Audio dealer survey

9designs2

9designs2

9designs2

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Somewhere in the middle
As this is an audio forum, not an Audiophile one ;) I’d like to ask a quick survey of what “normal” peoples views on audio equipment and dealers.
Stems from a recent conversation I had with committed enthusiasts about the future of Hi-Fi and retailing.
I’m just curious as to how it perceived. As I’ve been an enthusiast for decades I’m some what biased ;)


1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60


Thanks, no right answers just views and thoughts to open discussion
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off? Yes

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?
It's partly to listen to brands or products that interest me but also to gauge how good the dealer is putting together gear that makes a system sing

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?Specialist. Fine quality audio products are not generally sold exclusively by mail order or through the big discount sheds

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)In my own ears... but I'll listen to advice from a dealer

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?For a serious listening session then I'd consider and appointment essential. If it was a retail shop then I think an appointment just to browse would be an odd requirement. It might be different though with an out-of-town salon

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?It depends on the product range. For mass market stuff (speaker docks, small shelf systems etc) then maybe town centre or just outside. If we are talking mid/hi-end Hi-Fi then I don't see that it matters much. It's probably a special trip so somewhere out of town might be better.

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?I don't think I'd want to sit in someone's living room. But if it was a dedicated showroom/listening room segregated from the main house then fine.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?Proper Hi-Fi....No. Starter systems.... Possibly. Music consumption in general....Yes

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+
There isn't one. The question doesn't make sense in the same way that asking "What's the correct gear for driving" doesn't make sense. When you can afford to spend more but can't hear any benefit, that's your budget right there.... or you need to look at a different range of gear :D

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60
41-50
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

I do every few months.

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

My local has new DACs and headphones in on a monthly basis so I just have to compare to my own flagship headphones at every chance I get. It's somewhere to hide while the Wife does some shopping or cooks dinner too as it's downstairs from the flat.

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Only ever the dealer because I refuse to blind buy audio stuff apart from soundcards.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

I place trust in the audio dealer on what is generally better than what but I ignore cable advice as they have to say that. I generally go for whatever the cheapest chord upgrade cables they have are.

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Yes I do like to be able to walk in and see if I can get a demo. I waited 30 minutes once to demo 3 sets of floorstanders and ended up buying a pair for £579 the KEF q500s even though online I never would have as I thought the B&W and MA Silver would be better.

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Good question, it really doesn't need to be a shop. A warehouse would be just as effective and rents would be lower. I would go to a warehouse to demo stuff.

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Yeah I did this once. It was a bit offputting. I'll not do it again.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Not for me certainly - It's an event to put on a new LP (love that everything comes out on 180g vinyl now) and listening and making time at the weekend for testing out new music is always something I look forward to. For people aged 8-16 though I think music is less important that when I was 8-16 as I didn't have an ipad or my own tv I had my radio and my tapes and they were my world.

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

1001-2000 is a good balance and there is more competition in these price brackets: £600 speakers £400-500 amp and then £300-£400 on a DAC/Soundcard/Cd player

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

21-30 but I'm 30 so only just :P
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Yes, but elitist attitude or assumption of my economic status is off-putting

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Product auditions and comparisons

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

All three. Cost is deciding factor but only where there is significant difference between those options. If prices are close, the specialist wins even if slightly higher as long as their service is up to scratch.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

My own research via all three

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Not necessarily for an audition, but I've often wondered why an appointment is necessary when the employees seem to be quite inactive!

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Any location as long as not a considerable driving distance

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Not necessary - would encourage hard sell imo

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

To non-audiophiles, probably yes. In my case used for both planned listnening and general background

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

501-1000

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

41-50

Thanks, no right answers just views and thoughts to open discussion
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

I try to pop in every few months, I have built up a good relationship with my local dealer and have trust in them to look after me.

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

As above really, trust. If they tried to hard sell something I'd be straight out the door.

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Specialist dealer, you just can't get the kit I look at anywhere else.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

My ears.

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Nope, not at all. It's expected.

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

No, but transport links are obviously handy.

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Neither really, depends on the listening environment.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

That seems to be how most people see it now. I still think it is as important as the picture quality in movies, and although I do always have music on in the background pretty much all the time, I do still make sure I have time to sit down and just enjoy it on it's own from time to time.

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

None of the above. Totally depends on use and circumstance.

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

31-40
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

// Have done many times in the past.

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

// High end equipment rather than the usual high street brands.

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

// Online seller. Distance selling regulations 7 day refund.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

// Released technical specification and my ears.

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

// No. But it would put me off just browsing.

