Friends hi-fi system not very good, what do you do or say?

@immatthewj wrote:

Hasn't the OP already pretty much stated that this is another one of his imaginary scenarios that he likes to post, for some reason, in the amps/preamps forum?

It appears so. Oh, well - if nothing else we're free to take from the OP as we see fit, and hopefully someone else can make use of the replies.

@thecarpathian wrote:

Yeah, it’s a hypothetical here guys, thought that to be obvious.

Hypotheticals are OK. If the subject matter is deemed of relevance in broader terms, it doesn’t really matter to me that there’s no specific recipient or case. As I wrote above, some people are still likely to make use of such a correspondence. 

I never offer an opinion unless asked. 
 

If asked, and I find whatever it is that they are asking about to be wanting, I start a conversation by asking them about how they went about their choices and decision making. That leads into “what about this, why didn’t you do that”, etc. 
 

Leading them through their own thought process opens up their curiosity into considering alternative paths, and sidesteps judgement. 

Context is important.  The OP stated that the owner was giving him a tour of their house which implies that this is either a new or casual friend.  He didn’t invite them over for a “listening session” of a shared hobby.  

I’d tell them that’s ‘ Ugly Junk ’ you should see what I have !! Lol….

Cheers