How To Audition Speakers: Your Personal Listening Methods

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As you know I prefer an in home audition but that is not always possible. I still got 4 weeks for the SALK's to arrive and I might still try the Ascend Sierra-1's. If they have them at the Futureshop the next time I go I will be taking home out the Verita v5.1 bookshelves. I have done that a couple of times with other Energy speakers since they're the only place around me that has a return policy. I have listened to a few speakers in big rooms at stores like Futureshop/Best Buy but never took anything out of those cases. Some speakers that I have heard several times did not sound the same at another place even with similar gear and similar placement. The room takes control but still gives you an idea of differences if you listen to other speakers in the same room with the same gear and placement..

Here's a good guideline for auditioning speakers.

http://www.hometheater.com/advicefro...speakshoptips/

I agree with most or all the points especially taking control of the remote and I usually like to be left alone once everything is set up. Don't like the feeling of somebody behind me in the room. Makes me feel rushed too. I also don't take anything that I know will sound good on most/any speaker.. for example Diana Krall. Her voice is strong and most times that I've heard it playing it would never sound bad. One CD I used to always bring with me is the City of Angels Soundtrack because it has a good mix of all kinds of music and some good vocals. It's also HDCD encoded but sounds good either way. Most places have a good Blu-ray that I almost always have in my collection so I don't bring Blu's just CD's.