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

// I've had small dealers visit my home.

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

// I would be cautious giving out my CC details to some bloke in a house.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

// I dance like my dad.

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

// Different per person. I'd say around £1000 per bit and most people would be chuffed.

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

// 41.
 
Thanks guys for the feedback, makes interesting reading.. What also interesting from all this, from those who viewed the thread those that posted, are like me shall we say, have a few years ;) and also have ventured well into the "hobby" or interest.

Those although reading perhaps don't feel like posting.... perhaps similar to not wanting to enter a specialist dealership?

How to dealers reach new younger customers and keep this rewarding pass time alive?
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?
Yes, but only once in the past. I would go to demo gear but would feel guilty not buying, and i know my money goes much further 2nd hand. Its also a bit of a hassle and potentially a rush decision. My purchase wasnt a good move either

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Demos!

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?
AVforums

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)
if i get the chance to demo, me, otherwise looking at many different opinions of people who have siomilar needs to me

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?
It would as i would feel particularly pressured to buy something and more potential for pushy sales stuff (possibly)

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?
i would prefer out of town due to me living out of town

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?
potentially yes, better representation of a real environment?

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?
yes in general..$5 earbuds /beatz :/


9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

what you can afford? id love the MA gold series :p i think my current setup cost me 1k to 2k,,whoops..but it does look and sound good
edit, i cant remeber what i paid and cant find price online

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

21-30
 
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1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Yes, probably a few times a year

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Demo's more than anything. Although i have bought a few things from dealers further away on a home demo basis.

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Online forums for me probably. I tend to pick up 80% of my purchases used. But then i do swap things around quite often.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

My own ears really. Although i have bought a few things blind based on dealer advice/forum recommendations if a demo hasn't been possible.

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

I'd consider it essential for demos, as most dealers would consider it essential to be serve the customer. Audio Counsel in Cheadle for one

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

It's beneficial, but not essential

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

I'm with Lucid. Private residence is fine if buying used, but i wouldnt feel comfy in a dealers front room unless it was a designated demo room.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Disposable no. People will always want to listen to music, however i do believe most people will only do so as a background activity

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

Whatever you're willing to spend. For me its £2000+

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

21-30
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Yes. The higher the level of kit you're working with, the more essential it is as it quickly becomes a very specialist market.

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Listen to kit
Better understand capability (not always well described by the manufacturer)
Potentially software updates
Buy things (bizarre that, actually buying things from a dealer)

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Simple goods, online.
Specialist goods or products that I wish to touch, feel and explore before I buy, IMO is best done in person. For me, that's why the majority of clothes shopping doesn’t work online, whilst buying CD does.

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

Someone who's developed that trust by being a pleasant to deal with group.
I have a fairly close specialist dealer, with whom I've had good dealings several times, and would definitely be top of my list for purchasing from in the event of buying my brand new piece of kit

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Definitely not. Would give me time to prepare and them too. Can take time to setup kit appropriately for a demo. It's a GOOD thing.

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Absolutely not. Anywhere will do as long as it's not stupid distance away. If anything, more remote locations are a good thing, easier for parking (essential when you might be carrying around 50kg of speaker).

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Done that before on a couple of occasions. Does make me question the long term financial viability of the dealer, but as the warranty is typically with the manufacturer and NOT the dealer, it's not essential.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Yes for the majority of people, which is a real shame. When I was a good deal younger, ALL of my friends had at least starter hi-fi stereo systems. Most are now not used and I've no idea how often they listen to music. My assumption is very little.

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

???
Correct is only what you have in your pocket. Under £200, for me that's your phone and a decent pair of headphones. At the other extreme, well I saw Kronos turntable, linked a pair of speakers using plasma (yep, not kidding, plasma) drivers a couple of weeks ago. My guess is that his system must have set him back £50k and in his opinion, he can justify the cost.
For me, just one of the few hobbies I have, and when I have some cash, the "desire" to find that next step on tends to take shape, so the system I have is pretty good now, though it has taken 3 decades to get there.

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

41-50.
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Have done, but only really out of curiosity sake and an online friend actually runs the place.


2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

As above eludes to, I'm not sure I generally would since I tend to gravitate towards 'pro' kit rather than consumer kit.


3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Specialist Pro Audio dealer.


4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

My own ears. Typically I'll use websites to find a product and then do a bit of reading. Ultimately I'll aim for a home demo if it's serious wedge being dropped.


5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Not in the slightest, I'd expect it to be honest.


6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Happy to travel anywhere really. High streets are a pain to park at and you're also paying for their extortionate rent.


