When showing your system to others, what do you do

These systems and their speakers are not what one would call off the shelf brand name. In fact I do not remember seeing a brand name on any of the speaker drives and of course the cabinents were hand crafted one offs. But with that being said all of these speakers were quite large and built with very high quality drivers, that you could tell by just looking at them. All of these were in very large rooms, after all if your going to reproduce a standing 30Hz standing wave, the room has to be near 50 feet in length or more. This was in the day before subwoofers became somewhat common place. It has been some 20 years since I last heard one of those systems, but clearly the system at Telarc Sound Labs was nothing short ot total mesmerizing. Telarc produces some of the worlds finest Classical and Jazz recordings ever produced. So their system has to be able to reproduce the sonics they achieve in the recording medium. Telarc needs to be able to actually reproduce a full blown symphony orchestra at real time levels in order to judge the quality of the recording.

When one gets into this realm, literally nothing is off the shelf. Since 1986 was the last time I was at Telarc, I can only imagine what they have now!

I would say call Bob Woods at Telarc, if he is there, he will talk with you, one of the nice guys in the business. Might be able to find out what their using now. In fact think I will call him myself tomorrow, its been awhile and always a good to make contact once again. Not many good guys in the music business.

I wish there was a way to verbally transmit what these systems sound like and all the adjectives I have fall far short of the experience. You just have to be there.

But I can tell you I have never heard anything one can buy off the shelf, that comes close to the overall sonics of these systems. When one does not have to compromise the results are breath taking.

I've had two main reactions to my system over the last few years from non-audiophiles. One is complete disinterest, the other is that they're intimidated. Tube amps, big weird-shaped speakers and a dedicated room will do that to people. The disinterersted folks usually want to hear a particular piece of muisic, and couldn't give a flying fig what I play it on, so I just slap it on and let it play. The intimidated ones usually want to hear the system, so I'll ask what style of music they prefer and pick the best-recorded example I have. I rarely give any kind of commentary about audiophile virtues, I just let the music speak for itself.

I haven't made any converts, but I have opened a few peoples' ears as to why I spend insane amounts of money on this hobby. I've had a number of people say "Holy &#!%", and a few say they've never heard recorded music sound so real. One woman had all the hairs on her arms and neck stand up while listening to some Garnet Rogers through my Abbys. That is gratifying. The disinterested ones usually say, "Sounds really nice, thanks" and then we go have a glass of wine.

It is almost like listening thru 'their ears' when I demo the system for someone who is not engaged in this hobby. I usually try to select music that they like, and are familiar with, yet is recorded to a high standard- and save the grotty recordings that are purely about the performance for my private listening. Interestingly, one neophyte- she, a scientist, though, who understood issues about nasty AC and small signals, suggested that I play something I hadn't listened to on the system. I try to do that everytime i listen now (which is almost always a solitary exercise).

Ferrari,

Try this search on google "Bob Woods Telarc Loudspeakers". Interesting reading.

This is probably not the same system you heard back in 1986. Although judging by the comments this system appears to be an improvement on what you heard (hard to believe but that is what Bob says himself).

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments everybody. i am working on my first convert right now, we will see if he bites on it or keeps swimming.