Disappointing Evening


I had some dinner guest's over last evening. I had my main system warming up just in case there was some interest from them in audio. I have a second system that was playing when they arrived. It's a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 9000 that my inlaws gave me a few years back. Well soon enough a couple of them were commenting about the good music, so I asked if they would like to hear my pride and joy system, mostly all tube gear that (IMO) looks pretty cool with all the tubes lit up and sounds way better than the B&O stuff. No interest at all in the tube system and they hovered around the B&O loving the way the glass door opened and the arm moved to each CD. Boy was I insulted, all the time, money and energy I have in my tube system!
markpao
I remember how great the B&O stuff looked. Very euro-modern stylish. Impressive turntables that just didnt happen to sound as good as the pedestrian Thorens 160.
Most people don't know the difference, but given extended exposure to superior sound, many come to appreciate the difference.
welcome to the real world. i have a house filled with great components, but the guests who enter our home only enjoy my wife's bose radio.
Instead of expecting my guests to be impressed, I make the whole thing off limits.

I switch everything off and turn the speakers to the wall.

I don't mention it and change the subject if they bring it up.

That doesn't work either.
You are not the first to experience the lack on interest in your tube set, nor the last. Only like minded audiophiles will be able to appreciate. At 54 years in this hobby there is very little that floats my boat so to speak. So don't be to offended. Many of my non audiophile friends have B&O Systems and are totally happy with it, I know I sent them the B&O way. They love the way it looks and sounds and has great reliability. It appeals to those that want good music with a sense of style and it fits that criteria very well indeed. Big time WAF appeal.

The estoteric tube gear is only for those that can appreciate the time and resources that went into it.

I know a few years back picked up some very nice Threshold pieces from a widow. She told me straight off the B&O stereo was not for sale, but the Threshold I could have for a very nice price, go figure. I made out like a bandit, after all she was living in a Million dollar house with a six car garage and her daily driver was an Aston-Martin DB7. God only knows what was in the other 5 spaces.

So in essence to each his or her own.