The Sound Demo FROM HELL - A True Story. 

I was looking for a new cartridge and found a great cart at a good price on Audiokara from a guy about 45 years my senior who lived nearby. So we set up a time to meet and we met in the parking lot of a grocery store near his place. He pulled up and I gave him the money and he gave me the cart and all was well. Then he took a look at my car and noticed the NPR sticker on my window and asks, "oh do you like NPR? I love that radio station. You seem like a nice guy, do you want to go back to my place and check out my system?" I had the rest of the day off, and admittedly I was nervous, but I figured, why not. So I followed him back to his place and he lets me in and leads me to his basement. I was getting really nervous at this point, but he opened the door to the basement and I see the most beautiful system I've ever seen and a wall full of great records. We sat down and listened for a while and I was truly impressed. We swapped numbers and have been good friends ever since

I would have sold the girlfriend before the speakers...lol.

This reminded me of a time I demoed a pair of speakers in someone home, although my experience was the complete opposite. I had read about LSA1 Monitor speakers and contacted the company to see if they had any dealers in the Seattle area (where I was living at the time). They did not, but put me in touch with their engineer who lived in the area and I could go demo a pair at his house. Their engineer turned out to be John Tucker, after I listened to the speakers, he graciously offered to demo his Exemplar Horns he had set up in the room. To this day those horns are still some of the best sounding loud speakers I've ever had the opportunity to listen to.

Gotta say Andrew, you're a gifted orator. Thanks for sharing a part of your journey with us

Andrew, what an amazing story. Man, you had me laughing. Love your videos and thanks for always keeping it interesting.

I have no clue why YT showed this video to me. But it was worth every second. Very interesting story. I could feel how arkward the situation was. Thank you sir. Now i have to check those speakers on Google.

Hilarious story. I listened to it on my phone during my drive home. I was laughing out loud. For a moment I was thinking, "Surely I missed something and Andrew is reading a David Lynch movie script?!"

In the 70's I worked for an industrial laundry, delivering shop rags, doormats, dust mops, etc. When I stopped at chain hi-fi shops, I'd often get a quick demonstration of loud rock and roll on big, cheap speakers powered by big Japanese receivers, which, as long as there was lots of loud bass, impressed me because it was louder (therefore obviously better...) the junk I had at home. One independent store sold mostly the high-end stuff like KEF speakers, McIntosh electronics, etc, and one day when things were slow, one of the friendlier salesmen did a proper demonstration of the details and spacial information effects in a Joan Baez recording that really good speaker and electronics could reveal. It both ruined me and gave me a new hobby (and obsession?) that's stayed with me the last 50 years, although that hi-fi shop has long since become an Afghan market.

You had my full attention from beginning to end Andrew. Awesome story! You really have a storyteller quality.

Your story is hilarious and made me laugh out loud when you said you found yourself alone with the elderly woman and cats. It was like listening to a scene from a good comedy movie. Your ability to tell a life event and help the listener see what you saw is excellent. I tend to do the same thing when I am replaying strange events in my life - I want the listener to experience what I experienced, so I try to provide as much context and detail as possible. I can appreciate your delivery and a funny story. Thank you.

You truly are a good speaker/storyteller! I'm going through your back catalogue! Good vids man!

Love stories like this. Thanks for sharing.

Probably your best video. Gold, loved it

I can listen to you, telling stories all day man.. just uniquely awesome!

I have to admit that’s one of the best stories I’ve heard yet from you

I love the story. So much of your story parallels how I started down the abyss of being an audiophile, and later a videophile, of which I'm neither now. I just can't spend that kind of dough anymore, but I've had some great equipment and a great experience in the process. I've also gotten rid of equipment that my GF or wife didn't like - B&W 808's are insanely big and placing them into the room a bit away from the walls, takes up a lot of space. Then there's the Mark Levinson ML-3, an amplifier bigger than most microwaves. Great videos!

I’ve very fond memories of the original CLS’s as well.........., and still recall them as having one of the best sounds I’ve encountered like ever. Good story.

This reminds me of my weird coincidence story: Around 1989 I sold my pair of B&W 801-FS's via the Los Angeles Recycler Classifieds. (I had just purchased Martin-Logan Sequels!) About 8 years later, I find a pair of used B&W 801-Series2's in the Recycler, and I go to LA to check them out. The seller was an Asian man that looked oddly familiar. It turns out he was the guy who had purchased my older 801's 8 years earlier!.... and now I was buying the newer Series2's from him. I still own the 801-S2's, still in near mint condition! I've owned many, many other speakers since then, trying to replace them..... but they might be my all-time favorites.

