of the internet"...I wanna listen to components 1st AND ALSO SUPPORT MY LOCAL HI-FI STORES.
I would walk in the stores...explain my situation and my budget of anywhere from 700 € to 1300 €. Also I said I have no problem buying an used one from 2-3 years ago as I don't have to worry about the video part which is taken care of by the Oppo player connected directly to the tv. I just want a powerful clean warm sound, that's why I narrowed it to Marantz, Denon and Nad (Arcam out of budget and impossible to find used it seems).
STORE #1:
As soon as I mentioned the dreadful word receiver they blanked out...and pretty much dropped the ball on me telling me to "LOOK AROUND THE STORE BY MYSELF" and see if I like something !!
There were 3 clerks DOIN' NOTHING....and yes the store did carry A/V receivers...both new and used!!
Can you believe it? I had to walk between the shelves and stare at receivers standing there.
It's the same as browsing on Amazon !! they had 3 systems but none featured a receiver so I asked if I can listen to an used 2012 top of the line Denon model they had there laying around gathering dust literally (priced at 700 €), just in stereo pure direct mode. They answered "NO...what's there to listen? it's powerful enough for your speakers...it sounds good enough and anyway A/V receivers ALL SOUND THE SAME. "
Time to move on...apparently they would rather have it sit there gathering more dust than bother to hook it up to the mains and 2 speakers!
STORE #2:
This one a 20 mins drive from home.
Store opens at 10 a.m
I get there at 10'05...everything closed. A father&son also waiting. At 10'15 the owner shows up. Not a good start.
He opens the store for us. Father&son were 1st so the father explained that he enjoyed hi-fi when he was younger and wanted to get a system for his teenager son...under 1000 € if possible .And asked if there's a BOSE system to try.
The owner paused...looked at me then just exploded raising his voice towards the dad...saying that he's insulted...Bose is crap ( which is true btw LOL ) and that's the last time he wants to hear that name in his store.
He went on for 20 minutes I swear....I was there feeling sorry for the guy and myself as I was just wasting time waiting for this lunatic going on and on about how he fought a "war" against Bose and A/V receivers LOL
I knew were this was goin'...I wanted to get out but was ashamed to just walk out on him.
So I waited for 35 mins of blasting and complete hi-fi history from 70's with personal life details thrown in for good measure !!
Dad&son were visibly embarrassed as the owner would get in over-drive and over-passionate about his "speech" against Bose, receivers and even lowly priced integrated amps. I looked around the store (very nice btw)...good selection of speakers.... I saw 2 new Marantz 7009 and 6009 A/V receivers ( oh the irony! ) a very old used Onkyo receiver...and A LOT of tube amplifiers...1 Krell integrated.
I got the picture...he was the "tube is best" dude and I realized I ain't goin' anywhere with this guy. As the dad&son walk out (empty handed of course), it was my turn. I asked the prices for the new 6009 and 7009 Marantz...100 € more than Amazon. That was all he had in my budget.
I asked: "Could I listen the 6009?" He said no because all the systems were running/designed for tube amplifiers not receivers.
At this point I asked if he had some good subwoofer cables (wanted to upgrade mine), so I can at least spend some money and not feel like I completely wasted my time.
He showed me some new RCA sub cables and then mentioned he has a better one used from his old system.
It was a good price so I got the "used" which looked like new. Got home, plugged it in...IT DOESN'T WORK !! I went mad trying to figure out what's going on...switched back to my old cable..then back to new one...I was sweating by now crawling behind the cables and racks LOL
I called him..he was nice and said to go back and exchange for a new one.
Result? I lost half of my day off to buy one RCA cable :-D
STORE #3: a.k.a Time-Capsule
Wish I could take a picture to share. Old old store....three 40W light-bulbs for lighting...packed sky high with OLD gear...vintage stuff. Amps and speakers from 70's, 80's and 90's.
The most "recent" piece of gear I spotted was a pair of very nice Quad speakers but even those were 2002-2003 model :-) And here I was looking for something I could connect to with my iPhone hahaha
That placed was so packed and claustrophobic (not to mention the smell of old Mdf and old gear) I had to be careful when turning around so I wouldn't knock out some Akai cassette deck LOL
5 mins later I was out.
STORE #4: This is downtown. It used to be THE store back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Given the downtown location it has turned over the years more towards the tourists customers, selling headphones, iPod accessories, wireless speakers etc The serious hi-fi is towards the back of the store. Only one system running.
