[Niteflyte]

BestBuy has a limited selection of headphones you can listen to.  I don't think Fry's has anything setup to test them at all.
 
Is there any place to tryout headphones without buying them?
 
I'd like to try some of these "surround" headphones, but have never listened to one before, and don't know how much I will like.

 

[sari0n]

If you live near NYC the B&H center has a lot that you can demo.  Some Guitar Centers may have a few too.  

 

[Niteflyte]

I live in Los Angeles.
 
I'm just wondering how you experts make decisions on what you purchase?
 
Do you primarily go by reviews and feedback by others?
 

 

[BebopMcJiggy]

Liberal use of return policies and or friends :O

 

[DrGroove]

Quote:

Liberal use of return policies and or friends :O

 
this. buy your top 2-3 and only keep the one you want after some home testing. My best buy didn't even carry anything besides crappy beats and skullcandy, so I went to the guitar center and they have actual hi-fi headphones. 

 

[sari0n]

Yea, you can do that if you have the budget to afford your top 3.  The only problem is that a lot of times places with good return policies also charge slightly more.
My first pair of good headphones I just bought because they were highly recommended.  There are a couple of headphones that people generally recommend and you really can't go wrong with.  It also helps knowing what kind of music you like to listen too, if you want a lot of bass, or if you care more about vocals and stuff like that.  
If you're talking about surround headphones, you really can't go wrong with the HD555, m50s, Shure srh840's, and maybe a few others.   Once you've had decent headphones for a while you can figure out what kind of sound signature you like, whether you want open or closed headphones, etc. and get a better/ more expensive pair that suits your tastes.

 

[Region2]

As you're in LA and there are a lot of head-fi meets in LA, you should check into one of them.  It'll give you a chance to check out headphones in proper rigs.  What you get to try out at the store tends to be cast in not the best light.  
 
I lament that headphones stations aren't set up as nicely as they are in Japan.  Audio Dynamic and Yodobashi listening stations are great!

 

[scompton]

Find a meet.  You'll be able to try out dozens of different headphones.  Here's the meet we're having in Northern Virginia in a week.  The first post lists the equipment that will be there.  It will be one of the smallest meets I've been to, but there will still be plenty to listen to.  http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/538117/northern-virginia-dc-meet-february-20th
 
Looking though the meet forum, it looks like one is in the initial planning phase for Venice Beach.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Yea, you can do that if you have the budget to afford your top 3.  The only problem is that a lot of times places with good return policies also charge slightly more.

This is because people buy 2 or 3 and return the ones they don't like.  The store can't sell the returned ones as new so they take a hit to their bottom line.  It's either charge more up front or charge a restocking fee that covers the loss.