7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Off putting to be honest. I wouldn't expect to buy new kit from someone's front room.


8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Sadly yes. Quicker you can get hold of it the better, and quality is not an issue for the majority. That said 'HD' 24bit content is a joke as well for most forms of music in my opinion.


9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

As ever the law of diminishing returns comes into question. But, my own kit falls into the £2000+ bracket.


10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

31-40.
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

No. Considered it but prices were beyond my reach at the time.


2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Curiosity.


3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

As it stands now, none of them. I have moved away from new premade kit to DIY and vintage as i know exactly what i'm getting.


4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

My mind. If i made it or did the full restoration of it, I know exactly what i'm getting and i know the quality of the parts used to make it. I can tune it to my own tastes.


5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Yes, if i had to make an appointment just to look. I can understand demonstrations requiring it though.


6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Really depends on the area and how accessible it is for parking if it is a long way from home.


7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Not really what i'd like to do particularly if i wanted to buy new. (as i'd have my doubts)


8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Music has been for a long time now, simply because that is what the majority treat it as. The passionate few are a minority. Problem is that due to the lack of care on the music production side it doesn't matter how good your equipment is, it'll still sound poor. There is still some good stuff coming out though.


9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

Not really quantifiable as it is always constrained by your budget. Personally I don't like spending more than 200-500 on any one part. (max budget of 1500) In terms of percentage spend on each part, i'd make it 15% player, 25% amp 60% speakers.


10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

21-30.
 
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1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Mostly its the amount of absolute BS present within the audio business - it would be refreshing to find a dealer not tainted by standard audiophile myths but I've got a feeling most will try to sell snake oil to me... magical power cords, HDMI cables, speaker cables etc...

2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

One bold enough to cut out the BS... doesn't rip off or prey on the ignorance of his customers by selling super expensive interconnects, power cords, speaker cable, HDMI cables etc... and perpetuating the same standard myths which simply don't stand up to basic physics.

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

Online

4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

Hard to tell... its an area you have to treat with a lot of skepticism given the amount of people happy to sell snakeoil and the various industry publications doing likewise.... How do you trust a what hi fi review when their reviewers are claiming differences in picture quality, colours etc.. between digital HDMI cables. If they're seeing things which aren't there, aren't testing blind and/or potentially lying then whats the point in relying on any of their reviews - they just become meaningless.

5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Yes, I feel if you make a special appointment with someone who's looking to sell something and take up some of their time you ought to be pretty close to purchasing something and not just tire kicking.... If I just wanted to take a look, listen to some speakers etc.. I wouldn't want to make anyone waste time and so would pop in without making an appointment.

6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

High street would be preferable.

7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

Probably off putting unless it was perhaps in an annex or listening room set up in a garage or something.

8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Music hasn't but audio has got to the point where there is minimal difference in quality between most components - modern amplifiers have minimal distortion, sources tend to be digital, modern DACs are well made and mass produced cheaply... its only really speakers and room set up that make any real difference....

9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

Its whatever you want it to be....

10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

31-40
 
1) Would you ever visit a specialist audio dealer, if not why not, what puts you off?

Yes, have done quite a few times


2) What would make you want to visit a specialist dealer?

Demo, though I would tend to be pretty much certain what I wanted first before going as I am one of those who would feel guilty for not buying something

3) How do you feel your audio needs are best served? Online seller, Electrical Mega store or the specialist dealer?

I would rather give my money to a specialist dealer but I am not made of money so if I could get what I wanted considerably cheaper else where I would, though if there was not much difference I would spend the extra at a specialist


4) Where do you place your trust in when deciding what to buy? (any of above or other?)

after research ultimately I would only buy if it sounded good to me


5) If you decided to use a specialist dealer, would making an appointment to visit put you off?

Not at all if I knew what I was after but it would for just browsing


6) Does the dealer need a shop on the high street? Or another location is acceptable?

Not at all, in fact it would be better being off the high street for parking etc.


7) Would visiting a private residence by acceptable, a benefit or off putting?

I can see the benefit of a "real life" demo but it would make me feel a bit more pressured into buying


8) Has audio and music in general become a disposable commodity for back ground use with minimal involvement and participation?

Generally yes and I find myself doing this more often but I do try and find time for a listening session


9) What’s the correct budget for a CD or Streaming based system.. So a “player” + amp + speakers
Under 200 200-500, 501-1000, 1001-2000 or 2001+

there is no correct budget but rather is what you can afford, I would love to spend £1000's on a system but realistically for me it would be £1001-£2000


10) What age group are you in? Under 20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 or 51-60

41-50
 
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