Hi folks,

Could you please advise me on good showroom in Northern VA area? I know two places people mentioned on this forum -- MyerEmco and Audio Buys. Are there any other places?

What I'm looking for is set of speakers for Onkyo TX-SR606 or 607 I'm going to buy. Initially I wanted to get whole 5.1 set for about $400, but after some reading decided to move gradually with better quality. At this stage I'm going to get front, center (and possibly sub?) for 70/30 movies/music. As I understand, the good rule of thumb is to spend on speakers twice as much as the cost of receiver, so at the end I'm looking to spend gradually $800-1,000 for the set of speakers alone.

Thanks!

There was a really good one up in Kensington. Yea I know, a bit farther. ME sort of owns this market. So many have closed recently, not sure.

I like Myer-Emco the best in NoVa area.

I believe Tweeter is closing down. I never cared too much for their stores anyway and always thought MyerEmco had the more "accessible" and easy-to-follow experts to compliment their more elaborate showrooms.
I've always liked the Myer-Emco in Tysons the best, as I especially love the theater room they have there. The most important aspect is that the people there are VERY friendly and knowledgable. I find that at most ME stores, but the Tysons one is the best! I would go there. There's another good ME store near Montgomery Mall that is quite a bit larger which I've been to a couple times - great setups there.

There's another place called Sound-Imaging in Falls Church on Rt 50 which has some really nice-looking showrooms. The only problem - you know how when you walk in these places and the managers/owners are in the corner involved in some intense technical exchange which almost sounds like a language from a different planet, and you feel less like you're in a store but looking through stuff in someone's house that's not really for sale while the family is eating dinner? This place nails that feeling to a T as you almost have to light yourself on fire to break their concentration. They're pleasant and civil when they help you, but I think they're more geared to appointments and serious buyers as opposed to walk-ins. The ME stores (especially Tysons) are far more accessible and social to everyone while also knowing their stuff.

Don't miss TWEETER at all. Is SOUNDSCAPE still up in Balto?
Audio Associates formally in Laurel I think have a appointment only showroom in Annapolis Junction. There was the other big store, one in Columbia and the main was behind the Chevy dealer at 40 and the Balto beltway. Can't remember their name.

Your understanding that it is the speakers that count is dead on. I would hook up Wilson's to a $50 amp and still need better speakers. Don't know of any, but still....