Buying Without Audition

That is a problem (especially for large and heavy speakers for which return shipping can be expensive). In your shoes, I guess I would begin by doing a lot of web-based research (which it sounds like you may have already done, or started doing); then pick a city with a lot of brick-and-mortar audio dealers to visit or vacation in as you can (NYC, LA and Chicago come to mind here) and make the rounds of the stores. (Alternatively, attend one of the big annual audio shows... Rocky Mountain, Chicago, NYC, etc.) to audition many speakers and systems in one place. If neither of those is an option for you, Ihen check out some of the bigger (and well regarded) online retailers such as MusicDirect, Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc, and Upscale Audio. Another fav of mine is Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio, Tx. This is by no means an inclusive list... just the online merchants I've had goof interactions with... Best of luck,

Michael

Volsfan, I too spent a lot of time looking at Salk/Murphy speakers. The SS12's were out and looked promising but ran into production problems. Jim was very open and honest as far as the different lines' attributes. 
Ultimately, what did you decide on and what do you drive them with?

Hi Larstusor,
    You're in a spot that plenty have been in...sometimes with the demand on family it is impossible to leave for a couple of days, so I understand that you can't go listen.... Your only other option is to shop and educate yourself as thoroughly as possible, then shop for values in used speakers so that you can re sell without getting burnt so bad.  Good luck,  Tim

definite road trip.
living in the middle of nowhere is cheap so driving must be far.
i'd research local craigslist adds or ebay listings within 100...200 miles around where you can actually drive-in and check-listen.

Shame on me ,.I did this once spending $17,000.00 ,.!...

It was a turntable made popular by reviews at first then all sorts of praise and accolades here on Audiogon including other popular sites which in the end was nothing but a herd mentality promoting a mediocre over priced turntable for many that love it however can't hear ,....