Always bargain with Music Direct. Unless a brand prohibits it, they are quick to offer a discount if asked.
My experience as well with Music Direct…great trade in value
for my former Parasound A21 for a new JC5…the JC5 was weather
wrapped and tied down to wooden shipping pallet…on arrival the
outer Parasound shipping box was pristine…so were my Focal Aria 948s
Music Direct is big on service…yet PS Audio could show 'em a thing
or two…
Music Direct is really good but doesn’t have a jamesh …“whizzy kid”…
Best wishes all
Many years ago, when my brother lived in the Chicago suburbs, we went into the city to go to Music Direct. At that time, they were in a warehouse district on the near northwest side (if I remember correctly) with no storefront. Just a door in a brick wall with a buzzer. They didn’t sell anything close to the amount of equipment they do today - they were primarily a music store, though I recall they were in the process of tearing things up and arranging for a couple of gear demo/listening displays. It was a hugely fun (and costly) trip, but it was clear they were primarily a remote business (meaning web and phone). They were nice to us and all, but I felt a little bit like we were getting in their way.
Yeah, Music Direct on Bryn Mawr in the Lincoln Square/West Edgewood neighborhood. Walk-ins are welcome, but their primary business is on line. My in store experience with them years back was similar.
I was interested to learn that Music Direct owns Balanced Audio Technology. Not sure what else they own. But they ain’t small anymore!
Mobile Fidelity
Has anyone had experience with Upscale Audio in California? I’m considering some purchases this year, and was looking at their website. Do they also negotiate on price?
Thanks,
RJ
I’ve been a customer of Upscale for over 20 years. Kevin Deal is a total character (for better or worse 
), but very knowledgeable and an excellent salesman. They will negotiate on price over the phone on certain products, but it seems not PrimaLuna, but you can try. They have really grown in recent years but are new to the 60 day home trial game and will scowl at you if you push the boundaries by trying and returning too many things, which is fair enough. They seem to have their sights set on challenging Music Direct. I’ve always experienced a fair shake from Upscale… and their YouTube videos are entertaining.
Lately, in their YouTube videos, Kevin takes veiled shots at PS Audio over their Made in USA claims.
That’s really interesting, considering it was started by Victor Khomenko and Geoff Poor, the latter being owner of Glenn Poor’s Audio/Viideo in Champaign-Urbana, IL. Geoff took what had been his father’s primarily TV and radio business and turned it into a respectable high-end audio salon. I think they may have even opened a Chicago location, though I don’t know if it’s still around. Not that a dealer can’t sell out ownership of a line to another dealer. It just makes it a little more interesting. Geoff’s a great guy, and I was sorry I was never in a position to buy from him when I lived in central IL. Not that he didn’t try hard to get me to upgrade my Maggie MG1s to Apogee Centaurs.
On the REL’s… this message is at the top of the REL website:
NEW SERIE DEBUTS APRIL 13TH AT 9AM PST
Glenn Poor’s of ChamBana, and eventually Chicago. Great people, saw Geoff a few years back and shared stories. Unfortunately their slower paced approach did not work out as well in the Chicago market with the store closing as quickly as it appeared. Geoff is quite the salesman, had me close to pulling the trigger on a Bel Canto Harbeth system. I did purchase Dick Sequerra speakers and some Forte equipment from Glenn Poors.
haha, i checked in on the REL announcement, and there’s a timer on that page…
and it counted down to the appointed hour, and the time came and went with no announcement that I could tell, and now the timer just keeps increasing
ok, even funnier, right when i posted this, the email arrived.
Serie T/x
T/5i: $599
T/5x: $679
T/7i: $999
T/7x: $1099
Was thinking of getting a pair of T/7i’s which are on sale now for $899… hmmm…
Ha! I wonder what the improvement is other than increased margins. I’d ho for the discounted T/7i’s while they are still available.
I was just about to say something unkind about you, buying the last pair out from under the person who had posted earlier that they were considering the purchase, until I saw you had quoted yourself!
So instead I’ll just offer my congrats on snagging them!
i try to keep it all on the up and up here on the forum, just in case I decide to run for office someday
Glad it worked out, looking forward to your impressions with them.
REL T/7i’s arrived today and I promptly hooked them up with the Maggies. Wow.
Immersive is the first thing that comes to mind.
I don’t listen to what I think of as bass-heavy music, but it really lets you feel it. Very happy with it.
High-level connection with the Bel Canto monoblocks. Definitely the way to go.
My initial impression of the Marantz Model 30 is that Herb Reichert is entirely correct, it absolutely can drive Maggies, including the LRS, very well. Not sure about his claim of having to spend 10K to get a better match, though his enthusiasm is appreciated.
The Model 30 is every bit in the same league as Hegel in terms of current for Magnepans. The Marantz presentation is quite different with a taller, wider soundstage and a bit softer image than the very clear Hegel. Hegel puts the soundstage behind the speakers, while the Marantz has it a bit further forward, but not as far forward as the S300.
It’s a tough call in terms of Hegel vs Marantz’s Model 30/ Ki Ruby for the LRS (or .7’s, etc). Both are excellent with the LRS, just a different flavor of ice cream.
Going by looks alone, the Marantz gets all the dates 
Thanks. Mine are still 7-8 weeks away . . . but the Stella M700/GCD are getting well burnt in.