When showing your system to others, what do you do

Well I've been in this hobby since 1957, seen a lot of systems in 48 years. I generally do not demo anything unless a guest wants to hear something. I let them pick out a selection and let them listen. Some are impressed while others are less so. To me it makes zero difference. With less that 1 percent of the U.S. population involved in high end gear. If they want to expand and get something better I will guide them along, other than that cest le vie.

Having lived on Palm Beach a few years ago. One can be totally humbled by some of the systems there. Cubic dollars has it rewards in high end audio. Also the Cayman Islands have some very fine systems as well.

Once you hear some of those systems, this exercise becomes a moot point. I enjoy reading the posts of members audio systems on Audiogon. But thus far, including mine and systems I have owned,as well as members posts. Nothing posted here will ever come close to the absolute ultimate,no questions ask systems I have seen and heard.

Like anything else and high end audio is no exception, its all about the Benjamins.

Jlind325is writes:

... or do they just come back to your place and listen?

They do come back - but I think it's more for the drugs. ;-)

Regards,

Ferrari-Im confused about your post. Are you joking saying dollars spent is the way to determine a good system or do you feel thats how it should be measured? When i invite a person over to expereince my system im not trying to wow them with what i spent, im trying to wow them with a higher sonic experience then they have ever heard. For me its opening peoples ears to what music can sound like. Im sure the systems youve heard over the years have been more than impressive, so it would be a humbling expereince. But ive heard a $600,000 system, not including room cost that i would never trade for mine. it just wasnt musical, it was more about the benjamins spent. For me its the music, dollars spent is exactly opposite of what hifi is about IMHO. But to each his own. Cheers

No I am joking by any means whatsoever and at $600K is not even in the realm. I am talking mega bucks. People in this range of equipment have the resources to indulge as they please. When one gets into this range of gear and the ultimate validation of the musical experience to be heard.

Believe me these folks are not trying to impress anyone, they know what they have and what it took to get to that point. Most are in the entertainment business, and indeed have a fine ear to evaluate recorded music. For them it is not dollars spent or to impress anyone. Although there is a pecking order among the elite, it has nothing to do with something as mundane as an audio system.

But most of these systems are custom made, by some of the most gifted designers in the business today. This is not off the shelf units by any means. and the $600K you speak of probably would not buy the speaker cables.

However with that being said it is subjective on how one perceives sound. While one may be very happy with what they have and would not trade it for anything, then that is good and you have found your comfort zone. I certainly have found mine.

With that being said, there are ultimate,no holds barred systems that defy sonic description, which few will ever hear, much less ever own. And in this case dollars do make the difference or many more of us, would have something of this nature.