If it sounds good, compliment it. If it doesn’t, don’t say anything—your friends probably already know. Friendship is forever, but audio systems are transient, subjective, and come and go. It’s not worth risking a friendship over sound. "Put yourself into his/her shoes."
Friends hi-fi system not very good, what do you do or say?
So you're going over to someones home and they give you a tour and they have a hi-fi system in a room. And while visiting of course they turn it on for you not knowing that you have a very nice system in your home and you notice immediately it's just not very good. But then you're used to the very in you're listening experiences. So what do you do when they ask you what you think?
Do you say sounds really good?
Do you make suggestions?
Do you feel a desperate need to tell them about your system?
Personally, I try not to mention any details about my system. If I'm driving around in a Lamborghini I would prefer to be invisible so I don't get stared at when I get out of my car. If they had a really nice system with interesting components I would probably mention a few of the things I have and then we could bond with our common interests. Ideally, it would be cool to be in the presence of someone who knew a lot more than I did and a real learning opportunity.
Audio systems tend to be private affairs I guess. I don't necessarily want to hang out with someone and listen to tunes. Those wonderful College days where it made a lot of sense are long gone.
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Per actual experiences. I've sold gear locally so in that case the buyers have been pretty transparent in asking for advice. In buying gear locally sellers are more apt to give advice vs take, somewhat ironic when I hear their system and its not up to par. If they're extremely prideful of system I'll try to hide my displeasure, if they seem open to an opinion or questioning I'll offer my two cents. I always try to pose my advice as suggestion, never want to to come across as condescending or superior.
The most curious encounters have been extremely expensive components, equipment hoarder, tons of equipment laying around unused or in second systems, and the main system sound quality is relative crap to the expense. In these cases always amazes me that some people don't believe in cables or rooms or AC quality, always something left out that leaves much untapped potential. In these cases I've made it clear they should at least consider the things they've left unattended. |
My take …. A couple of things
There is likely a chasm between the respective party perspectives when a guest is considering expressing feedback or an opinion on the homeowner’s audio system capabilities. Unless the homeowner is actually clearly asking for an unvarnished opinion (and can properly appreciate any constructive criticism on how they can improve it….) . Assess FIRST where the homeowner resides on the Yellow Brick Road to Audio OZ. Mostly based on a homeowner’s resistance to opening up his budget, the guest critic’’s “not very good ..” is in constant tension with the homeowner’s position of “ ‘good enough”, with his cheerful acceptance of its present limitations, shortfalls, and warts ….fine but important distinction..
TAKEAWAY: So choose your words wisely. The one exception might be where you are first provoked and the proverbial gauntlet has been tossed in circumstances where the homeowner pontificates that his “race to the bottom” cheap-as-you-get it price budget system somehow meets or beats your high- end system. Otherwise,,,@lanx0003 ….+1
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