Why We Only Sell Grado Headphones

[@TriAmpMyFi]

So Grado's site price might be your suggested retail then. Do you take orders & ship or is it walk-ins only? Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[@audibleeleganceinc]

It depends. We prefer walk in purchases where the customer gets to experience them and is satisfied with their purchase. Once you go mail order, that is not assured and we really are not all that interested in generating "slightly used" headphones. So, it depends upon the conversation, so to speak. We are also not predatory on other dealers and prefer that you do buy locally if possible.

[@TriAmpMyFi]

@@audibleeleganceinc Makes sense. Thank-you for your reply.

[@danielgeiger7739]

I went to a similar store with nothing but Grado, got some Grado Reference 2e and was reasonably happy. However, then got Dan Clark Ether 2, and those are miles better than the Grado. Grado are ear-piercingly sharp even on a tube headphone amp (Woo WA6 SE), causing rapid fatigue. Did not realize that without comparison. For potential customers: If a store only has one brand, move on. For store: if you cannot justify at least a minimal selection from different manufacturers, possibly don't have headphones at all. my 2c.

[@audibleeleganceinc]

And your point is valid and we are considering doing just that. Why? Given that folks insist upon using a thousand different drive units for headphones assuming absolute compatibility with any brand, the results are all over planet earth. Saying Grados were ear-piercing is about the last quality on earth I would peg to Grado but illustrates my point exactly.

[@kaybhee6]

oh... missing,,, w k r p.... fun show

[@audibleeleganceinc]

Ah yes, the days of insanity. Yep, that's what makes the world fun.

[@ChrisStoneinator]

Cuz all these kids interested in the new crap default to ordering things on Amazon. They don't see the value of dealers when they can buy "harman tuned" chinese crap at a deep discount for next day delivery without going outside. Source: am 24 and have spent a lot of time in that sphere.

[@audibleeleganceinc]

Pretty much. But, you know, Amazon is not the only source and there are some operations that simply have no overheard and lots of shelf space with minimum wage employees to pack it and ship it out. And the convenience of sitting at home and clicking a button for some is simply the ways things are done. It is what it is. But, the sting to us was trying to sell them, having people listen in the store, sometimes for hours, ask us a lot of questions, and then use the keyboard. We simply could not afford to be the salespeople for other companies.

[@ChrisStoneinator]

@@audibleeleganceinc Oh I'm not on their side, to be clear! I always buy audio gear from a dealer unless I'm after something used and rare. I have so many other hobbies that lack dealers and I think it's an underappreciated gift that we have them in audio. Amidst all the hype online, established audio dealers actually know what they're talking about and don't sell products they don't stand by. Any extra cost involved is well worth it to avoid being misled or disappointed by a mail-order product you haven't heard without a dealer warranty. If I never went to a dealer, I'd never have my Stax and I'd still be searching for an adequate replacement for my original Grado RS-1 that doesn't have an artificial "soundstage" presentation with scooped mids that suck the life out of my music. Can't stand all the stuff that's hyped online.