For so many of us, purchasing is the most important thing we do because it is the point where we part with our hard earned cash. I've never seen a guide on "how to demo" kit so I thought it would be good to see what people thought was the best way to demo kit for both:
a) Home Demos
b) Shop Demos
For example, blind A/B testing is a popular way of doing shop demos. For home demos what is the length of time needed, should the shop setup the gear and should we allow for potentially poor setup?
Also is there something specific we should be listening for or should we just kick back and relax. I personally prefer to do both and allow a certain amount of time where i just switch off my brain and then turn it on again and listen hard for (mostly) round earth virtues.
Posted on: 30 April 2002 by J.N.
I'm fortunate to live not far from an excellent Naim dealer.
Most potential upgrades; I don't need to 'dem' at home, because it's pretty obvious that a better CD player or power supply IS better. I just wait until I can afford it, and go for it.
With items such as speakers; it is essential to have the 'home dem'(and set-up) facility of a good dealer.
We are lucky to have a manufacturer who realises the worth of professional advice and installation and refuses to let Mr Richer stock it at a knock down price.
(I'm not knocking Mr Richer by the way!)
Posted on: 30 April 2002 by Phil Barry
My approach is based on the assumptions
1) that shopping time is lost time
2) that there's a LOT of good equipment out there, so there are a lot of ways of winning the game
3) that there's SUch a LOT of good equipment out there that one can't hear everything that's good; therefore, it's best to give up on eth hope of getting the absolute 'best'
So, to minimize shopping time, I first want to know what's bothering me about my current equipment.
Then I listen to a short list of recommendations from magazines, deaers, and this forum.
I bring some CDs with me that show off what I don't like in my current system; also some that I love via my current system - hard, with CDs, but I'm lucky enough to have a CDS1 :-).
I try to find 2-3 items that move me based on my listening experience with a lot of different music.
Then I bring my wife to hear the short list. If she doesn't like it, I don't buy - she's got good taste, and if I'm going to make her hear what I buy, she's entitled to a vote.
Then I decide which one I want to take home for a more extended listen. If the equipment really moves me at home, and if my wife doesn't hate it at home, I keep it.
Then, when Stereophile trashes my choice, I can simply say to myself that I must have tin ears, but at least I enjoy the sound I get at home a LOT. And I don't waste a lot of time in stores....
Of course, if you like shopping, or if you delude yoursef into believing you can get the absolute 'best', this method would not work for you.
If I'm buying used Naim electronics, I just buy within my budget. If I don't like what Naim has to offer, I'm in deep sh*t because I know I'll have to spend some serious shopping time to find something I really like. Fortunately, my next few steps are clear (win lottery...s'cap/52 or 552/PSU), and I'm a long way from taking them.
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 30 April 2002 by Bosh
Home demo is an eye opener
For example: I've just black SNAIC'd the prefix and XPS/black burndy'd the CDS2 (from CDSPS) and most would agree this should be a no brainer.
Unfortunately my (modern dry-lined)listening room suffers from an excess of bass and both these "upgrades" have exaccerbated this. The shop demo of CDSPS vs XPS showed the latter to have a much tighter presentation in the low end, not the case at home.
