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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
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norcalal
4 posts
 

And lest we forget, "No good deed goes unpunished."  Attributed to the Bible and other sources.

sounds_real_audio
1,012 posts
 

I usually either find "better friends" or bring a bottle of tequila to inhance the listening experience. 

The other option is to tell him he needs a sub woofer....everyone can relate to that. 

adsell's avatar
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adsell
74 posts
 

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.

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