Access to and trialing equipment continues to be a problem for me and Australians in general. The Australian market is limited due to population, affordability levels, consumption priorities and largely ignorance. Indeed what we are mostly talking about are non-stocked, unconsigned, JIT imported luxury items with manufacturing origins from North America, EU, Japan and now China.
I took the safe bet and have generally been satisfied with the core level of HiFi I focussed on. I didn't buy the very best in "High end" but bought on the basis of longer term historical credibility at a time when the local foreign exchange currency was able to take me a little further.
Relatively speaking, if I were to build a new system from scratch today, I could be inclined to make different choices because all things are no longer equal.
It is a difficult process but you can develop an ear over time which can be used to listen to many "potentials" at HiFi shows and the like. It is very rare that a demonstration is setup correctly in ideal surroundings. Those eager to spend their hard earned on luxury electronics and loudspeakers need to understand this and take their time even if it means travelling the world to research and listen before making a commitment.
There is a lot of over priced gear out there today especially loudspeakers that do not excel past a common sound that is truly better than their recent vintage peers. The latest model is sometimes not as good as last year's model because of corporate economic compromise in favour of profit margin.
Dealers often criticise customers for making certain "high end" choice combinations especially if they have purchased outside of their particular stable or, if they have overcapitalised on one aspect of their system it is a vulnerability the dealer will try to suggestive sell upon. Sometimes their argument has technical merit. Often, they fail to demonstrate in reality a differentially better performance/value proposition.
Just because it is shiny and expensive, it doesn't mean it is technically innovative and brilliant enough to become a classic keeper.
Some of the HiFi industry is built around clever marketing and pseudo science so don't believe everything you "hear" or are told. That HiFi magazine review is rarely critically negative because the industry is not geared that way. Take your time, never pay retail and those technical measurements don't always stack up to what sounds best to you.
Lastly, forums can help you narrow down the subjectivity but try to look past the sponsorship and hurrah.
