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Friends hi-fi system not very good, what do you do or say?

So you're going over to someones home and they give you a tour and they have a hi-fi system in a room. And while visiting of course they turn it on for you not knowing that you have a very nice system in your home and you notice immediately it's just not very good.  But then you're used to the very in you're listening experiences. So what do you do when they ask you what you think?

Do you say sounds really good?

Do you make suggestions?

Do you feel a desperate need to tell them about your system?

Personally, I try not to mention any details about my system. If I'm driving around in a Lamborghini I would prefer to be invisible so I don't get stared at when I get out of my car. If they had a really nice system with interesting components I would probably mention a few of the things I have and then we could bond with our common interests.   Ideally, it would be cool to be in the presence of someone who knew a lot more than I did and a real learning opportunity.

Audio systems tend to be private affairs I guess.  I don't necessarily want to hang out with someone and listen to tunes. Those wonderful College days where it made a lot of sense are long gone.

emergingsoul
audition__audio
1,493 posts
 

"I have a friend who is a rock star"? Tell us his name. 

p05129
501 posts
 

Make some suggestions that might help the sq like setup changes, room treatment, etc. But if you know that the speaker/amp combo will never work (for example a cool sounding amp with analytic sounding speakers or warm sounding speakers with a warm sounding amp), you might make some suggestions.

As for being friendly, you aren’t critiquing his wife, it’s audio gear. I’ve been in a few audio clubs and I’ve told members that their $40k speakers didn’t sound that good or there were a couple of times a few of us were in a listening session at a friends/audio club member house for a listening session and a couple of us were holding our hands over our ears it sounded so bad and his system was over $100k.

I do the same with cars, I’ve told friends with new corvettes/bmw’s that they can always MOVE UP to a Porsche. 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,419 posts
 

Don't lie is always my advice. If asked, tell it like you see it. In the end, it is never helpful to lie in an effort to please someone. It will eventually bite you in the rear end. And the person lied to will live and learn on fake advice.

lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,640 posts
 

Life long lesson: Only give advise and/or make suggestions if you are asked to contribute. 

testpilot
938 posts
 

While on “that” tour of a friend’s home do you also comment on their choice of decor, the meal, neighbourhood?  You are an invited quest, act like one.  If you are invited over as one who shares a common hobby or passion, that’s an invite to discuss the hobby and one’s personal pursuit and journey.  There are many ways to provide constructive criticism without being an a$$hole. 
 

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