Has anyone had success converting friends?

One nad a half. He bought a Rega P3 TT, Krell '300 intergrated and used Vandy 3's. His ex-girlfriend bought some Soliliquy 6.3's and a quality receiver.

Everyone I know loves music. Three more play guitar and
drums, and pretty damn well. And not a single one is into
equipment like we are here. The closest one would be my brother-in-law (guitar, piano, bass) that would have a
hi-end component, and that's an old pair of Design Acoustic
speakers, with which he is completely happy.
Everyone I know loves my equipment, but at the end, they think I'm nuts as to the extent I have gone just to listen to music.

Since getting large three ways I have the opposite experience. People always ask - generally the reaction is OMG that sounds so real - especially drums.

I admit I rarely get the "jaw dropped on the floor reaction" at modest music levels. Lets face it a cheap pair of audioengine speakers at the local Mac dealer is pretty good. And the average car stereo is 10x better than what it was in the 70's. There is stiff competition out there.

I think it reflects the fact that most systems - even cheap ones - are good enough sounding to most people (non audiophiles) at modest levels.

IMHO, to impress/knock socks off you really need to present the live music experience with total clarity and definition - in essence do something that the majority of systems are incapable of - reproduce a band at realistic sound levels.

nope but two ladies came to my door trying to convert me to mormon. I just stared blanky and stated "no hablo mormado i'm an audiophile" and they said "May Jesus heal you", and left without even handing me a leaflet. It was that bad.

No my friends could care less and especially if they knew the financial investment I've made.