+1 As a McIntosh dealer, they are required to be able to measure performance in a home, and demo great sound. However, what "great sound" may be differs by whether it's for classical, rock, or jazz. Speakers are built with these three types of "sound color", when I was really into evaluating speakers a while back. Rock speakers have boomy bass. Jazz speakers have bright mid-range to feature sax and trumpet. Classical is most "true" across the spectrum. and stereo "imaging" is also best because of thet. Bose really sucks at stereo imaging. I ended up buying from a McIntosh shop that also sold Boston Acoustics among its brand choices, and their high-end models had as good sound as the very most expensive, according to listening and tests in their elegant listening room. Many places around town now sell Boston Acoustics speakers, including Best Buy, but Audio Perfection does not. <http://www.bostonacoustics.com/DealerLocator.aspx> shows many in Minnesota and several in Eagan near my Zip code. I don't know who has a good listening room, tho. I've also had my old high-end speakers professionally rebuilt locally when cones aged... MUCH more economical than new speakers!!! Most important to select speakers in a good listening room and using a particular piece of music to compare speakers. Considering your home listening area is equally important, because something that sounds good in the store may not sound the same at home (home and/or speakers can be "balanced", tho). For me, a Telarc recording of the Olympic Fanfare was ideal, and the stereo imaging of the French Horns showed the stero imaging very well. With good classical speakers, I can add "color" if I choose, but I can't make rock or jazz speakers transparent enough for top quality classical. Chuck > -----Original Message----- > From: tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org]On Behalf Of Jeff Jensen > Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 8:57 AM > To: TCLUG Mailing List > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] WAY the heck off topic: audio equipment > > > My absolutely fav store is Audio Perfection on Lyndale in Richfield. > While they also carry "the best" stuff ("high-end insane audiophile > stuff"), they also carry moderately priced stuff that is at top of > consumer gear - e.g. Denon, Creek, etc. > > On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 2:16 AM, Yaron <tclug at freakzilla.com> wrote: > > So with just about every electronics store except Best Buy closed, do people > > on the list have any hints on where to go for stereo equipment? Not high-end > > insane audiophile stuff, but still, you know, nicer than Best Buy. > > > > Probably end up buying stuff online, but it's nice to listen to speakers > > before buying 'em. > > > > > > -Yaron