Disappointing Evening

Were they in different settings? People usually enjoy congregating in kitchen and dining areas more than dens or isolated rooms.

Also if you were really honestly insulted you might try working on your expectations. 99.9995% of the population does not care about high end audio (don't quote me on that number.) Perhaps try politics or religion, always good dinner party topics.

People see the B&O gear and think: Angelina Jolie!

People see the industrial looking but good sounding stuff and think: Snookie!

I play my system very softly in the background during a dinner at a party. Usually at least some of the guest say, What is that beautiful CD? I show them the CD cover. They don't comment on or notice the equipment. Later if I cant resist and someone lurks around the equipment, I play the system at a healthy volume for half of a song and get some positive reactions to how real it sounds. I then quickly shut it down and we move to other conversations. But I enjoy those 3 minutes of show off time.
Also it is really wonderful to have audiophiles in your area come over for a couple hours of serious listening and gear talk. I encourage them bring their favorite music and I usually hear great new recordings that I want to add to my collection that way.

First, I would be frustrated if I were Markpao in that instance, but I have no expectation whatsoever with guests' interest in my stereo. One is either an audiophile or really has no concept of high-end audio. What bothers me, which can be seen as another theme of this story, is that so many people have no appreciation for quality in anything, even when comparing things that are right next to each other.
Maybe I am a fogey, a jerk. I don't know.

Yup.. Most people don't understand this hobby and sometimes I don't either. But I go on enjoying the music and the equipment. I guess I always have and always will.