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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
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
:-) LOL. Am I the only one who thinks you set yourself up?

I never talk about my system with the un-enlightened, and they have to really beg if they ever do mention listening to it. I'm not an evangelist and have no interest in converting anyone. People either get it or they don't. I certainly could care less about their fly fishing rod collection, or their 'vette that comes out of the garage once a year, or the Harley they ride for 5 months of the year, etc.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
Since I moved, I no longer have audiophile friends. While listening to music with "golden eared" friends is quite enjoyable, there is a downside. When this hobby becomes an "obsession", it's no longer fun. If you begin to listen to interconnects as opposed to music, you are not having fun. With "audiophile" friends, this will happen. There is no such thing as a "magnificent obsession".

I believe everyone that posted, is best off like they are.
onemug
784 posts
 
How to be a good host: Find out what your guests like and give it to them.

How to be a good guest: Find out what your hosts like and give it to them.

If one of the above happens, it will be a nice evening.
If both happen, it will be a great evening.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
let's face it music is preferred in the background mode by most people. if you had demoes your main system instead of the beo system, i'm confident that your guests would comment favorably about the sound.

for most people, music is not an end in itself, rather it is a means to stimulate some other activity. thus, the quality of the sound is not the issue. it's the fact that there is a "sound" that facilitates pleasure when people are doing something else. music is a catalyst.

only a small proportion of the population are willing to sit for any period of time and listen to music.

i see this occurring in an audio club of which i am a member. attention span is about 10 minutes and then people lose interest.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,407 posts
 
Remember - not everyone in this world is "gifted" as us folks on audio forums. Every time some things like these happen, I Thank GOD for giving me these invaluable gifts of sight and hearing, that others don't have. Be proud rather than being disappointed.
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