Would you pay to listen?

Mitch4 Sorry, that is'nt going to happen. It would'nt be a viable business model, to set up premises just to sell listening time for HiFi. It would have to be in a store selling kit as well, to make it viable. High end stores have the time. When have you ever been to one where customers are fighting to get assistants attention.

The store has fixed costs in terms of rent, the kit itself, salesmen, why not sweat the assets by selling listening time.

I repeat, I do'nt think it is fair to go to a store and audition, if you are not in the market to buy, at least without being upfront and saying why you are in the store. If the manager is happy to help foster good elations with a customer, that's fine. I for one, would frequent a store with that outlook. It never ceases to amaze me, how many shops are downright rude and dismissive of potential customers, howdo they stay in business. You have to encourage your customer base, say with open access demo evenings, with coffee or a few beers.

Yo Mitch4t...my day job is Comedy Writer.

And I would pay $20 to watch people scurry around wiring up a 200K system I've designed for them to assemble for me. That in itself would be worth it..."little to the left there Bob...and don't forget the Magic Bricks and Mpingo discs"...listening to it would be gravy after watching a sweaty tech earn less than an oil changer at Jiffy Lube. Still, to revisit the real world for a moment, I think these high end gear sales dudes are missing a great opportunity that recently was grabbed by the guitar freaks...make it sexy. Ever see "Guitar Aficionado" magazine (pretty funny over the top nonesense)? It's pure "guitar porn" not really matched by any of the hifi mags I've seen...and the overpriced world of "guitars actual musicians can't afford" is booming. If you look at an issue of Architectural Digest, except for maybe an overstuffed "Media Room" for film and popcorn digesting, there is almost NEVER a visible "wealth level appropriate" audio rig anywhere.

I would if atmasphere's preamp and MA3's were driving the best soundlab speaker made today;using a top digital source and analog setup;I think I would place down a twenty.

You got that right Rleff. Or maybe the big Audio Classics w the field coil driver. But I agree with David12 and Wolf that it ain't gonna happen in the real world, beyond an open listening promo session that a high-end boutique might offer. Can you imagine someone allowing any Tom Dick or Harriette to handle their $10K tonearm w a $15K nude cantilever cart on it. I know I would not. I also agree that its hard to understand why more dealers don't offer once a month evening sessions. Beside generating good will, it might be a viable way to separate the tire-kickers from the buyers.

hi mitch 4t:

in principle, based upon your paradigm of the context of the listening environment you propose, i would not pay to listen. there is no justification in my mind to pay for listening to a pre-owned stereo system , regardless of its alleged quality.