When someone listens to your system for the first time.

First time Forums poster here. Hello everyone!
The shared knowledge here at Agon is incredible and hopefully I can offer something useful to its vast knowledge base. As far as different equipment speak goes I'm not very knowledgeable having a limited budget and experience.
This thread really gave me a good chuckle with some of you posting about friends not believing you were only running two speakers. I've had the same response regarding my center imaging running only two channel. I've also gotten similar responses when people hear the image width of certain CD's go beyond the outside of the speakers. Getting the "How is that possible!?!?" comments along with the sense of disappearing speakers.

As far as people not caring, there's the better half who can hear the differences, but has no interest in the hobby itself. When I started in it about 20 years back I couldn't distinguish much either, but thanks to experienced listeners I was instructed and taught exactly what to listen for. Thankfully with a lot of listening and comparing efforts it did pay off for me. When I first heard my best friend, a non-hobbyist, say "You really have the best sounding system I've ever heard" it gave me a lot of satisfaction knowing my efforts were not going unnoticed.
Currently running...
Classé DR-6 pre-amp
Perreaux PMF 1150b (waiting on its big brother the PMF 2150b)
Sony SCD-1 CD/SACD player
Unity Audio CLA 1 Fountainhead Signature speakers changed to custom maple cabinetry with slightly larger dimensions for better bass response
Grover Huffman Empress IC's and speaker cable
Black Sand Silver Reference Mark IV power cord (from Richard Gray RGPC 400S Mark II line conditioner to wall)
Black Sand Statement One power cord (from SCD-1 to Richard Gray)
Also have a Nakamichi BX-300 that requires some maintenance work before being apart of the chain

They faint.....

I've seen all over the spectrum.  some are like wow and just sit and listen and begin to understand why.  some seem to enjoy it, but start singing and become too busy singing to actually listen.  some could care less, but they generally don't listen to music.  

I had one friend who ask why i never listen to music in my truck - after listening to my system - understand why i don't bother unless it can sound like this.

My friends can’t tell difference between a  30K stereo or a jvc receiver with a pair of white van speakers. 

I am 49 with older brothers.  We grew up in the peak of the Bose era.  We all had at least a couple models.  This is where I feel my brother is confused.

He had a system many years ago while living in a cinder block room with a Carver receiver and some monitor speakers.  He had no rug nor any treatment whatsoever.

He has been in my house a few times and while my space is a bit unorthodox, it does have a nice soundstage with well defined vocals, instruments and somewhat of 3 dimensionality.  

All he had to say is that it sounds good but it isn't anything like his old system.  He could hear sounds coming from all over the room.  I tried to explain.....that isn't reaallllly what you want.  I had to just let it go.