Why do you go to audio shows?

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bluegrassphile

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As a repeat audiophile from the '70s and therefore new newb, I'm still wondering why people are advising me to go to audio shows to audition new gear and make decisions on what to purchase for my new system?

OK, so let's say I go to a show (Axpona for example). I'm going to go to rooms set up for new and innovative audio gear and the rooms all sound different, the gear all sounds different in the different rooms. In some cases there might be new gear within a room...inside another room. The gear, in this environment, will not sound like it will in your home or listening room. The demo rooms and the listening environments are no where near standardized. And because of this you can't truly compare components.

"Oh, but this speaker is so transparent, revealing, smooth, clean, etc., etc., etc....compared to what? How are you going to compare components when they're in completely different listening environments? In order to assess the sound you have to be able to compare components.

If you don't have at least somewhat standardized listening environments you cannot effectively evaluate (which includes making comparisons) different brands of gear. So, if this is true you just as well buy the first component you listen to since you cannot somewhat accurately make comparisons to other products.

IMHO, we're fooling ourselves if we think we're making anywhere near accurate comparisons whether it's at an audio show or in the store. Although you'll come much closer in a store.

In order to make relatively accurate comparisons (especially at a show) ALL the equipment would have to be in the same room and use the same listening environment. Am I wrong on this? I really don't think so.

So back to our original theme...why should I go to an audio show? To me it would be to see and listen to new gear but NOT make purchase decisions. And maybe meet and talk to other audiophiles. But I would think you would be much, much, better off listening and making purchasing decisions at the store where the listening environment is, loosely, much more "standardized."
 
I go out of love of audio and the gear.

You would go, not to make a purchase decision, but to educate yourself as to what is available, new technology, price range, make a list of possible components to buy, etc. You may not be able to compare brands side by side but you can make a reasonable decision o whether you might like a brand's sound. Although, that's not always as some set ups aren't always consistent in the rooms, year to year.

I don't see how you wouldn't gain something out of nearly 200 rooms.

Now an argument could be made in your favor if you were ready to buy and visited someplace like Suncoast that has nearly every brand for you to compare :)

bluegrassphile said:
As a repeat audiophile from the '70s and therefore new newb, I'm still wondering why people are advising me to go to audio shows to audition new gear and make decisions on what to purchase for my new system?

OK, so let's say I go to a show (Axpona for example). I'm going to go to rooms set up for new and innovative audio gear and the rooms all sound different, the gear all sounds different in the different rooms. In some cases there might be new gear within a room...inside another room. The gear, in this environment, will not sound like it will in your home or listening room. The demo rooms and the listening environments are no where near standardized. And because of this you can't truly compare components.

"Oh, but this speaker is so transparent, revealing, smooth, clean, etc., etc., etc....compared to what? How are you going to compare components when they're in completely different listening environments? In order to assess the sound you have to be able to compare components.

If you don't have at least somewhat standardized listening environments you cannot effectively evaluate (which includes making comparisons) different brands of gear. So, if this is true you just as well buy the first component you listen to since you cannot somewhat accurately make comparisons to other products.

IMHO, we're fooling ourselves if we think we're making anywhere near accurate comparisons whether it's at an audio show or in the store. Although you'll come much closer in a store.

In order to make relatively accurate comparisons (especially at a show) ALL the equipment would have to be in the same room and use the same listening environment. Am I wrong on this? I really don't think so.

So back to our original theme...why should I go to an audio show? To me it would be to see and listen to new gear but NOT make purchase decisions. And maybe meet and talk to other audiophiles. But I would think you would be much, much, better off listening and making purchasing decisions at the store where the listening environment is, loosely, much more "standardized."
Click to expand...
 
There are obvious limitations on the performance of any piece of gear auditioned in a specific situation, be it in a dealer's showroom or at an audio show primarily demoed in hotel rooms. The other connected components, cabling, room acoustics, power quality, isolation, setup, and many other factors affect the ultimate sonic quality experienced. After many years of auditioning more gear that I could enumerate I've come to one realization regarding evaluating a particular piece of gear in unfamiliar setups, and that is to only allow myself to realize that each piece of gear in a given system is capable of at least the performance level heard.

So take a pair of speakers for example... when listening to them in any system I feel secure in knowing that they are at least capable of the perceived level of sound that I experience. They may be capable of much higher performance, with better supporting gear, cleaner power, better setup, acoustic treatments, etc. but I know they can at least perform at the level I actually hear. As such and despite as hard as it is to do so in practice, I try to only let myself form positive impressions from such auditions. Any setup that I'm not favorably impressed with can be due to any number of factors, but can't be reliably attributed to one specific component of the system under evaluation. Only when I hear a specific component in a very familiar system of a suitable level and it's the only component being changed during an audition can I come to a more reliable opinion on the ultimate performance level of the unit under test.

I still find going to audio shows and visiting dealer showrooms beneficial since they allow me to experience much more gear than I could otherwise audition in my own system. I often hear others saying that their current system sounds so good they couldn't imagine it being any better or more realistic. To that I say that you never know what better gear is out there and how much better it can ultimately be unless you allow yourself to actually experience it. Of course if your budget won't permit such costly upgrades or you just choose to be happy with what you have that's fine, but most audiophiles I know are always looking for what else is out there and how they can potentially improve their systems.
 
There is no reason to go to audio shows and listen for yourself. The audio shows are just trying to take your money. Instead you should just read reviews and forum comments and then make your purchases based on other peoples opinions only.
 