I heard the 1st iteration of the CLS back in the 80s or 90s and they blew me away in the almost tactile realism they presented.

Andrew, you’re my kind of guy. First, because you’re an audiophile. Second, you tell a great story. And third (and most importantly to me personally)... you drove a Ford Probe. My first car was a 1993 Ford Probe GT, and I still have it to this day. Looks and runs like new. Cheers!

I loved listening to this story. Just goes to show you never know what you may encounter when you enter someone's home.

Great story! Loved every minute of it! Crazy where circumstance will take you huh? Thanks Andrew!

Love it! One of the best weird demo stories ever.

I had a pair of CLSs and love them, love them a lot!

Well told! I’ve been in some awkward situations where I emotionally fluctuate between what I am there for and fear. I half expected a police raid to come up! Glad it all went well.

My dad had a pair of CLSzII many years ago: I'm still missing that sound... now something better is playing but that sound was incredibile and unique!

That was great! It’s one of those stories you’re sad when it ends cause it’s so good you just want more lol and I bet you have plenty more.

You are a great story teller. That is why you are a great RU-vidr!

Great story, well told. I think most audiophiles have some weird stories of their own. It goes with the territory. Thanks

Greatest story I've ever heard from a RU-vidr . Awesome .

I never expected to see a VinWiki video... on loudspeakers

What a hilarious story 😄 I can completely understand the situation you found yourself from, walking into a strange home and having the homeowner’s grandmother show up. But when you said the cats showed up I lost it 😂 I also have met sellers of used stuff that expect far too much for damaged goods. It’s unfortunate that some people have unreal expectations for the resale value of what they have.

Great funny story Andrew. Brookes was a great dealer and gentleman. Really miss him and his TT knowledge and wisdom. I sent many a customer to see him when I was working in the industry.

What a great story, and to this day, the first time I heard CLS is the best music revelation I have ever had 👍

I think the lesson to be learned here is any girlfriend who doesn’t like your speakers based on how they look isn’t worth keeping.

After he cam back in different clothes, I was expecting you to say that he asked you "You like Huey Lewis and the News?"

ohmygod, I LOVE this story - having worked for many years in the audio world in the 90's and early 2000's, I can certainly appreciate a good "bad audio demo" story as I've sat through several on the opposite side of the coin (from the dealer perspective). Glad you didn't die.

WOW what a journey! Sounds like some of the situations I was in to get my audio fix as well ( Magnepans were my pic). THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

Great delivery and had me laughing out loud 😁

That was one of the best audio stories ever. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! Just discovered your videos and all 3 I've watched have been excellent! This story made me subscribe. Signed - a new fan!

What a great story, masterfully told!

Great story. Thanks for sharing and bringing a smile to my face.

Loved your story! And yeah, it was weird. Funny, I've had many strange experiences in my life and I too like to look back on them fondly. (Like dining with blue-faced monkeys while stranded in Mombasa.) Anyway, I had a similar audio experience with Magnepan speakers when I was in high school in the late 70s. I had a friend whose older brother was really into high end audio and we accompanied him to a shop in Phoenix one day. A sales rep in a listening room way in the back was playing a "Fresh Air" vinyl album on a turntable machined out of a solid slab of marble, through a set of power amps that could have doubled as arc welders and into these massive Magnepan speakers. The sound was nothing like I had ever heard and nothing like I've ever heard since. It was an out of body experience. I understand Magnepan speakers are pretty much useless if not in an optimal sound room with optimal placement. So, I doubt I'll ever buy them. But man, what a memory. And thanks for sharing yours.

I went to school with Brooks and work for UPS in Monrovia. Use to go into his shop at lunch all the time. Great guy, great store, miss him lots.

Amazing story....LOVED IT.......Cheers Andrew.

That's an incredible story. The only way it gets better is if you walk out with a hidden jewel. I guess still having your wallet and your kidneys when that visit was over should definitely be counted as a win too.

🤣 this story made my week. Something eerily similar happened to me buying some drums. Why is there always cats involved in these type of stories?

The BEST stereo store In Lincoln Nebraska, (in the 70s) was in a house, up a long gravel driveway. Huge custom speakers and amps THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. BOUGHT MY FIRST Klipsch speakers (Heresy’s) there. Missed that kind of store every since.

I first heard the cls in a New Jersey high end audio store, had to make an appointment, when I first saw the speakers with a friend, I thought they were broken, because it was a large wooden frame, & could see through them, I remember listening to jazz on a Cambridge audio cd2. Never forgot that day

I remember I guy I dated briefly in 1989 had magneplanars, these were only short 5ft version. I could not believe what I was hearing when he put on Lou Reed....it was in short incredible. Like being enveloped in the music.