They had the new Marantz receivers up on the shelves...some used stuff but as I was asking info they barely looked at me and only answered half-mouthed and not motivated.
At this point I was pretty depressed myself...waisting my days off from work running around like a fool TRYIN' TO SPEND SOME MONEY yet no one seems interested enough. I have a small baby so all this time wasted is VERY precious to me.
Is working in Hi-Fi stores so tiring or do they make so much money that a customer with a 1300 € budget is not worth a decent service???
The good news...
STORE #5: FINALLY !!
Opened in late 90's or 2000...huge....4 listening rooms. Lots of gear...all kinds of amps, speakers, turntables...at ALL price ranges.
Lots of vinyls and cds around to play with...all 4 systems working, and I was actually encouraged to try them all even if they were out of my league/budget or interest!
What a joy and relief....the owner in his early 40s I guess. NO PRECONCEPTIONS.
I ended up spending the whole day there. One of the systems was running Dali speakers....I was in trance :O
Ordered a pair right away....yes they were 80 € more than on amazon, but after all I've been through in the other stores coming here was like a blessing. I was finally happy to spend my money, even though on speakers and not on a new receiver. He's a Marantz dealer but the receivers were available only on order. He got my number just in case an used one shows up.
I was just goin' from room to room like a kid...from system to system, feeling like home just trying vinyls, cds and sacds.
In one room he had an under 1k € system with Rega RP1+Marantz integrated w MM phono and small PSB mini I think? it sounded good w Dark Side of the Moon vinyl !
Couldn't stop thinking about the dad&son from Store #2 looking for a 1k system LOL
After all this I'm STILL looking for my receiver...but only on ebay and hi-fi forums. No more stores for me.
Meanwhile with the new Dali speakers i'm buying music like crazy!
And I visit Store #5 almost every week trying to spend some money there on used and new cds.
I live in what can be called a big city + 1.5 mil.
Over the years i've seen "serious" hi-fi stores in my city decline to a handful (5 or 6).
70 to 80% of my time I listen to music in stereo but since I have a big blu-ray collection I recently upgraded my whole A/V system: 4k TV....Oppo BDP-103 player...B&W sub and so on.
Next to be upgraded was my receiver.
Yes I know integrated amps or power amps are better but it's a big trade off FOR ME given that now I run my WHOLE A/V system from my iPhone (Oppo app and LG tv app) and all the remotes are tucked away in the drawers.
I'm at a stage where i'm over buying "of the internet"...I wanna listen to components 1st AND ALSO SUPPORT MY LOCAL HI-FI STORES.
I would walk in the stores...explain my situation and my budget of anywhere from 700 € to 1300 €. Also I said I have no problem buying an used one from 2-3 years ago as I don't have to worry about the video part which is taken care of by the Oppo player connected directly to the tv. I just want a powerful clean warm sound, that's why I narrowed it to Marantz, Denon and Nad (Arcam out of budget and impossible to find used it seems).
STORE #1:
As soon as I mentioned the dreadful word receiver they blanked out...and pretty much dropped the ball on me telling me to "LOOK AROUND THE STORE BY MYSELF" and see if I like something !!
There were 3 clerks DOIN' NOTHING....and yes the store did carry A/V receivers...both new and used!!
Can you believe it? I had to walk between the shelves and stare at receivers standing there.
It's the same as browsing on Amazon !! they had 3 systems but none featured a receiver so I asked if I can listen to an used 2012 top of the line Denon model they had there laying around gathering dust literally (priced at 700 €), just in stereo pure direct mode. They answered "NO...what's there to listen? it's powerful enough for your speakers...it sounds good enough and anyway A/V receivers ALL SOUND THE SAME. "
Time to move on...apparently they would rather have it sit there gathering more dust than bother to hook it up to the mains and 2 speakers!
STORE #2:
This one a 20 mins drive from home.
Store opens at 10 a.m
I get there at 10'05...everything closed. A father&son also waiting. At 10'15 the owner shows up. Not a good start.
He opens the store for us. Father&son were 1st so the father explained that he enjoyed hi-fi when he was younger and wanted to get a system for his teenager son...under 1000 € if possible .And asked if there's a BOSE system to try.
The owner paused...looked at me then just exploded raising his voice towards the dad...saying that he's insulted...Bose is crap ( which is true btw LOL ) and that's the last time he wants to hear that name in his store.
