Most audiophiles start their journey to high-end equipment through word of mouth from friends or acquaintances; however, this can often prove to be a costly misstep.
When purchasing audio equipment, the key to successful purchases lies in finding a dealer who can design a system specifically tailored to your requirements and goals. Doing this requires extensive consultation between yourself and them in order to be effective.
The Dealer
Once you know which system you desire, the next step should be finding an authorized dealer who can guide your selection process. While audio reviews may offer some assistance when making their selection decision, these should never be seen as an adequate replacement for experiencing products yourself firsthand.
If you have Hi-Fi equipment to sell, Audiogon could be the ideal platform. With over 6 million audiophiles worldwide waiting to purchase audio gear, your equipment is sure to find its new home quickly and effectively.
The Manufacturer
Audiophiles who appreciate quality products should look for manufacturers renowned for engineering, craftsmanship and design. Alfred has extensive knowledge of hi-fi equipment from different manufacturers that allows him to recommend, assemble and sell balanced systems that provide optimal listening experiences.
Highend-electronics’ Apple Valley location – half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas – in California’s High Desert offers clients worldwide convenient appointments for visits, listening experiences and system evaluation. System setup/calibration and speaker/turntable repair are also offered with high end audio components from manufacturers such as VAC Magico Rogue Marantz Clearaudio all stocked for availability in inventory.
The Retailer
Many people make the mistake of placing too much emphasis on selecting individual pieces of audio equipment, when in reality it is the whole system that matters more than any individual component. That is why many consumers opt to purchase their high end audio equipment at local retailers who will take time and care in designing a comprehensive system tailored to the customer’s specific needs.
A good dealer understands that their reputation depends on the quality of products he sells, so they take time selecting products which reflect well upon themselves and reflect well upon their company. This doesn’t always mean selecting those with the highest price tags; rather, look for those which provide maximum sound for their dollar spent.
Not only should a top dealer specialize in selling high end audio equipment, they should also possess an exceptional understanding of all the details involved with setting up home cinema and multiroom remote control systems – including wiring techniques and installing advanced keypad controllers. A great dealer should even be able to offer in-home demonstrations of his systems!
Some individuals will make decisions regarding high end audio equipment based on reviews written by prominent audio critics, yet these assessments can often be flawed. Few reviewers have worked in retail or manufacturing of such items and few possess musical acumen required for accurately reviewing such an expensive product. Furthermore, these critics typically perform their evaluations under less than ideal conditions without honoring empirical repeatability requirements – leaving buyers often dissatisfied with their purchases; many dealers even say those who depend solely on reviews will ultimately end up disappointed with what they purchase – many dealers say those who rely on reviews will eventually die by them!
The System
If you’re thinking about investing in high-end audio equipment, begin by clearly establishing your needs and wants. Do you prefer playing music throughout your home? Would stereophonic or multichannel “surround sound” audio/video playback meet your aesthetic or space restrictions better? In such instances, performance must often take second place to accommodate such requirements.
As a general guideline, half of your budget should go toward speakers; however, this figure can vary depending on other considerations. A reliable dealer will be able to guide you in finding a system that best fulfills your individual requirements.
No matter what components your system includes, its ultimate aim should be to evoke the sound of a live concert. To do this, your system must create an illusion that transports listeners backstage into the presence of the musicians – this distinction sets high-end audio apart from rack systems found at department stores.
Music enthusiasts entrust high-end audio magazines as sources for product reviews. But few critics working in retail or manufacturing possess the necessary musical and technical knowledge to accurately judge a high-end component’s performance, as well as any effects its evaluation conditions might have on perceived quality.