| Editorial September 2002
Audition First, Set Your Budget Second
Scene: The dealer’s showroom, a large
multi-room facility with home theaters ranging from $1500 to $250,000. There are a few
salesmen scattered about, with sounds of The Fast and the Furious blasting from one
of the larger demo rooms. In walks a man dressed casually, in his mid-thirties. He’s
wide-eyed and full of glee because he is anticipating the purchase of an entire
home-theater system for the large FROG (Finished Room Over the Garage).
A salesman approaches, expertly sizing up the customer.
Salesman: Hello sir. Can I help you find
something today?
Customer: I’m looking for a home-theater
system. I’ve been contemplating it for a while, and I’m ready to take the
plunge.
Salesman: How much are you looking to spend?
Customer: About $15,000 for the whole
kit‘n’caboodle; a monitor with a full 5.1 system. Although, if I can get by with
less, that’d be nice.
Salesman: Tell me about the room that it will go
into and I’ll show you some things in your price range.
Stop! What’s wrong with this picture? It’s a
classic case of the cart coming before the horse. Here is how it should be played out.
Salesman: Hello sir. Can I help you find
something today?
Customer: I’m looking for a home-theater
system. I’ve been contemplating it for a while, and I’m ready to take the
plunge.
Salesman: How much are you looking to spend?
Customer: I’m not sure. I have a room
that’s about 20’L x 23’ W, and it’s fairly well lit. So that’s
what I’m dealing with. Let's start out with your least-expensive system consisting of
a monitor and 5.1 sound system and go from there.
That’s better! For most of us, it makes far more sense
to audition home-theater systems and components first, and then establish exactly how much
you’re willing to spend. You may have a budgetary ceiling before you start the
process, which most of us do. The problem is that most consumers have a budgetary floor
too, and many times they’re the same amount!
HT&S Tip: Be willing to spend less if you can
get the same performance and be just as happy for less money.
Being in the position I’m in, I get to hear and see a
lot of gear. Even still, I’m continually amazed at how much performance you can
get from a relatively modest investment. Speaker systems, video displays, and receivers
are just three areas where the price/performance ratio is vastly better today than it ever
was in the past. Without auditioning the current crop of leading designs in any given
category, spanning the gamut of price points, it’s impossible to know just where your
expectations really are.
A good dealer will be able to let you audition a
budget-priced system and take you step by step up through the ranks to the crème de la
crème of his range. Along the way you’ll learn what the additional cash outlay buys
you, or doesn’t. Only you know what all of your criteria are. Is the finish on the
speakers important? How about brand names? Are you more comfortable with products you have
read about? There are so many issues that even a good dealer will never dig them all out
of you. An extensive audition process, one where many price points are examined, will help
you to understand your wants and needs better.
Once you establish these expectations, then set a
budget and audition various systems and components within that price point. At that
stage, you’ll be concerned less with price, because that’s been decided.
You’ll then be looking at the competition within a price range, figuring out which
choice(s) offers the best mixture of features and performance. You’ll also determine exactly
what suits your tastes.
Don’t put the cart before the horse; audition and then
set a budget. You’ll avoid second guessing your decision and be happier in the long
term with your purchase. Maybe your wallet will be happier too.
...Jeff Fritz
editor@hometheatersound.com |
