Audiophile pet peeves.

Gold Member

Username: Gavdawg

Albany, New York

Post Number: 1316
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 08:51 pm:

As prompted by Art, I thought it would be fun to start a thread listing off funny things non-audiophiles have said about our equipment, pet-peeves, and other random comments.

- "Are those Bose?"
A coworker in reference to my KEF speakers

- "I didn't think you bought no-name equipment." and "Man those must be loud."
Same individual commented about my maggies

- "Why did you spend that much on a CD player when my $20 DVD player will play CDs just as well."
This one I left alone. I offered for an A-B demo

Nick K

Gold Member

Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 2811
Registered: Jun-07

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 09:10 pm:

One of the worse moments I ever had was at a house warming party for my wife's old boss. They just bought a Bose Lifestyle system which cost them like 3 grand and absolutely sounded like crap. This was going back only about two years ago now. These people thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. What bugged me the most, was as people started rolling in, every single person had the same reaction to the sound system..." OH man!! YOU GOT A BOSE SYSTEM!!?? WICKED!! Ah man Bose are the best..blah blah blah... I couldn't handle it after a while.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 11082
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 10:29 pm:

I bet those speakers drive that cd player good!...

How many watts are those speakers?

Dan L.

Silver Member

Username: Kbear

Canada

Post Number: 384
Registered: Dec-06

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 10:37 pm:

I wouldn't be able to resist telling those folks that Bose is garbage. Even just tell them to google Bose and do their own research.

They may end up feeling like idiots but it's better to be enlightened, and it's their fault to begin with anyways, isn't it? We all have the capacity to do some research before dropping 3 grand.

I guess if it's your wife's boss though, saying something may not be a wise move.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2608
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 11:12 pm:

My pet peev is the term audiophile - sounds like someone with a sickness.

Oh, now I get it!

leo stierer

Silver Member

Username: Magfan

USA

Post Number: 607
Registered: Oct-07

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:31 am:

If I see the word 'palpable' in a review one more time...........

The reaction of people seeing my panels for the first time is funny. Usually disbelief followed by a funny smile when I sit 'em down in the good seat and put on something they are familiar with.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2610
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 05:22 am:

What do you have in that good seat Leo?

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2611
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 05:23 am:

And when you put something on they are familiar with - does that mean you've been peeking at their - er - wardrobe?

Leo, I think you're writing in the wrong forum.

Sorry Leo, I couldn't help it.

What irks me is when I go to a friends place - rather wealthy friends in one case - and they have just bought a cheap set of ht speakers, receiver and dvd player as a source and can't wait to let you listen and you sit there and nod and smile enthusiastically and offer a little compliment or two and you feel like crap because you are being totally dishonest.

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 352
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 08:34 am:

Threads about Audiophile Pet Peeves

leo stierer

Silver Member

Username: Magfan

USA

Post Number: 608
Registered: Oct-07

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 12:24 pm:

for .50$ the good seat Vibrates like crazy.
Best .50$ ride YOU'll ever have!

That poorly written, eh?

Gold Member

Username: Gavdawg

Albany, New York

Post Number: 1317
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:30 pm:

OMG Leo!!!!

LMAO!!!!!!

Christopher Lee

Gold Member

Username: Touche6784

USA

Post Number: 1373
Registered: Nov-04

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 02:47 pm:

Is that THX certified?

Why would you buy something used?

leo stierer

Silver Member

Username: Magfan

USA

Post Number: 609
Registered: Oct-07

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 03:14 pm:

George signed it.

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13857
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 04:05 pm:

Peeve...hmm...
How about speakers that are just silly hard to drive, but sound soooo good.
Apogees, anyone?

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13858
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 04:06 pm:

Also...I thought tubes were dead in the sixties?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 11086
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 05:56 pm:

Look hon, this guy actually still has some of those nasty black plastic records. You don't actually listen to those do you?

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 11087
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 06:01 pm:

I have 2 friends with Apogee's, Nuck, I hear ya.

Michael Wodek

Gold Member

Username: Mike3

Wylie, Tx
USA

Post Number: 2204
Registered: May-06

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 06:18 pm:

Not really a peeve, but my wife occasionally will criticize how I have my room set up with gear, treatments, isolation, etc. etc.

