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

Are you consciously going to change your friends life? If you start them down the path of your sickness will you someday be sorry? Think of the money you have spent. Then ask yourself can your "friend" bear the same burden. Oh woe is me. I am so glad I don't have any friends left for me to drag down this musical nightmare. That's the long version. Short version is "Yup, sounds good."

If we're only talking about audiophile friends, I've had long discussions with friends about every single aspect of audio, everything out in open and we don't have to agree on everything.

If there are constructive suggestions you could make about placement, set-up, I would not be afraid to offer those, but would not condescend. Do you really have a Lambo? I did, the last of the Diablos, a 6.0 built under Audi ownership circa 2001- gorgeous car but hardly under the radar- I had kids running on my blind side (most of the car is blind sided except looking forward) to take photos. That car attracted a lot of attention. Rosso Vik (candy apple red), snow corn white interior with red piping, carbon fibre dash. Tres exotic for the money when I had it. Long gone. 

Here's something that may be hard to consider: Chances are fair enough that each of us has had either a same component, or one that was similar in brand/quality to one the host has. "Oh, I had a similar one of those xxx, back in college. It was great ...". If the host has any interest in that fact, s/he may respond with something like, "Do you still have your xxx?".  Then you have options:

(1) Yes, I'll never part with it. Memories of those great times.

(2) I found that the yyy is very similar (perhaps a white/grey lie), but seems to have better bass in my current listening room. 

(3) My kid uses it in his bedroom system, and it sounds pretty good in there.

If you absolutely never owned anything marked, "Wards", "Tandy", or thereabouts, you still may have common pressings or musical preferences -- I mean, it is about the music, right?

It's a journey. It's a hobby. Not a contest.

 

Lak +1. Before I will agree to listen to someone system.i want to know what is the porpuse of Him inviting me? Sometimes the reason is for me to evaluate their system. If this is the case. With respect I am extremely careful and discuss what I heard. I always say the system sound good. You can improve it if you want to, and I will help you. Let me know., and I say thank you for the pizza and tea.