Kgveteran
Active Member
My BlueSound Node2 was just that. Umm yeah and my Denon TT :0)
Buying gear without ever having heard it?
- Thread starter Danathepill
- Start date
My BlueSound Node2 was just that. Umm yeah and my Denon TT :0)
Rick Vestal
Have a nice day and duck!
The pandemic nearly obliterated the ability to audition equipment either due to dealers closing, or they simply don't have stock. I'm very brand loyal so I don't concern myself too much with not being able to audition as long as others in online communities are reviewing positive. I've been dealing with Audio Advisor recently and they let me return and upgrade a significant purchase recently no questions asked. I think that's where things are headed (if buying new.)
Yes, multiple pieces. I discovered something in the mid 90's, "What gear sounds like in a showroom audition was not the same as in my room". I only purchase audio gear from companies with longevity in the business and verifiable customer service records.
While I find auditioning first is ideal, I bought the biggest ticket component that way as well. I found trusted ears who knew of other stats I had heard and upon recommendations, purchased preowned Sound Lab U-1s. It did help that they were being shipped from the factory after a refresh. Saved one third the cost.
And continue to enjoy them seventeen years later.
Most of the audio gear I have or had I bought without auditioning it first. Then again, most of it was used, and purchased from yard sales, flea markets, and online, not really possible to hear the component before hand.
AudioFeline
Super Member
I've never auditioned any of the gear sold by the audiophile retailer in the white van in the hardware store carpark. But never bought from him either!
More seriously, I bought my Oppo 95 without hearing it first, but based on a lot of research.
More seriously, I bought my Oppo 95 without hearing it first, but based on a lot of research.
I had brand loyalty with Sony in the past, as I thought their equipment was reliable, well designed and made. A few years ago Mrs Feline bought a $70 Sony noise-cancelling headphone based on this reputation. A short period later, after being used carefully and responsibility, they literally exploded - plastic was embedded in a plaster wall, and the loudness of the explosion would have caused hearing damage if it occurred 30 secs earlier when they were worn. Over the course of several months, Sony wasted literally hours of time denying their legal obligation to repair or refund under warranty, and instead tried to blame MrsFeline. Amazingly, when MrsFeline told them that I would tell this story on national and international audio forums, within 10mins they had located the returned headphones, and their technicians examined them yet again to conclude that there was a fault and they would replace them! Replacement headphones arrived, and stopped working after a few weeks of occasional and careful use. After this shameful behaviour I will never buy another Sony product again, and would caution others to consider their disrespectful customer service whenever they might consider a Sony purchase.
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
I hear you on the need to go public, as sometimes this threat will hold true and will get you results. By the same token, not defending the poor quality of that $70 SONY HP's, they are what they are at that price. When you get, say into the "600's series, that will be another matter of build, but so will be the money to buy these ones.
And the Front End people who do the Customer Care thingy, are often ill are given a sheet to work from, and I think dealing with complaints all day, and the entry level pay they might be making doesn't add much to the whole equation of poorly made gear.
As per my comment about some of the other SONY that I've had to deal with, like the SONY mp3, high/res AK-A45 player, I have nothing bad to say about it. Built well. Performs well with FLAC, and the batt is great! Have had it over three years now, and works without a "hitch". Priced pretty good compared to other brands, and will take a huge SD card, so lots of space to put lots of tunes in!
SONY did go through some tough times a few years back (quality), but for their upper level lines, like the TV's... they have cleaned up their act in the past while. My 65" H905 performs well (for 2 years), comes really close to OLED level, and the upgrading is super!
So, bottom line is as always, you get what you pay for, and in you case, that $70 doesn't allow for a robust build and high degree of quality. My SO spent $150 on a little bit better than entry level set of HP's, and has used them for PC application for just about two years now, and they've held up OK...but also said that she'd spend more $$$ for an upgrade to these for more comfort in the future.
Thanks for your POV on SONY, AF.
And, take some great tunes
in today!Q
Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
Years ago, I found a nice Audionics preamp at a pawn shop way out in the country. Later some guy told me I needed something more modern, so I bought WITHOUT HEARING IT a Yee preamp. I nicknamed it "Dull Thud" and got rid of it. I miss the Audionics to this day.
Besides the usual roster of DOA units, I once bought a small integrated amp, took it home, plugged it in...and it sounded horrible. One night, I decided that if it sounded bad the next morning, I would toss it. The next morning, as if it understood, it sounded great.
Besides the usual roster of DOA units, I once bought a small integrated amp, took it home, plugged it in...and it sounded horrible. One night, I decided that if it sounded bad the next morning, I would toss it. The next morning, as if it understood, it sounded great.
joecoulson
CUPBOARD BROKER
jek57
Active Member
Other then my McIntosh Mc152 which I bought from Audio Classics my other components bought online five pairs of speakers Sent three pairs back sold the other two finally found the right pair Revels Concerta2 F36 also found online. buying speakers online is definitely a crapshoot which I found out
Jarred555
Active Member
As for my current setup minus the speakers ,there was no way to hear/demo it. As it was all broken and sitting in an old crate , but in the end if I didn't like the sound just the parts were going to be worth double what I paid , as it turned out it sounds great and the sound I got out of my all original st70 was better than my 100% new except for chassis and iron mark ivs so I sold them rather than let them sit
Audio Advisor has been mostly doing that for going on 50 years ...
If you ask before you buy, they will almost always allow an audition ..
They get it .. always have ..