Title: "HT in K-Town!" ...or... "Why aren't there better HiFi shops in this God-forsaken city?" ;-)

[JerryW]

What a way to start out my posting debut in this forum.

Anyway, it's good to be here and I thought I'd bring up a subject that's very near and dear to my heart... the crummy prices and customer service at our local HiFi shop. You know the one I'm talking about (hint: it's not Now! Audio/Video, I consider them to be more MidFi). For what it's worth, I'm making this Statement in the hopes of finding a better local or semi-local place to shop for gear. So, you guys that live in Knoxville (and surrounding areas) where do you shop for HiFi?

PS. I'm not a big fan of buying gear over the `Net unless I absolutely sure of what I'm wanting... I guess that's why a local shop is so important to me.

[Lexman]

My God man, why not ask a tough question right off! lol. Also, I caught your "suttle" hint. When you make a "statement", you really make one! lol.

I have asked myself those same questions about this area for a very long time. In fact, if I could find funding, I have considered starting a shop myself. Pricing there is aweful on most products. I bought Rotel there once years ago at retail. After rethinking it, I returned it, and saved like 500 bucks on a demo online. "wink" Sure, I felt a little bad doing that, but hey, that's a lot of bucks!

It soured my relations with them for a good while, and that was without them even knowing about what I purchased after returning it. I guess I couldn't blame them a little bit. Where he really got pissed, was when they were slow to credit my Credit card, and I "pushed" to get my money back before I had to pay the CC company.

I did solidify our relations when purchasing Sf speakers there. But I didn't pay retail. I flat out told Greg I wouldn't. I saved 20% on 3 Sf, and bought my Mirage M590SIs for half price. (already on sale due to closeout). I can probably dicker a deal on most things with Greg now. But that's not a relationship that was easy to establish.

Jerry, I really appreciate your signing up with us, welcome! Tell me about your system, did you enter it in your profile here?

Also, as the Knoxville HTG contengent builds, a get together locally sure begins to seem like a feasable thing to do! Right now, I think we got a golf foursome, provided everyone plays!

List at present:
Kerry, Wireless, JerryW, and myself. Excellent!

Lex





<A HREF="http://www.catcables.com" <IMG SRC="http://www.htguide.com/lexman/other/sm_logo.gif"

[Wireless]

I'm always up for a game of golf!

Like Lex I've been able to establish a good relationship with the guys and never pay retail. In fact I have been able to make a few purchases cheaper than I was able to find online, maybe dumb luck but I would rather be lucky than good anyday. I didn't buy all of my equipment through them but have spent tons of bucks in their shop, they know I shop around. I have no complaints now.




John
My HT Picts

[John Holmes]

Welcome to the forum Jerry.

I don't live near you but, no matter where one lives there are always shops like that. Like Lex stated, just tell them what you are willing to pay (resonable of course). They may or may not bite but, at least you'll know that you tried to support a local shop first.

I have a local mid-hifi shop that has a great upgrade program. Because of this I wanted to buy through them but their prices are Retail and, they won't budge unless you have an advertised lower price from a B/M store. The salesman seem genuine about trying to do the best for the customer. It's the owner that is unwilling to move.

I still hope that in the future I will be able to actual purchase from them. I don't mind paying a little more for good service and all that but I refuse to lay down for it:B




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[JerryW]

I guess what's torqued me off the most is how they've ignored me almost every time I've gone in there. I don't even receive help when I ask for it... Sure, someone will come around to help me after I wait 45min, but that's just way too long to wait for service. :M Maybe it's the way I dress (usually in a tshirt and jeans) but I refuse to dress up to go to a audio store.

