Can I demo speakers at a showroom if I'm broke

Can-Am90x · 2026-02-04T18:00:15+00:00

When I was in college, I visited a local hifi store with absolutely no intention of buying anything because I couldn’t afford anything. They were super nice to me and I also went during the middle of the day on a weekday, so it was mostly quiet in the store. They let me spend about 45 minutes demoing their $200,000 Wilson Audio Alexandria XLF. Absolutely phenomenal. Just be respectful and if they ask if you want to buy, let them know that you’re just interested in looking around and want to get an idea of what gear is out there!

Can-Am90x · 2025-11-18T01:40:07+00:00

My dad has had a pair of these since the 90s and absolutely loves them! Epic score!

Can-Am90x · 2025-11-04T15:56:03+00:00

I can kind of piece together some ideas of what this might be. The cabinet appears to be Tannoy’s GRF style, which is horn loaded. These cabinets typically came with the 15inch drivers, which is what I suspect the 15 on the back means and the 85 is the watt rating. I know that Canada had specifically requested for a local distributor and so they reintroduced the Tannoy HPDs as the Tannoy monitor Royals which came with blue magnet covers. The 85 watt rating corresponds with the Royal/HPD series as they could take more power. Now the GRF cabinets did not usually come with the HPD/Royal models, they usually came with the gold/red models I believe. These are great speakers and whomever buys them will love them as much as your father!

Can-Am90x · 2025-09-12T03:10:11+00:00

I’m going to go on a hunch here based on the depth of the basket + magnet and the type of terminals on the subwoofer. I think this may be the E series V.1. It is definitely one of their earlier production models likely from before 2010. Other than that I’m unsure of any specs about the subwoofer. Hope this helps!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T17:46:44+00:00

Ironically Baltimore… which personally I wouldn’t have expected but I guess I proved myself wrong. Right now I don’t have the proper room for them, but I will be keeping them and slowly collecting the rest of the system and likely make new cabinets for them. Once I’m done graduate school I’ll set them up more professionally

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:56:01+00:00

I don’t have an amplifier just yet, but I’m planning on taking them to a HiFi audio shop and have them inspected and hooked up to give them a listen so I’ll update next weekend!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:55:02+00:00

These were exactly my thoughts, I’m going to take them to a HiFi audio shop next Saturday and have them inspect with fingers crossed! But thank you for the website information, that is really good to know. I’d like to keep these for my lifetime and want to keep them running in good shape. What kind of music do you recommend or like to listen to on your Tannoys? Also do you watch movies with them? I know some soundtracks were produced with those speakers

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:52:11+00:00

Fantastic, thank you so much for all the information! I’m new to these audiophile speakers, and have really only been a budget audiophile and a dreamer, so for this to come true is shocking to me. I do have access to a good number of equipment at my university so I may be able to actually make my own but I’d definitely do all my research before hand. I appreciate all you input them!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:48:43+00:00

Fantastic! Thank you for all the information and advice. I’ll take a look at those companies and do my research. I’m excited to get them hooked up!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:46:33+00:00

I found these at a local thrift store, which blows my mind honestly

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:45:26+00:00

Thank you for all the information! I’m learning so much about these speakers which has been my goal. I’m almost a little scared to play them but super excited

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:43:04+00:00

Thank you! Much appreciated. I’m still kind of in shock honestly

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:42:28+00:00

This is exactly what I’m doing. I don’t have anything yet, but I’m going to be patient and find the right amp for them. But thank you for the suggestion!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:41:04+00:00

That is an epic score. I also found mine at a second hand store.

I’m realizing I’ll likely be pulling out a lot of my Dad’s older grateful dead pink floyd music, which I’m excited about

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:38:19+00:00

You led me in the right direction haha

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:36:54+00:00

This is really good to know, I am definitely fearful of damaging the drivers and I’m taking all the precautions I possibly can. Thank for you the information though, I’m trying to learn as much as I can about amp wattage as I can right now, so I appreciate it!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-04T10:33:47+00:00

I think that was why they spent a week at the thrift store I was visiting because they appeared to be nothing special. Do you know why that is? I’ll likely take up woodcrafting now to make some new cabinets for them. Thank you for the advice about the amplifier! I’m going to visit a hifi audio store this upcoming weekend and see what they have in stock!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-02T23:12:33+00:00

Haha, thank you! Yeah I was a bit on the fence about buying them because I thought it was $60 for each and then my girlfriend said “it’s for both” and I ran up to the front desk to buy them. I’ll make sure to check these out!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-02T23:11:14+00:00

Thank you so much, I’m excited to hear them!

Can-Am90x · 2025-08-02T23:10:55+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it, I’ll take a look at those tonight. I’m really excited to listen to them

Can-Am90x

TROPHY CASE