@audiozen - When you owned your store, what did you pay for rent? Utilities? Insurance? Employees? Taxes? Build-out? Maintenance? I think the value added by a knowledgable retailer who offers service and demonstrates products is worth it to many consumers. And many B&M retailers do discount off list. I sometimes buy direct, but I let the product determine where I buy it, not the profit margin of the seller. Would you rather have a great speaker sold only in stores with a bigger markup, or a mediocre one sold direct by a seller operating on thin margins? |
To answer OP's last question, neither the Focals nor the Ascend Acoustics match well with your AVR. They both greatly outclass it,. In addition to probably not having enough quality watts to get the most out of them, the preamp sections of most AVRs are not good. And as many audiophiles will tell you from personal experience, the preamp is one of the most important factors in the ultimate sound you get out of your system. If you're planning on upgrading to this level of speaker, I hope you are planning to upgrade your electronics too. |
spendmoney...Here is an excellent choice of low priced high end quality components from Nord Acoustics in England. They make Class D amps, preamps, and integrateds. You have your choice of Hypex Ncore or B&O ICE amps. You have two choices of Op amps. From Sparkos or Sonic Imagery. The Sparkos op amp is better, known for its warmer, richer, more relaxed signature. Here ya go. www.nordacoustics.co.uk |
OP, you can try that, but you're not going to be dealing with that dealer real long because Focal imposes contractual price obligations to sell their products. My dealer marked mine down $700 and after tax they were $4000 on the nose. He's not in business anymore either. Besides, audiozen is right. Those are speakers that won't play well with an AVR. They like muscular solid state amps that don't go weak in the transistors with a 2.5 ohm load. Those 936's require excellent amplification and will reveal every inadequacy of a lesser amp. |