BTW, Doug, you were wanting my equipment list. It includes:

B&W Nautilus 805's (F&S)
B&W Nautilus HTM2 (CC)
B&W ASW 2000 (Sub)
Onkyo DS575 (soon to be replaced with seperates, DS989, or Denon AVR-4800)
Onkyo DV-C601 (DVD changer)(will be going progressive when I get my new TV)
Onkyo DX-C540 (CD changer) (I love this piece, great CDP)
RCA 32" POS (getting a new RPTV this year)

I got all the B&W's used from a guy in Johnson City 3 months ago and all I can say is WOW (he'd just bought new Martin Logans). I love the softness of them (Brit speaker trait) and they've far surpassed my expectations in music and HT. Once I get my new Receiver (or seperates) I'll be set... and as you can see that's my main dilemma, the guys at "you know where" won't work with me (or even talk to me) so I'm kind of at a loss on where to buy it/them.

I guess I'll be taking a trip to Nashville in a couple weeks... it's just a real shame.




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We need a better HiFi shop in Knoxville!

[John Holmes]

Welcome to the forum Wireless.

Jerry I feel for you. I like to be left alone when I enter a shop. As long as we speak (say hello) I'm okay with that. It gives me the chance to look at my liesure and not be disturb/distracted from my quest. Now if I ask for assistance and get ignored for the next 15-20 min and there aren't others (customers) ahead of me then that's different.

I never dress a certain way just to go to an "audio salon". It better not matter:W




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[Lexman]

Ahhh, sound like nice speakers Jerry! I would love to hear them sometime. I have never heard my first B & W, though I did see some in the box once, lol.

Well, it seems that other's experiences are not to different from myself here in town.

Jerry, there is no way that you should go with a receiver, if you want to bring out the best in those fine speakers. There are many equipment options out there, I suggest you begin to explore these possibilities. If you've never experienced a Lexicon, you may want to check my system out someday.

Lex

[JerryW]

Sorry to be so irritable about this guys... I guess the wounds are still too fresh.

I'll probably go by and scope some gear out tomorrow and may give them another chance. But that's it, just one more.




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We need a better HiFi shop in Knoxville!

[JerryW]

Jerry, there is no way that you should go with a receiver, if you want to bring out the best in those fine speakers. There are many equipment options out there, I suggest you begin to explore these possibilities. If you've never experienced a Lexicon, you may want to check my system out someday.


Really? Not even a nice high-end receiver like the DS989 or the AVR-4800? Would I be able to tell that much difference? I'm not really a hard-core audiophile... more like a severe enthusiast.

Truth is, I've only got $1500-2000 to spend and I'm afraid that seperates are going to be too much. More than $2K and my wife will have me castrated... Just 3 months ago I spent $2500 on speakers... I think I'm starting to push my luck. :E :W




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We need a better HiFi shop in Knoxville!

[Lexman]

I certainly understand budgetary constraints Jerry. I think it's still possible to get you into seperates though. Even if some of it is used.

For example, say a used Sony 9000ES pre-pro, and a 5 X 100-125 amp. Probably 2 grand or less. Be creative. There are some deals out there to be had, just be careful.

Even a used Lexicon DC-1 and a 5 channel amp is a possibility.

Lex

[Susan]

rant begins

I don wanna hear it! I'm stuck near Lynchburg, VA, a blue-collar hell where "upper end" is Circuit City! I'll trade any day!

rant over

rant back on

our biggest excitement is a new Best Buy that opened this past Christmas

rant going on and on and on and on...

[John Holmes]

Susan is right. Sometimes we do forget that atleast we do have audio stores outside the chain stores.




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[JerryW]

Susan, CC ain't too bad... that's where I buy my Onkyo stuff (they can even order the DS989, which IMO is the best sounding integrated receiver on the market). Their "high end" stuff is actually pretty good MidFi (I like the Infinity IL series, considering the low price).

Now as for Best Buy... well... ummm... they have a good selection of HT software. As far as HT hardware goes, their "high end" is what? JBL? Yamaha? (although I do like the 5280) I always get that cold shudder when I walk by the Bose display. bleh! :P




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We need a better HiFi shop in Knoxville!