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Kids during audition - aaaaagh!!

It used to bother me a lot when I would try to demo my system for someone and all they wanted to do was talk during the music. I get it - not everyone is an auditory person. But I still found it off putting and a bit depressing. Like if you took them for a ride on a windy mountain road in your Ferrari and all they noticed was the nice leather.

But FAR WORSE than that is when you're trying to demo your system for someone and they bring their kids. It happened to me last summer, and again tonight. In both cases it could not be helped but it totally destroys the listening experience to have a 6 year dancing around in front of the speakers while the 2 year old sings along with Rebecca Pidgeon.  The listener is denied the chance of the listening experience that we all know and love. I found it actually painful, emotionally. A lost opportunity for a new person to be swept away by the musical experience that comes from a high end system. I guess this time it's like they strapped their screaming kids into child car seats in the Ferrari and only let you drive in the small parking lot. Why bother? And no, I don't have a Ferrari. But yes, with no local audiophile friends to appreciate it, I do yearn to at least share the experience with someone who's never heard good sound.

One other note. Isn't it funny that non-audiophiles often assume that you're going to blast their head off by playing Metallica with the volume set to 11?
bob5560g
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noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
Anytime I demo my rig, folks are very impressed. They are fascinated by the ESLs, the turntable and tubes. We talk about the age of the gear, how I got it, how it all works. Most have no idea about how things work but when they see the glow and the mechanics, they are curious.
But, yeah, silence, head in a vice, and great jazz/blues 60s analog recordings all help. They seem to connect with vinyl and to hear it like they've never heard any stereo blows them away.
P.S. Leafblowers should be banned.
dtximages
365 posts
 
I'm not a hugger, but I feel the OP needs a hug.  I hear you and I feel for you.

Truth: as soon as I sit down, close my eyes, and press play, my wife will open her mouth and ask me a question, normally related to if I think food is spoiled or not.  

Truth: Every single time (that's correct, 100%), I ask her to look at something on the tv or hear something in a song, I have to wait for her to finish her text.

Truth: people who bring yappy dogs to a listening session, just leave.  The dog is always the focal point of the room with their jingly collars running around looking for somewhere else to pee.
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noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
Well, I'm under the impression that the listeners are interested in the first place. Take it from there and not from trying to make a disinterested party listen.
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