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Guest suddenly takes it upon herself to move my speakers

Has this ever happened to anyone here?

You have your speakers positioned just as you like them, and then a guest takes it upon themselves to suddenly move your speakers?

Obviously I’m not going to get any sympathy from anyone in the non Audio world, so I thought I’d post my frustrating experience here.

I also imagine that many of your speakers can’t simply be slid out of position due to spikes or carpeting or sheer weight. Probably a good number of you, who like me have speakers on hardwood floors, have some marks in place to be able to return speakers to their exact position. (Which I didn’t)

But a recent female first time guest was sitting on the floor positioned between the speakers as we listened and for some reason decided that they should be pointed directly at her. Now some people might think “how obnoxious,” and others might think, ‘hey, a woman who wants the toe in angle optimzed for her seating position! She’s a keeper! Let her handle whatever she wants!”

And while I did like the enthusiasm, there was a supertweeter precariously balanced atop each speaker fireing rearward that could have easily toppled off and broken. (And no, there are no kids in the house).

I still haven’t found the exact sweet spot I had them in. For a long time I felt like a bit of an audio slacker since I never installed the factory spikes or rounded cones TAD provides for the CR1’s. Until a few months ago I read on another forum that many CR1 owners choose to just keep the stands on the floor, or haven’t found a benefit to using the spikes/cones on hardwood.

Obviously I’ll use the incident to try and eventually find an even more optimal positioning than they were in, but it still irks me that someone would just assume it’s okay to move a sophisticated audio setup that they truly know nothing about.

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geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
iopscrl
196 posts
 
Audio aside, the scenario would be the same if a guest moved a picture on a host's wall to get a better look.  A guest in a home is not automatically given tacit permission to do what every they want.  A good host makes guests feel comfortable, a good guest respects a host's hospitality but understands the venue is not owned by the guest.

I would have politely told the guest not to touch the speakers or other equipment in view.

That said- if there was personal interest in the guest, maybe invite her back and ask if she could adjust the speakers in the bedroom.
desktopguy
367 posts
 
Just one question: where is she buried now?
dill
2,520 posts
 
" But everyone knew her as Nancy"
- Well, she's in the aviary studying trees. I shall return with her straight away. You may wait here in the sitting room or you can sit here in the waiting room. -
minorl
1,016 posts
 

I went back and re-read the original post just to make sure I was clear on what exactly happened.

What I couldn't determine was whether the OP was actually in the room with his guest decided to move the speakers. 

In any case, as was mentioned previously, most people have absolutely no clue how much stereo equipment costs or how fragile they are.  Many consider music in the home to be used as background music while they are doing something else.  That is all well and good for them.  They, on the other hand actually have hobbies or things that are extremenly vaulable to them that other's wouldn't understand also.

In this case, even if the OP had been in the room and told the person to please not touch/move the speakers, that person would obey, but would be insulted that the OP asked her to not move them to make them more enjoyable for her.  not knowing that speaker placement is absolutely important and actually, not caring.

But go to that person's house and move a coffee table or couch and see the sparks fly.

1.  if the OP was in the room, he should have immediately seen what was about to happen and asked the person to not touch the speakers. case closed.  not problem.

2.  if the person moved the speakers uninvited, then that is not only plain rude, but inconsiderate also.

People here speak of a person as the "keeper".  Well, in my opinion, the "keeper" is the one that ask first and respects your hobbies and personal likes (as long as those don't hurt anyone).

I have a very good friend who was also seriously into audio.

His  then wife decided one day while he was at work to completely redecorate the living room/listening room.  She bought all new furniture and completed relocated the stereo equipment and speakers.  The speakers were placed in such positions that one couldn't get stereo sound if you tried.  it was completely rude and stupid what she did.  But, she decided that it was her living room to redecorate and did what she wanted without discussing it first.

Needless to say, my friend was pissed and put the system back where it sounded best.  She know before they were married that he loved music and placed the equipemne where it would sound best to him.  But, obviously, didn't really care.

I have had female friends come over and the first thing I would hear would be, "wow, those speakers are really big".  What are those big items between the speakers and those cables are really large.  comments like that.

But, after explaining my love for music and how important equipment and placement was, they settled down and listened to their favorite music and loved it.

But, WAF or spouse acceptance factor is absolutely important in the survival of a relationship.  these things must be discussed and agreed upon  before getting serious.

A large misconception (to me) for relationships is that many people feel that the couple must enjoy and do everything together.  That is blatently false.  There is nothing wrong with respecting the other's need for their own hobbies.  Some people don't like wine.  doesn't mean you can't enjoy wine or visit beautiful wineries.  Same for cars/car events, hiking, cycling, etc.

I'll finish by saying that years ago I was in a serious relationship where my significant other used a cleaning person to occasionally come clean the house.  I asked her clearly to not have that person clean in the listening room.  Well, one day I come home to find my cartridge on the tonearm completely destroyed.  The cleaning person decided to polish the rosewood turntable and damaged the cartridge/needle.  This was my significant other's fault not the cleaning person's fault because the cleanign person was not told to leave that room alone.

however, touching or moving someone else's stuff is just inconsiderate and rude.

I restore and own classic cars that are show quality.  I can't tell you how often I've entered my cars into cars shows and see people touching the car, rubbing up against them to get a better look with their jeans or belt buckles, or even opening the doors and sitting inside.  I actually had a model and her photographer ask could she sit on the car and take pictures.  Do you believe that?


enjoy

 



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