RTSY: it is good that you brought up this topic. I for one think that audio retailers here in the Philippines especially the ones selling "hi end" components should improve on their knowledge of the product and not just sell for profits! Here are my reviews :
LISTENING IN STYLE
-SPEAK TO JR STRAIGHT and IGNORE THE COUPLE OF LADIES AT THE DESK (1 FAT and 1 OLD)
!
-PRICES ARE FAIRLY GOOD IF YOU GET TO TALK TO JR and BARGAIN
-IF YOUR SETTING UP A SERIOUS HI-END SETUP AT HOME, GO ELSEWHERE JUST BUY THE EQUIPMENT FROM THEM! THEY SELL GOOD BRANDS LIKE MERIDIAN, JADIS, AIR TIGHT, CLASSE, PASS LABS, NAIM, WILSON'S, DYNA'S ETC.
DISADVANTAGE :
-WHEN JR IS NOT AROUND, THEY ARE OUT OF SORTS
-WHEN JR IS NOT AROUND AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR CASH AND JUST WANNA GO IN AND BUY AND WALK-OUT, IT CAN TAKE UP TO 2 HOURS!
-WHEN JR IS NOT AROUND AND YOU WANNA KNOW SOMETHING, YOU WONT!
-WHEN JR IS AROUND, YOU HAVE TO QUEUE UP TO GET YOUR CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM.
AVDI (AUDIO VISUAL DRIVER)
-WILFRED IS AWESOME
-WILLY IS A VERY GOOD INSTALLER BUT HE IS VERY WINDY (SIGNAL NO.4, I WONDER WHETHER HE AFFORDS TO PURCHASE A MARK LEVINSON AT HOME) AND YOU WILL END UP SPENDING P100K ON ROOM ACOUSTICS BECAUSE HE WILL BLABBER ON WITH IMAGING ETC.
-IF YOU WANT TO SETUP A HI END SYSTEM AT HOME INCLUDING ROOM TREATMENTS AND MONEY IS NOT A FACTOR, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GET THE PEOPLE TO DO IT!
-GOOD SALES STAFF.. NO PRESSURE TO PURCHASE ASAP AND FAIRLY KNOWLEDGEABLE COMPARED TO THE OTHER STORES!
DISADV :
-RIP OFF PRICING! (US RRP MULTIPLIED BY 50 THAT WILL BE YOUR BUY PRICE!)
ELECTRONICS DEPOT
-FAIRLY GOOD DVD COLLECTION
DISADVANTAGE :
-NO PRESSURE TO BUY BUT THE NEXT TIME YOU HOP IN, THEY WILL BE STARING AT YOU!
-STAFF ARE ZERO KNOWLEDGE ON THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL
-THEY SELL DENON, DENON, MIRAGE AND DENON FOR HIFI!
-SETUP OF THEIR AUDIO EQUIPMENT IS BAD, WASN'T ABLE TO AUDITION THE AWESOME OM-5 PROPERLY BECAUSE OF LINE NOISE! THEY USE THIN INTERCONNECTS FOR DEMOING THEIR HIGH END UNITS! DENON/MIRAGE SETUP SOUNDED BAD BUT SOUNDED WAY BETTER THROUGH ANOTHER COMPETITOR!
UPSCALE AUDIO
-SMALLISH SETUP BUT FAIRLY DOWN TO EARTH PRICES
-SONUS FABER I LOVE EVEN WITH COLORATION
DISADVANTAGE :
-JUN IS CRAP AND ARROGANT WHILE RANDY IS HELPFUL
-HERMIE IS FAIRLY STRAIGHT FORWARD BUT LACKS OVERALL AUDIOPHILE KNOWLEDGE VS ITS COMPETITORS
-VERY LIMITED MODELS AND BRANDS
DCM
-WAS VERY ACCOMODATING AT FIRST
DISADVANTAGE :
-LOCATION IS BAD
-DOESN'T OPEN TILL LATE
-MELVIN IS TOO WITTY! ACCOMODATES YOU BUT AFTER SALES IS LIKE HE DOESNT REMEMBER YOU ANYMORE
-SELLS ANYTHING BRITISH! ARCAM, MUSICAL FIDELITY, MISSION, CELESTION! NO HE DOESNT LIKE CYRUS!
I HOPE ONE DAY WE CAN HAVE STORES LIKE SOUND BY SINGER IN THE US WHERE HI-END COMPONENTS ARE CARRIED BY KNOWLDGEABLE STAFF AND VERY GOOD AFTER SALES SERVICE TO BOOT! IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE MARK LEVINSON'S, KRELL'S AND AIR TIGHT'S CUSTOMERS IN THE PHILIPPINES GOT THEIR MONEY'S WORTH!