I always try to be diplomatic, keeping my own HiFi journey in mind—the decades it has taken, like for most of us, to get to where we are. With that perspective, I make thoughtful suggestions that align with incremental financial steps, understanding the costs involved. I also highlight the value of the used market and recommend brands that hold their resale value, so if something doesn’t work for their space, they can easily try something else. It’s about planting seeds to help them begin their audiophile journey.
Of course, there are caveats. If something sounds genuinely bad—like a blown tweeter or another serious issue—I’ll point it out. But if it sounds decent, I’ll encourage them by focusing on what’s good. Ultimately, if it’s a friend, they’ll probably end up at my house for a demo anyway.