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Audiophile 'Attitude'

Okay, we love our hobby: we love the music, the equipment, the esoterica, and the deranged quest for perfection the likes of which would make even the greats of classical composition shake their heads. But you've got to admit that there exists a certain 'attitude' among some of our group that can be..... difficult. Often this is sexist, arrogant, elitist, impatience, and so on. I think this would be a fertile ground for interesting stories, some humorous and some just jaw dropping. Would anyone like to share? Remember, there are many stories about those other folks outside the hobby who don't get our brilliance and force us to painfully tolerate their ignorance, I'm talking 'bout the other side: WHEN
AUDIOPHILES GO BAD!

I will gladly start: when my wife and I decided to sell our entire Vandersteen home theater (this is different tale of audiophile arrogance, btw) we started looking for a new brand and a new sound to replace my
formerly beloved Vandys. My first 'target' was Martin Logan. It just so happened that there was a ML dealership less than a mile from where I lived at the time in Champaign, IL. Wonderful I thought! So my wife and I toddled over there.

Now it should be noted that my wife has become quite an audiophile herself. She wasn't this way when we met, but she has become fairly well educated in matters of audiophillia, she has an excellent ear, and she is a brilliant woman (she is a vice president for Bank of America after all). So we choose much of our equipment together.

So we go into this ML dealership with about four CDs In hand to get a brief audition and ask to hear some MLs. Instead of going straightaway to letting us listen the salesman decides he needs to try and 'sell' us on the MLs, the very speakers we'd come to hear in the first damn place! So after tolerating his drivel for a few minutes my wife's asks a question. Instead of answering her, he answers me.... then he turns to my wife and, while pointing to that screen with holes that MLs have on so many of their speakers, he says, "now this isn't here so you can hang clothes to dry."

It honestly took me a second to realize what he had just said and I think my wife wafinally looted. After a couples seconds I said, "well, I guess we won't want these speakers then." And we walked out. We also scratched Martin Logan off of our list. No one treats my wife that way.

Okay, your turn....
aewhistory

Showing 3 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i don't think there is an audiophile attitude, rather there are ways of selling expensive depreciable assets, such as cars, boats, tvs, furniture, etc.

some people are supercilious, opinionated, and mean. it's a matter of personality and is not unique to audio.

i would not single out audio as a hobby that is conducive to rudeness .

what you call an "attitude" has no correlation to a representative of a sub group of the population.

what is to be gained by highlighting the boorish behavior of human beings?
rather than being critical, as we all have faults, it's more useful to cite the positive experiences associated with our hobby.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
here is the dilemma with buying on-line or at a store. usually, you can get the same item for less on-line. if you want to pay more to keep jobs in the us, go ahead.

but if you want to save money , go online.

as far as reporting rude behavior, i don't think it's worth the time.

i don;t take it personally, and will not report people for not being nice. by not patronizing a company , someone will figure out that there is a problem, and solve it.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the basic problem with dealers is the inability to assess the viability of listening to a component,as part of stereo system, and then extrapolating the result onto your stereo system.

it would seem that the most successful model is to allow consumers to listen to a component in their stereo system.

perhaps dealers would be viable if they were willing to function like a library. perhaps, charge a small fee for service.

it is unnecessary to set up stereo systems, except for turntable, arm and cartridge.

let them stock an inventory of component types from different manufacturers.
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