Brilliant! - you inadvertently gave a fitting name for that seller's 'company' - 'Audio Experience'.

Andrew was shook out of his mind.

You're quite a story teller. I enjoyed the listen 👌🏽

Love this story!! You’re an excellent story teller!!

I met Brooks Berdan in the late '80s at GNP Audio, before he struck out on his own. Great sense of humor; very knowledgeable. He asked me about my equipment. The obvious weak link of my system was a David Hafler kit preamp. He went in the back room and emerged with a conrad johnson PV-5 box. "Here, take this home and try it. I just finished modding it" It had new tubes and lots of new signal-path components. I took it home and listened for a few days. The next time that I was in Pasadena I asked him what he wanted for it. I wrote a check for $800. He promised to buy it back for $800 if I decided I didn't want it. Kept it for years.

So well narrated. Great story !!!

"All the cats" LOL - great story! Thank you for your videos

Great storytelling. It reminds me a little bit of those vinwiki car stories

Great story ahahahah loved the Shining reference. to quote Jim Morrison " People are Strange "

I burst out laughing more than once during this story. Thanks a lot for sharing this! :D

Great story. You should do a series of 'Tales From The Audio Files'.

I always have a funny suspicion that audiophiles are hoarders who lives with their moms.

Never had anything close. Loved the story and more importantly, the way you told it.

Great story man! Thanks for sharing!

Awesome and very funny story. Most of us have had a creepy audio audition. Luckily, most have resulted in audio friendships.

i would NEVER EVER sell my speaker for a gf !! if she loves me .. she will accept my audio hobby !!

Captivating story. Sounds like something Rod Serling might've written! As we get older, we look back on things we did and can't believe what we subjected ourselves to! Interesting strange tale!

That’s a great story , you are a gifted orator. 😊👍

This video was the entertainment for my afternoon 😂🤙🏼 let’s see more!

Truly harrowing. The grisly details of venturing into the unknown territory of private sellers can bring chills in the retelling. You actually went into someone's home, in a suburban neighborhood? Madman, you deserved every bit of menace that old woman and her cats deployed on your quaking soul. I'm going to have nightmares now. Maybe I can hide under a couch in the Magnolia listening room and sleep there tonight.

Awesome story - bloody crack-up! Please share more. Hi-fi experiences somehow seem to be rather 'unique'.

I've had a similar experience with the Naim distributor in Italy... Very nice gentleman, very nice encounter.

honestly that wasn't that weird, but you t old the story in an interesting and engaging way.

Oh man, what an awesome story. I've had a few weird moments like that doing IT support calls and they're the reasons I don't do home support anymore. The money wasn't worth the weirdness.

Loved the story. I owned CLSs as well, and paired them with 2 Janis sub bass systems, as John M referred to them. I was, and am, a horn guy, so I did not own the CLSs for very long. To each his / her own.

Best Demo story ever! Thanks for sharing.

Nice story! I ones sold a pair of NAF speakers to an audio friend at the time. The buyer later contacted me and said he was not amused ‘cause one of the speakers didn’t sound quite right. As an honest seller I told him they did ok when I last heard them So ….. Later on he called me back an said the base port was filled with LEGO. It appears that the kids filled her up with building blocks.

