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Buying gear without ever having heard it?

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Everything I've ever bought was unheard first. I've had mostly good luck. Some gear has come and gone, but very few things have been a total failure. I do a lot of research, read too many reviews, and try to find components that others have successfully matched. It's worked out so far.

What are those speakers? They're pretty unusual looking.
 
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lokerola said:
Everything I've ever bought was unheard first. I've had mostly good luck. Some gear has come and gone, but very few things have been a total failure. I do a lot of research, ready too many reviews, and try to find components that others have successfully matched. It's worked out so far.

What are those speakers? They're pretty unusual looking.
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Dynaudio C2’s. Think they are the black sheep of the confidence line but they have worked out for me
 
Danathepill said:
Anyone here buy something just on reputation alone?
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I was looking for a replacement for my aging Linn turntable and ended up buying, over the phone, a Well Tempered Record Player. This was when Stanalog was the company behind it and a little while before William Firebaugh got back into it with his Amadeus turntable. I was mostly convinced by an Art Dudley review, and I have to say that the sound quality more than lived up to my expectations.
 
My Musical Fidelity TriVista 21 Dac that I got to go with my MF NuVista M3 Integrated, it turned out excellent and was an exceptional pairing. I also recently got my Dali Helicon speakers although I did listen to them about 7yrs ago and they left such a profound impression on me that it was impossible to forget the sound. But I bought these unheard and I’m even more impressed with what I’m hearing now and the transition was smooth as silk :thumbsup:
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Audiofreak71
 
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Speakers, no. Microphones, only if there's an easy full-refund return policy. Amps, preamps, turntables, and disc players, yes, although the more expensive something is, the more important the return policy becomes, just in case. Cartridges are tough to audition in anything other than one's own system. Actually, an audition of anything in other than your own system and listening space isn't near as helpful as being able to bring it home for at least a few days. Speakers, however, tend to be easier to judge whether or not you'll like them even in a different environment.
 
Klipsch RF-7 II speakers . I was looking for replacements for my 5.5's . I got a good deal on them but , they were too bright . Sold them for a small loss .
 
A few times, like picking up "Polk" centre, sub and rear speakers for a TV surround system. I did this based on the 10's that I had, and have never looked back. The sound I obtain from all five are amazing, with the orig's having worked well for over 20 years without a hitch.

Same goes for the BT speakers from "Anker". Bought entry then moved on upper models.

Also, have had past success with "SONY", so in the way of TV's/Walkman's, I've stayed with this audio brand.


Not affiliated with the above products...just a contented user of them.


Q
 
The majority of my current system. All of the brand new stuff. With most “retailers” having liberal return policies I would rather hear it in my space with the rest of my system. That said I have returned a few things the last couple days of the return policy and tried something else. Latest is new LKH speakers and an Emotiva amp. Edit: Those where not returned, just the latest keepers.
 
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If I'm able to hear something before I buy it, my primary concern is that it demonstrates it's in proper operating condition. I'm hesitant to pass judgement on something's sonic characteristics until I get it in my room and with my gear. That's where the tires meet the road and in most all cases creates a better scenario for extracting the most performance from the item than is possible in a showroom or someone else's home. Regardless of what I buy, I do a good bit of research to get a general feel for what others in the hobby are saying about it and use that as a first line filter for my choices. Sticking with items than have a great pedigree and high desirability on the used market (Altec, Pass, etc) ensures that if something is not to my liking, it will not be difficult to unload and I'll have a good chance at recouping my investment.
 
In my case, 2 different sets of pricy Mc XRT series line array type speaker systems..
I could have audtioned them, but my electronic repair work load discouraged the time that would be required.

The first was in 1993, when my local Mc. dealer called me up and offered to sell me a pair of demo XRT-18s with the optional and rare stands for the tweeter arrays at a very attractive price.
I felt comfortable with the purchase without auditioning, being that I had recently purchased the XRT-18`s later and larger brother, the wonderful sounding, and dealer auditioned Mc. XRT-22s for my living room system, and was confident the XRT-18s would sound wonderful when setup in my fairly large master bedroom to start to build a stereo system in that room, and their still in daily use every morning and for my listening while laying in bed for a few hours before falling asleep and will remain for the rest of my lifetime.
And their SQ performance certainly didn`t disappoint, especially after I installed 2 L/R configured 400 watt servo powered Velodyne floor firing ULD 15 subwoofers to assist the 18s slightly weak bottom octave, and carefully 1/3rd octave RTA room voicing.

The last non auditioned leap of faith speaker purchase, is my currently in use, and not going anywhere, is the late Nov. 2003 purchased Mc. XRT-30 readily tri-amplify capable (and currently configured) line array excellent sounding speaker system to upgrade/replace the living room`s 13 yr. old existing XRT-22s that I had bi-amplified by then, also no disappointment/regrets with that leap of faith expensive speaker system upgrade purchase.

Over the decades I`ve purchased many used Crown DC-300/D150 power amplifiers without testing/auditioning when they were offered to me at a attractive price, knowing that unless the power transformer was toast, that I should be able to readily and inexpensively repair them to factory specs, as I had most parts on hand needed to do so, being a Crown authorized warranty service facility for a few yrs. in the nineties.

First pic is the bedroom XRT-18s, and the second one below is the living rooms XRT-30s.
DSCN0023.JPG DSCN0037.JPG
 
Very yes. Five years ago saw a eBay posting with a local seller offering a pair of ADS L730s for a reasonable amount. Had heard ADS once previous, not sure of model, and was favorably impressed. Worked out so well that we now have two other pairs. They are now our speaker happy place, initiated by a long ago recollection.
 
Audiofreak71 said:
My Musical Fidelity TriVista 21 Dac that I got to go with my MF NuVista M3 Integrated, it turned out excellent and was an exceptional pairing. I also recently got my Dali Helicon speakers although I did listen to them about 7yrs ago and they left such a profound impression on me that it was impossible to forget the sound. But I bought these unheard and I’m even more impressed with what I’m hearing now and the transition was smooth as silk :thumbsup:
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Audiofreak71
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Musical Fidelity makes great stuff.
 
GChief said:
The majority of my current system. All of the brand new stuff. With most “retailers” having liberal return policies I would rather hear it in my space with the rest of my system. That said I have returned a few things the last couple days of the return policy and tried something else. Latest is new LKH speakers and an Emotiva amp. Edit: Those where not returned, just the latest keepers.
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KLH?
 
I've bought most of my gear that way and it's worked out pretty well. I read the reviews and decide whether or not it's something that I might like. The exception was a quick demo of the Jamo C103 speakers that I have when I bought them, but they weren't connected to a really great amp and weren't set up very carefully so it was more like "yes, these things work" than any kind of thing where I got to hear the real character of them. Since I buy used, I find deals on stuff and I tend to buy at prices where I'm likely not going to loose any money if I sell the stuff, so I figure that buying anything is a kind of "free demo," though one that might come with the hassle of having to unload the item. I buy stuff, evaluate it, sometimes don't love it and sell something but I'm not loosing money in the process so I figure that it's a workable system...
 
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