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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
mikhailark
246 posts
 

So what? They like it and it is all that matters. 90% of people have audio systems in untreated living rooms, should we suggest them put bass traps around? Do they listen to the same music as we do?

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 

don't snicker....just smile

willywonka
237 posts
 

Easy solution! Have him listen to your system and he will start asking many questions on how to improve his!

emergingsoul OP
1,132 posts
 

@whart

Of course I don’t own a Lambo. But I have owned three Audis. Including a Quattro. Not able to drive anymore I’m stuck in my house.

If I was in your room my criticism would only be that you need a second chair for me to sit in, I’d bring mine which looks just like yours and maybe they would have children together. And then I would spend six hours asking all kinds of questions about your system. It’s a perfect room and all those albums. I would probably ask if I could bring some of my albums over that maybe you don’t have. I think my albums would be much happier with you than with me mostly because I don’t use my turntable anymore. I need to get a phono stage and it’s just not worth it, I have a technics from the 70s it was mesmerizing to watch and I really liked it.

Why do you have two footstools for your chair? Or better what happened to the other footstools better half? That would be one of my first questions.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,689 posts
 

I have a friend from college who still has the same system he had in the seventies and my brother has all his tunes in his phone and is perfectly happy listening to them through the phones 1/4” speakers. If they’re happy and are still listening to music, I say good on them. 

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