Andrew, I am a new subscriber and am enjoying your videos!, this story was 'spooky' for sure, glad you made it out alive (O: How weird right? I wanted to comment on your most recent video and also sort of goes with THIS video. You were mentioning the decline of Brick and Mortar stores. I agree, however, thanks to my local upscale brick and mortar store, I sold and passed on my beloved Klipschorns of 11 years of enjoyment , and went into a completely different direction. This dealer has a showroom, and they also carry the Martin Logan line. I have visited this store and have purchased a number of quality items to continue MY SUPPORT to help keep them going and when my interest in ML began a couple months ago, I set up an 'appointment' if you will, a few weeks back from this writing. They had the Classic ESL 9.2's ready to go at my request when I arrived, handed me an iPad with Tidal and left me alone without interruption! I spent a good 45 minutes listening to my familiar music and was SOLD. This is was my FIRST experience with Martin Logan! Just watching all their professional videos was cause to go and HEAR them first hand! My dealer did not have the GLOSS BLACK in stock, but they placed my order with my modest down payment. They were delivered a few days later to their warehouse, and I had to make TWO trips to fit them into my new Ford Escape, as the boxes are HUGE ! The speakers have consecutive serial numbers! Once home and connected to my Marantz AVR, I realized I needed a much larger amp, and since they carry Parasound products, they suggested the A-21 and the matching P6 preamp. I trusted the owner in suggesting they would all be a nice match together and so, I bought those as well. After only two weeks of listening, I can honestly say, this is certainly the finest audio 'kit' I have ever owned, and I am 67 years of age and been doing this for most of my life. The depth and width of a great orchestral recording's sound stage is beyond any box or horn speaker I have ever owned! The listening space is fairly large, so they are 15' center to center apart, and my seating area is 17' back... My dealer is 'Safe and Sound' in Chicopee MA. and they are THRIVING! They just purchased a 19,000 sq. ft. warehouse and are going to move the store from the current location of over 35 years to this new space. I was given a TOUR and it was like going into Home Depot!! The same floor to ceiling racks all in long rows the length of the building only ALL new audio gear. Then, I was shown the markers laid out on the floor for the THREE 14x24x9' listening rooms about to undergo construction! The owner said "This space will be built for guys like YOU, who want to sit and have a serious listen." They will also have a 'casual' showroom as well. I am VERY lucky to have such an audio business right here in my own backyard, one of the last, rare and few brick and mortar stores for sure! Sorry for my long story, but I just had to share with you and your readers, as I felt it was very timely. I will continue to look forward to and enjoy your video presentations! Kind regards.... Gary

Awesome story and great ended!

Great story!! Painted quite a mental image! :-)

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 That was freaking awesome...lol! The fact that you're alive is a miracle...Keep the reviews and now the stories coming!! Lmaooooo @swivel!!

Hahaha!! Nice demo! :^) Gotta love them Martin Logan's!

I have listned to Quad ESL 63 and Gradient bass. Wow! That´s good!

That was HILARIOUS!!! GREAT story! I kinda got scared when you said that the guy came back with completely different clothes on. I thought you were going to tell us that he came back with pajamas on. THAT would've been creepy!

Fantastic story! :)

Very strange experience yet so Interesting.

Have a similar story but they were Martin Logan sequel 2s. I bought them out of a guys house and they lasted about 10 years. Always loved those speakers and ended up trading them for some wood flooring once the panels went bad. Every time I hear a good electrostatic panel to this day it gives me goosebumps, just like the first time I heard them in that guys house.

I have these as well. Upgraded from the factory as to panels & boxes from II's to IIz's. I am the original owner & still enjoy. At the time I was making a clarity or warmth decision as to these or B & W 802's. I wanted both. Still do or Klipsch. They are in a small area now with a PrimaLuna EVO 3000 tube integrated amp & still phenomenal. I do use some old Velodyne subs matching wood aesthetically also upgraded cones once. Not as great as subs today though. A great review as well as the best speakers.

As someone who likes old vintage hifi and old tube equipment, this is not even close to as weird as some of the places I’ve gone to find gear. Dealing with cats, messy places, and strange old people is par for the course.

"It's like the door from The Shining. It is beat to shit!" 😂😂😂

Good one brada! Just rock on .

Wonderful story, Andrew. Reminds me of crazy HiFi buying experiences I’ve had too.

Sounds like he'd be right at home in a host of vintage obsessions, from watches to cars ;) As far as neighbourhoods go, the classic IME has to be an acquaintance of mine from the 80s. I can only imagine what the barrio looked like at night but anyone crazy enough to buy a car in Mexico was clearly up for it. 10pm, pitch black and dogs barking like the Spanish were at the gate - Tarantino would have loved it. '57 Chev that had been painted with a brush and an owner with little English, but money talks and AFAIK he still has that car. If you want something bad enough, no amount of dirt roads and barking dogs will stop you ;)

Oh, damn man! Haha! Now, that be some good story tellin’ right there! Dude, that was so funny! You just made me pee myself laughing aloud, while sitting in my listening chair. Haha! Did the cats wave goodbye back? Oh man, Andrew. Thanks so very much for the huge laugh. You had so many funny little phrases in that story, and it was obviously off the cuff. Bravo, my good sir! Have you ever tried standup? Seriously. If not, I think you could be good at it. Absolutely excellent vid, Andrew. Many thanks. 🎶👍🔊🙂

Great story and told well!Some audiophiles are some strange cats!No pun intended.

This was a good story and a great deal for those speakers even for back then. You never forget your 1st listen. For me it was a pair of Energy pros

OMG! I was laughing so hard when the old lady took her seat back. It sounds like you were trapped in a deleted scene from Pulp Fiction.

LOL Great Story!!!! Thanks for sharing. Cheers!

You should feature more stories like this! Kind of like the VinWiki style of video!!!