Helping friends/relatives with system purchases, your experience.

It seldom works out for me. Most people just want a simple music system and they don't really care what it sounds like. I ask about their budget and they say 500 dollars. I say we can find some 500 dollar speakers, I guess. They say no, that's for everything! . 

Most of my friends/relatives love to come over and listen to my system.

However, most of them don’t realize that there is some commitment involved (room setup, WAF, space required, acoustic treatments involved, etc....). And that all rooms sound different.

They also don’t realize that what I like, may not be long term what they like.

I do (and have) lent them some equipment I have laying around for them to try out. 

Thanks...good thoughts all. 

To make things easier and more enjoyable i suggest visiting a dealer.

I will always help during and after their choice is made, never lent equipment (bad experience). 

I helped my senior neighbor across the street with a multi-music system for his home. Casual listening in three rooms/spaces, living, dining and back deck. We shopped for a Sonos satellite speaker system and he luvs it. It all is controlled from his iphone app. Now he entertains family and friends and each area can play music.