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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
toddalin's avatar
toddalin
238 posts
 

But what if it is really a high quality system with expensive components that the owner is extremely proud of, others have said they like, and you just can't stomach?

Maybe open backs just aren't my thing.

https://youtu.be/K5xmzXp1cE4

 

pickindoug
55 posts
 

Nothing wrong with a relative statement.  If the gear sounds as it should relative to what it is, then it sounds good, for what it is, and there's no reason you would need to say otherwise.  If you ever have this person to your house and they discover the next level of sonic excellence, their realization of better gear may prompt a more honest conversation about how your experience may help them.  On the other hand, a Lambo driver you may never understand the joy of a Miata.......

incorrigable
35 posts
 

Depends. Are they wealthy, poor, in the middle? Do they care about their system? 

I am a cheap person with $1000 amplification and $700 preamp/dac. 

When I sold my late mother's house I dropped $15K on speakers. Same gear. 

Audio holds different places in peoples' minds. Life is expensive. 

Stay positive unless you know them well. 

 

 

emergingsoul OP
1,130 posts
 

@quickjack1234 

So this answers my question about whether I should spend money on audio equipment or a really nice car.

Of course what comes with buying a really nice car is a very expensive Insurance plan every year versus audio equipment which is covered by my homeowners policy, ie. Not much to insure.  My guess is that repair bills to maintain an older Ferrari are a lot more than maintaining audio audio system.

Clearly you said FU to all the above. And now you're enjoying your life when you're away from your home driving a really nice car.  And when you're with your friends there's no way on this planet they would say anything negative about your car, except for the crappy audio system installed in the car which is very odd they’d do that.  I would be listening to the car and probably not turn on the audio system when I'm driving it.  But then maybe your friends always wanna drive your car and then what do you do. I wouldn't want anybody driving my Ferrari, not even my twin brother if I had a twin.

Just for your information, I don't own a car right now and should I ever be in a position to buy one again I will be buying an Audi.

 

 

 

emergingsoul OP
1,130 posts
 

Are you freaking kidding me, if anybody comes in and listens to my system and says anything critical I would be very very unhappy with them. my feeling would be that they have no idea what they're talking about.

You remain freaking silent about critiquing a system.  Just say how you really enjoy the tune.  

 

 

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