Great pity. I thought that they were getting massive stocks of items which allowed them to sell some stuff cheap.
The D2000 was a great deal - end of line when the D2000 was going anyway and they bought a load of them.
They kept trying to sell (and still do) such awful headphones that just look pretty. That is a great pity.
I went around Norwich yesterday and there are just three hi fi places near the Market area. Not big.
The funny thing is that they are so close to each other.
One is the Sevenoaks place. Full of themselves and what they see as high end gear. Not so much in the way of 'classic' gear. High prices where the Senn 598 is selling at top whack so no real deals to be had there.
Then there's this electrical store that features in Norfolk that sell TV's and other electrical stuff. A bit more competitive on price but limited in what they sell.
A Richer Sounds where what they actually have is hidden away behind the counter so you have to ask for it with a sales rep standing there. Since it's all boxed up, you can't hear it.
Then there's HMV.
The only place I could hear headphones and be left alone was Sevenoaks with their limited supply or HMV and their duff collection of headphones.
You're right about what music is available too Puffin. If it's mainstream pappy type stuff, they seem to have it but aren't that bothered about finding anything unusual or less popular. I guess they can't be bothered!!
Maybe we're too elitist?
If you walk into the Apple store in Norwich though, there are LOADS of people glued to headphones on demo, so there is a demand for headphones and people want to listen and compare.
What got me thinking about it is the fact that Headroom are stopping selling their own amps and the guy who runs the shop put up a notice on Headfi saying so with a link to the site.
There is a photograph there of the shop, and it's like Aladdin's cave with headphones on display and listening stations, which is what I thought HMV might have done with some better headphones. If I was close to Headroom, I would certainly pay a visit - it looks great.
Trouble with headphones is that it's such a lottery with no really good places to hear them before you buy. Yet hi fi stores have dedicated listening rooms for speakers; although you have to book it and get yourself into a sales pressure situation!!
Maybe we need a list of really good hi fi places in each town and where they are so that visitors like me can find the damned places rather than wander around like a lost bunny looking for something interesting!!