How To Field Questions About Your Audiophile Lifestyle...


We Audiophiles often have a bit of "The Adams Family" about us to other people..especially to neighbors and those who come into contact with us often.Here are some of the most common questions that come up and some suggestions on how to field them.

Q."About that stereo of yours,; "what kind is it?"
 A. Looking at your watch, "It's a q
uarter to 5."

Q."How much did it cost?"
 A. "I'm not sure.I stole it."

 Q."How come my stereo doesn't' sound like that?"
 A."You need smarter friends with better advice." "I hear they really kick"is 5 words from hell, if you are really serious about your selections.

 Q."Why do you play "Aerosmith" and the "Butthole Surfers"then switch to that "Beethoven"
 crap?"
  A. "Beethoven was a musician too."He went deaf without any rock music at all.

  Q."Why is your furniture differently arranged than everybody else's, all diagonally?"
  A."It has to do with the lighting,"or "Thats the way the previous people living here liked it."

  Q."Why do you always walk backwards when there is a strong wind coming at you ?"
  A."I like to protect my nice face from aging" or "I forgot my ear muffs today."

  Q."Why do you play your CD player with the top off and why does the Xmas tree near it always have greenish blue lights."
  A.It has to do with the absorption of stray laser..Err it's too long a story."

  Q."Why do you have a Xmas tree still up by your CD player?"
  A."It's already September..Might as well just keep it up now."

I hope this helps.

supertweak
This passion we all share mixes science with art . What can be better than that . One of the finer things that enhance ones life
It's tough to get anybody into this stuff...I've advised people about systems because they trust me to do that and that's always worked out fine, but in the typical dinner party group with my rig playing unobtrusive background stuff (no vocals...a strict rule for background sound at parties), people don't notice. Or they notice that "it sounds great" which it sort of doesn't in that context as it's just there in the background. If a friend wants me to demo something for them on my rig you tend to instantly annoy other guests who are appropriately talking to each other...in spite of any of this I've adjusted over the years to the glossy eyed disinterest from by most people trying to pay attention to my description of a tube, and now I really don't try very hard to explain this hobby....I get it.

I've been the "go-to" guy among my friends and acquaintances for advice on TVs and home theater, as they all know I'm in to that (or was, a lot more in years past).   But I've given up because the same thing happens every time "What TV should I buy?"  I ask them carefully about their budget, where it will be placed, what they watch etc, and suggest - without geeking out - possibilities.   And inevitably they may as well not have talked to me because they just end up going to Best Buy and picking whatever seems like a good deal on sale.   

Many HT geeks have the same experience.  People just want convenience, don't want to think too hard about any peripheral concerns they don't care about.

I think people strictly in to high end audio experience less of these questions because far fewer people want to upgrade their stereo vs buying new TVs etc.
My "Audiophile Lifestyle" is not so much different than many other lifestyles anymore, I just have a nicer stereo than most who I know.  20 years ago, I "wasted" too much time on BS like building speakers and wire and other audiophile doo-dads, buying and selling equipment, moving things around, etc., etc., you know the drill.  I wish I had a do-over with that time.  Interacting with the people in one's life is more important.  I have tried to make up for that in the past 5-10 years.
Most who ask about my set-up are genuinely interested and as long as I don't get weird with explanations, they get it and enjoy listening.