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My system has just received the ultimate insult

The girl I have been seeing recently has shown complete indiffrence to my system. (Melos MA-333, Adcom GCD-750, Oddesy Stratus, ML SL3's) Yesterday, I brought up the subject while in my car and she mentioned that she had bought a pair of speakers for $100 that sounded the same. How I wish that were true! I mentioned that she (like others) has no ability to hear or appreciate the difference. She of course disagreed. I said, that is like saying "all people look just about alike and are equally attractive". She again could not see my logic. When we got home, I played a track for her on my $150 sat/sub with a $20 portable CD player and asked her to listen to it. I then played the same track for her on my system and to my amazement, she said it sounded noticable WORSE! She described it as sounding like a radio station that was not tuned properly with lots of static. What I am assuming is that she has never heard a system that had any kind of hi-freq extension and likened it to "static". Others have heard my system and are completely blown away with every aspect of how it sounded. We have much different tastes in the music we listen to. I have 2 questions to ask, 1) is it possible that she could enjoy listening to 'Her' stereo as much as I enjoy listening to mine? 2) may I continue to be involved with her and still have the respect of my peers?

For the record, I listened to it last night after the insult, and it sounded as wonderful and envolving as ever!
pmwoodward
plato
1,543 posts
 
Wow, that's rough! But you have to understand that not everyone's hearing is the same. It seems to me that many women are much more sensitive to high frequency brightness than men. My wife used to complain about my system sounding too bright when I thought (or wanted to believe) it was just fine. I found that when I toned down the highs a bit with careful component matching that she no longer finds the highs offensive and can sit and appreciate the music with me. Before I revoiced the system it would drive her out of the room. Also, once I had a female audiophile friend over for a listen to a new phono preamp. To me the unit sounded a little bright on certain recordings, but acceptable. In her words, it sounded "brighter than the sun," and she couldn't take it. It sounds like your girlfriend may be very sensitive to highs and what you consider alright makes her crazy. If you have a way to roll the treble off in your system, you might want to experiment with that and see what her reaction will be.

I wouldn't trash the relationship over differences in aural perceptions. If you experiment, you may find a balance that you both can live with. If not, just don't ask your girlfriend's advice (or take her comments to heart) regarding the sound of your system.
paulwp
585 posts
 
LOL

In answer to 1), yes.
2), it depends on whom you consider to be your peers, but since you asked the question, perhaps not.

I bet she'd like mine better than yours. My wife appreciates it,
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
If you're really getting insulted everytime you have to break up.

If you will consider girlfriend and your audio as two separate issues that aren't compatible and should be treated separately absolutely without paying attention on how they "interact" mutually, it's OK to continue relationships.

My wife also doesn't hear the differences (she can only say that it sounds louder than in the boombox), although she respecs my listening time like she would respect my dinner or breakfast time.
bigjim
32 posts
 
Don't give up on her. My wife was the same way when we married. However after listening to my systems over the years, her ears are now better trained and she now appreciates the difference. Although not at the same level of distinction as mine, she is far more able to judge now than when we first married.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dave43
108 posts
 
My wife of 20 years never used to care about my audio
system except for the amount of money I spent on it.
(Usually the case in most marriages). But now, after many
years, if we're visiting friends and they turn on their
"Best Buy" system, she always comments later how bad
it sounded! So, at least she knows what music is supposed
to sound like, and cuts me a little slack when it's time
to upgrade.
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