MikeCh said:
There is no reason to go to audio shows and listen for yourself. The audio shows are just trying to take your money. Instead you should just read reviews and forum comments and then make your purchases based on other peoples opinions only.
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:roflmao:
 
Serious question, since you only have one dealer anywhere close according to you and you have all kinds of reasons for not going to a show how are you going to decide what to buy a year from now? Also realize that many of the models you are focusing on may not even be around as new a year from now. I am in a similar situation dealer wise as you and even worse as we have none in a town with three universities. Closest one is three hours away and better ones 6-7 hrs. I know how I have done it but curious what you think your method will be?
 
Like I said, This is all new to me. I've never been to an audio show in my life. I've had people advise me to go to an audio show to help me in my purchase decisions. I've watched some youtube videos of audio shows and there is music coming from all directions, loud "crowd talk", and gear set up and playing in all the rooms. I just thought it would be a difficult environment to listen to and compare components. I now understand there is much more to attending an audio show than I realized. Thank you, Mr. Peabody and audio.bill for your helpful and educational posts. I do appreciate it.
 
You go to audio shows to get a taste, a sniff and a sip of what the gear can do. Can you ever fully 100% evaluate it? Probably not, but the more shows you go to, the more you can hear what that particular make/model can and can’t do. You also go to meet the people behind the company. Really get to see the gear up close. These are all valuable experiences. If the gear sounds fabulous in a shitty hotel room, guess what? Chances are it won’t be any worse in your room.

That being said, the rooms at world class shows like Munich and Elberoth’s show in Poland are a different animal. Still not perfect, but much better than some of the tiny hotel rooms we often see in America.

But if that task is all too daunting, then you’re best advised to work with a dealer who gets to know your tastes, music habits and budget. Let’s call him or her, the “filter”. :)
 
Jack said:
Serious question, since you only have one dealer anywhere close according to you and you have all kinds of reasons for not going to a show how are you going to decide what to buy a year from now? Also realize that many of the models you are focusing on may not even be around as new a year from now. I am in a similar situation dealer wise as you and even worse as we have none in a town with three universities. Closest one is three hours away and better ones 6-7 hrs. I know how I have done it but curious what you think your method will be?
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Jack, since my post about living in a virtual audio wasteland I talked with my wife and we decided to combine a short vacation to Florida and visit Mike and Suncoast Audio late winter/early spring next year. Hopefully, I'll be coming home with some gear.
 
Mike said:
You go to audio shows to get a taste, a sniff and a sip of what the gear can do. Can you ever fully 100% evaluate it? Probably not, but the more shows you go to, the more you can hear what that particular make/model can and can’t do. You also go to meet the people behind the company. Really get to see the gear up close. These are all valuable experiences. If the gear sounds fabulous in a shitty hotel room, guess what? Chances are it won’t be any worse in your room.

That being said, the rooms at world class shows like Munich and Elberoth’s show in Poland are a different animal. Still not perfect, but much better than some of the tiny hotel rooms we often see in America.

But if that task is all too daunting, then you’re best advised to work with a dealer who gets to know your tastes, music habits and budget. Let’s call him or her, the “filter”. :)
Click to expand...


I once was blind, but now I see! ;)
 
Sounds like a great idea and if you time it around the front end or back end of the show you can do two things at once. And if your into baseball maybe catch a spring training game at one of the fields local to Sarasota/Bradenton.
 
Jack said:
Sounds like a great idea and if you time it around the front end or back end of the show you can do two things at once. And if your into baseball maybe catch a spring training game at one of the fields local to Sarasota/Bradenton.
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Cool! Yeah, we'll probably do some sight seeing. I had 2 nephews that lived in Bradenton. They moved back to Iowa after about 15 years down there. It was really booming at the time. One nephew lived in a somewhat rural area in Bradenton and he had some issues with Eastern diamondback rattlers. That's not why they moved back though. They just decided they wanted to raise their kids in Iowa.

But, yeah, we will likely visit some tourist traps. I also have a buddy that lives down there. Will probably visit him. I'd love to go to an audio show if there's any to visit. I might have an opportunity to go to Axpona next year too. Is that always held in Chicago or do they move it around?
 
Mike can confirm for you when the Florida Audio Expo in Tampa is going to be next year and you can plan around it. Axpona is always in Chicago.
 
Axpona is always in the same location, except when they move, LOL. Really, it's been at one place for several years but 2 years ago it moved to another venue, but, the show typically is in the same location. Just check axpona.com
 
Jack said:
Mike can confirm for you when the Florida Audio Expo in Tampa is going to be next year and you can plan around it. Axpona is always in Chicago.
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Sure. Feb 7-9. We are going to double in size this year. Well, hopefully! 70-80 rooms is my goal.
 
I go because it is fun to see what is out there and the gear that I will lust over the rest of my life because I can't afford it. It also gives me a chance to annoy my wife after the show by telling her about all the expensive gear that I want and keeping her guessing as to whether or not I am serious.:D
 
I’ve only been to RMAF, and it was a very cool experience to see and hear lots of gear.

Plus you get to meet some of the people behind the brands that you own or like, including the side groups you become friends with from the forum.

I had my heart set on Munich this year, but was not able and will now consider RMAF or Florida.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Mr Peabody said:
I go out of love of audio and the gear.

You would go, not to make a purchase decision, but to educate yourself as to what is available, new technology, price range, make a list of possible components to buy, etc. You may not be able to compare brands side by side but you can make a reasonable decision o whether you might like a brand's sound. Although, that's not always as some set ups aren't always consistent in the rooms, year to year.

I don't see how you wouldn't gain something out of nearly 200 rooms.
Click to expand...
These are also the reasons I've been going to shows for over 35 years. I'm not currently in the market for any gear but I still get a thrill out of seeing what's out there. Nowadays I usually leave the shows thinking that my system sounds pretty damn good.
 
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