I have NEVER, nor will I ever, buy a piece of audio equipment, without
first listening to it.

What happens if you make the equipent yourself? You've effectively
"bought" it all before you've heard the result?

Trevor Wilson wrote:

**Then don't buy them. Not ever. Would you buy a car without test driving
it? Would you marry a woman without first bedding her? Why on Earth would
anyone in their right mind, buy an audio product without first listening to
it?

followed by:

**It is possible to hear kit products, before building them. At least one
Australian manufacturer provides either contact details of other clients to
prospective kit builders, or allows them to listen in their showrooms,
before purchase. I also understand that they have some kind of return
policy, as well. I am not certain about this, though.

Now I see what you mean. You drive the dealer's demonstrator, listen to a
properly built kit, and you don't get married until you've had her sister.

--
Eiron

No good deed ever goes unpunished.