He went on for 20 minutes I swear....I was there feeling sorry for the guy and myself as I was just wasting time waiting for this lunatic going on and on about how he fought a "war" against Bose and A/V receivers LOL
I knew were this was goin'...I wanted to get out but was ashamed to just walk out on him.
So I waited for 35 mins of blasting and complete hi-fi history from 70's with personal life details thrown in for good measure !!
Dad&son were visibly embarrassed as the owner would get in over-drive and over-passionate about his "speech" against Bose, receivers and even lowly priced integrated amps. I looked around the store (very nice btw)...good selection of speakers.... I saw 2 new Marantz 7009 and 6009 A/V receivers ( oh the irony! ) a very old used Onkyo receiver...and A LOT of tube amplifiers...1 Krell integrated.
I got the picture...he was the "tube is best" dude and I realized I ain't goin' anywhere with this guy. As the dad&son walk out (empty handed of course), it was my turn. I asked the prices for the new 6009 and 7009 Marantz...100 € more than Amazon. That was all he had in my budget.
I asked: "Could I listen the 6009?" He said no because all the systems were running/designed for tube amplifiers not receivers.
At this point I asked if he had some good subwoofer cables (wanted to upgrade mine), so I can at least spend some money and not feel like I completely wasted my time.
He showed me some new RCA sub cables and then mentioned he has a better one used from his old system.
It was a good price so I got the "used" which looked like new. Got home, plugged it in...IT DOESN'T WORK !! I went mad trying to figure out what's going on...switched back to my old cable..then back to new one...I was sweating by now crawling behind the cables and racks LOL
I called him..he was nice and said to go back and exchange for a new one.
Result? I lost half of my day off to buy one RCA cable :-D
STORE #3: a.k.a Time-Capsule
Wish I could take a picture to share. Old old store....three 40W light-bulbs for lighting...packed sky high with OLD gear...vintage stuff. Amps and speakers from 70's, 80's and 90's.
The most "recent" piece of gear I spotted was a pair of very nice Quad speakers but even those were 2002-2003 model :-) And here I was looking for something I could connect to with my iPhone hahaha
That placed was so packed and claustrophobic (not to mention the smell of old Mdf and old gear) I had to be careful when turning around so I wouldn't knock out some Akai cassette deck LOL
5 mins later I was out.
STORE #4: This is downtown. It used to be THE store back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Given the downtown location it has turned over the years more towards the tourists customers, selling headphones, iPod accessories, wireless speakers etc The serious hi-fi is towards the back of the store. Only one system running.
They had the new Marantz receivers up on the shelves...some used stuff but as I was asking info they barely looked at me and only answered half-mouthed and not motivated.
At this point I was pretty depressed myself...waisting my days off from work running around like a fool TRYIN' TO SPEND SOME MONEY yet no one seems interested enough. I have a small baby so all this time wasted is VERY precious to me.
Is working in Hi-Fi stores so tiring or do they make so much money that a customer with a 1300 € budget is not worth a decent service???
The good news...
STORE #5: FINALLY !!
Opened in late 90's or 2000...huge....4 listening rooms. Lots of gear...all kinds of amps, speakers, turntables...at ALL price ranges.
Lots of vinyls and cds around to play with...all 4 systems working, and I was actually encouraged to try them all even if they were out of my league/budget or interest!
What a joy and relief....the owner in his early 40s I guess. NO PRECONCEPTIONS.
I ended up spending the whole day there. One of the systems was running Dali speakers....I was in trance :O
Ordered a pair right away....yes they were 80 € more than on amazon, but after all I've been through in the other stores coming here was like a blessing. I was finally happy to spend my money, even though on speakers and not on a new receiver. He's a Marantz dealer but the receivers were available only on order. He got my number just in case an used one shows up.
I was just goin' from room to room like a kid...from system to system, feeling like home just trying vinyls, cds and sacds.
In one room he had an under 1k € system with Rega RP1+Marantz integrated w MM phono and small PSB mini I think? it sounded good w Dark Side of the Moon vinyl !
Couldn't stop thinking about the dad&son from Store #2 looking for a 1k system LOL
After all this I'm STILL looking for my receiver...but only on ebay and hi-fi forums. No more stores for me.
Meanwhile with the new Dali speakers i'm buying music like crazy!
And I visit Store #5 almost every week trying to spend some money there on used and new cds.