An Interesting Development

So I went over to one of the local hi-fi stores yesterday to listen to a few integrated amps, and see what was what. Only I didn't get to listen to any. The sales guy insisted that it would not really do me any good. He said since they did not have the speakers I had, and he was not familiar with them to provide a good alternative, it would not really be useful for me to listen to any amps. He suggested I bring my speakers in and try the amps all out that way.

I guess he has a point. Well, he definitely does. There would be no way to pick the best amp for my speakers without listening to them together, but still. I was a bit surprised that he would not even let me listen to anything. Now, granted, the place was rather busy, and the room with the amps I wanted to listen to had the door closed, which usually means someone is in, listening intently. But still, I was a little put off by the experience.

I mean I know I should listen to amps with my speakers, but with such a long list of possibilities, it is impractical to do that with all the options. I had hoped to listen to a few and get an impression of their characteristics relative to each other. Was one warmer than another? More forward? More clinical? I felt I could have done that their in the space. But oh well, I will just go to another store first and see what happens there.