The problems associated with buying hi-fi equipment are numerous, beginning, of course, with just what to spend your money on in terms of equipment performance and value. But the biggest problem is the cost of sound equipment. Most people are operating on some sort of budget and even when they’ve cut through all the advertising crap and come to a decision as to what would be the ideal system to own, they often find the price tags outrageous. The result is either a compromise in terms of the equipment you buy, or the necessity of putting everything on hold until you can get Mastercharge to up your credit rating.

A third solution, however, is available. During the past couple of years several mail-order discount houses have come into being. These houses deal in name-brand equipment, most of it quite good, and give excellent discounts. Of course you have to know what you want before you buy and you can’t have the instant gratification of walking into a store and walking out with your new toys, but the savings really are considerable.