Do you share your system with other audiophiles?
- Thread starter steve59
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I love sharing systems and music with others, but honestly don’t know many audiophiles. My younger brother got infected by the audio bug 40 years ago like me and listening to each other’s systems and music discovery’s is always a pleasure, as is going to the occasional concert together. He has a completely different system and room, but a great ear, sometimes a fresh perspective can be valuable. My oldest friend has ridiculed this crazy hobby my whole life and has suddenly in his late 50’s become interested himself, i try to give him advice on gear in a price range he is comfortable with, but he rarely takes it 
, but it is fun suddenly sharing interests again, not since our teens when we chased girls together have we had this much in common . I visited him today, for the first time since the corona crisis started. He had purchased a tubed CD player as a addition to his moderately priced system and wanted me to assess it. The sound had deteriorated since i heard it last, and i was honest with him. Removing a couple of subs and repositioning speakers humbled me, suddenly the system was playing in a league far beyond its price range, i could easily have lived with this myself, he has spent less for the whole system than what i pay for a cartridge. Sometimes you start wondering what is wrong with us !
, but it is fun suddenly sharing interests again, not since our teens when we chased girls together have we had this much in common . I visited him today, for the first time since the corona crisis started. He had purchased a tubed CD player as a addition to his moderately priced system and wanted me to assess it. The sound had deteriorated since i heard it last, and i was honest with him. Removing a couple of subs and repositioning speakers humbled me, suddenly the system was playing in a league far beyond its price range, i could easily have lived with this myself, he has spent less for the whole system than what i pay for a cartridge. Sometimes you start wondering what is wrong with us !
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
I like to have audiophiles over because most have never heard a mastering room. Mastering rooms are totally different from the typical audiophile room because it is a tool that I use. Yes, the room is a tool...... If I want to know what's going on, a properly built mastering room will tell you!
Nice one. We could possibly start with a system that should last us unchanged... but how long would that last reallyI love sharing systems and music with others, but honestly don’t know many audiophiles. My younger brother got infected by the audio bug 40 years ago like me and listening to each other’s systems and music discovery’s is always a pleasure, as is going to the occasional concert together. He has a completely different system and room, but a great ear, sometimes a fresh perspective can be valuable. My oldest friend has ridiculed this crazy hobby my whole life and has suddenly in his late 50’s become interested himself, i try to give him advice on gear in a price range he is comfortable with, but he rarely takes it
audio... starts in laughter, ends in tears... nice to be reminded how simple it can be but I fear we’re too far gone lol.
Trying to buy used since it's the only way I can afford a hi end system has been enlightening while my dealer/friend patiently sits in the background waiting for me to quit banging my head against the wall, he assures me he can make a musical system for any budget and I believe him, but still I take the bumpy road.
Interesting but not extraordinary. Many people do this in lieu of a dealer. What I’ve realized is my job is to save my clients money in the long run by building systems for them over time. You do pay more for new, but it also leaves the guess work and missteps out of the process. We do have our values and not all of us just want your money.
On topic, I tell clients to listen to a dealer’s reference system and judge from there. This is the pinnacle for them and the sound they chase. If it blows you away, work with the dealer. If it leaves you wanting, perhaps they aren’t the right dealer for you. It’s not so much about the gear, but their ability to assemble a system that you want to take note of. The same can be said of an enthusiast - if their system is consistently good even after many iterations, they might be a good resource for you.
I think with some non-audiophiles, the sensory experience of a really good system does not compute for a while. They may acknowledge that something different is going on, but perhaps they don't even achieve a proper acclimation phase. Some non-audiophiles have heard my system, but beyond wanting to hear some of their favorite songs, they don't express interest in a return visit.
One guy just pointed to things and asked what everything cost.
One guy just pointed to things and asked what everything cost.
One guy just pointed to things and asked what everything cost.
Hmm
And when he came back everything was fffftt gone , lol.
Hmm
And when he came back everything was fffftt gone , lol.
it can take a bit to calibrate.
with non-audiophiles, you have to find music they have a connection to, then build on that. i had my nephew and his wife over during the Holidays and they were struggling to grasp everything; then i played a couple of Billie Eilish cuts that they knew well, and all of a sudden they got what the system could do.
then it was 'weapons free' and we rocked.
if you are not prepared to offer music relevant to the visitors then it's hard. they have no context to start from. streaming makes this a trivial issue.
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Yes. I forgot to inform him that this was uncultivated, and that he was supposed to stand in mute worship, awe and envy.
I have expirienced also quit a bit of disinterest /hostility .
i thought in the beginning im building speakers here in holland and everybody probably wants to hear that, wrong .
In my beginning years of speaker building i noticed the high end culture here in holland was sometimes a bit snobby too.
All dealers had their own interest and some( not all ) acted quit hostile .
Nobody was even interested to hear them .
Okay they werent up to the standard they are now.
PS But dont worry when i have a luxurious custom listening room with my speakers on an all reference Convergent audio The gryphon or Vitus/Dartzeel amplification system for example and a do bit of advertising things will change rather quickly lol.
Ps And do a big show like munich
i thought in the beginning im building speakers here in holland and everybody probably wants to hear that, wrong .
In my beginning years of speaker building i noticed the high end culture here in holland was sometimes a bit snobby too.
All dealers had their own interest and some( not all ) acted quit hostile .
Nobody was even interested to hear them .
Okay they werent up to the standard they are now.
PS But dont worry when i have a luxurious custom listening room with my speakers on an all reference Convergent audio The gryphon or Vitus/Dartzeel amplification system for example and a do bit of advertising things will change rather quickly lol.
Ps And do a big show like munich
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I'm fine w/audiophiles over, it's almost always fun and cool. But then I'm usually not inclined to be friendly w/the genre that I run into at shows that's decided what something sounds like before their ass has even hit the chair.
And as for non-audiophiles, totally agreed w/the above: you have to play something they know, and it opens up their world into what's possible and what they're missing. Neat to turn on people that way.
And as for non-audiophiles, totally agreed w/the above: you have to play something they know, and it opens up their world into what's possible and what they're missing. Neat to turn on people that way.
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Having friends over for auditions is just about always a great thing. At the end of the day, if we are not always satisfied with our own systems and keep making changes, then why should we expect visitors to like what they hear, much less be impressed. I personally like to understand how others hear and what their priorities are.
You forgot to mention what type of isolators these were. Inquiring minds and all...
It’s a bit like sport car reviews where they always mention how many sets of golf clubs you can fit in the boot.
Yes I do. I’m part of an private group chat. We all share pics , videos and thoughts. It’s very good on Learning of others ideals and dreams. Yes we do argue at times but this is all part of the passion for the hobby
Regarding the topic question ,... No because i have a minority complex because of my cheap cables .
Micro even said an audiophile without dedicated mains isnt a serious one
On a more serious note ; to me an audiophile is a serious one if he has a dedicated built audio room
Micro even said an audiophile without dedicated mains isnt a serious one
On a more serious note ; to me an audiophile is a serious one if he has a dedicated built audio room
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