So a local high end dealer comes by a couple of nights ago to drop off a cable and a power conditioner. While up there he offers some suggestions as to improve the room acoustics. We try it and I am pleased. It was just moving around what I had and literally made the room look more disjointed in a way.

So after he leaves I mention to Marsh that he was helpful in how the room was set up and such. She then comments "Did he have you pull most of that crap out of there?".

Now here comes the pet peeve part, but it is Marsh's pet peeve, not mine, I replied, "No, not only did he not move anything out, he said that if he had such an ideal room for a system that not only would he not give it up, they would only get him to out of there after he died."

YEAH BABY!

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13861
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 06:36 pm:

So the peeve is with the cost of corpse removal???

I will send a coupla guys...

Stof

Gold Member

Username: Chitown

Post Number: 1428
Registered: Apr-05

Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 12:42 pm:

"My wife was adamant that we get something good that is small. So we bought these Sony cube 5.1 speakers. Listen to how amazing they are"

He then proceeded to turn the volume really loud so I can hear how much sound comes out of them.

My ears hurt so I left the room

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13867
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:33 pm:

New peeve...
guys who show off what they compromised on, not on the stuff itself.

Gold Member

Username: Gavdawg

Albany, New York

Post Number: 1318
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 10:45 am:

Speaking of putting one's foot in the mouth reguarding Bose...

It is known that I have a disdain for Bose speakers among my coworkers. But I still managed to put my foot in my mouth with my boss.

I made a comment about Bose in general being a marketing machine driven by substandard lifestyle products that have no midrange, shrill treble, and boomy midbass.

He asked which products I was referring to, so I stated the Acoustimass / Lifestyle line.

the comment was followed up with....

man gavin I own a lifestyle system for movies and I think it is ok... you really don't like bose?

I instantly turned bright red and told him that I do not care for them, but if he likes them it is what matters.

Platinum Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 11101
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 11:41 am:

Gotta be careful Gav...ya just never know. Bose is the name most North Americans recognize as the leader in sound...not marketing, as we know.

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 358
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 12:04 pm:

Bose......All midrange, at way above midrange prices

Christopher Lee

Gold Member

Username: Touche6784

USA

Post Number: 1375
Registered: Nov-04

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 12:15 pm:

When I worked at best buy we all hated the sound of the bose but at the same time we were told to sell them whenever possible as they had huge mark ups and prifit margins compared to the other products being sold, even the premium stuff from the magnolia section.

Chris H

Silver Member

Username: Hawkbilly

Nova Scotia
Canada

Post Number: 726
Registered: Jul-07

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 12:46 pm:

Biggest pet peeve for me, are the use of absolutes.

"If they don't measure good, they won't sound good."

"Power chords and cables don't make a lick of difference."

If you stick an IMO in there, you're good. But some people just don't think there are opinions, just facts. There are lots of facts of course, but many of them aren't guarantees of superiority in sound quality.

David Mitchell

Gold Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 3232
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 05:48 pm:

When someone tells me mp3 sounds just fine...

David Mitchell

Gold Member

Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Post Number: 3233
Registered: Feb-07

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 05:49 pm:

Mastering otherwise good recordings so compressed that you can hear distortion.

Ummmm, Metallica?

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13868
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 07:16 pm:

A few years ago I was in Audio Center in Montreal, to hear a Wilson setup that they had, and I had a day off there.
At the front left of the store there was bose setup of maybe 3 models.
There were, I kid you not, 4 couples in their late 50's in that area, and 3 guys helping them.

I asked the one salesguy WYF was up with that.
Large eye roll there, he says the manager will get fired for this.
He also told me they sold 15 pieces of that stuff, none to anyone under 50, in a week.

He had a genuinely sincere and pained look in his eyes. I don't think he was sleeping well...

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 359
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 07:41 pm:

I guess one of my biggest Pet Peeve about this hobby, is people who say things about pieces of gear; they've never even sat down to listen to or experienced, whatsoever.

I think that's lame and dishonest.

Gold Member

Username: Gavdawg

Albany, New York

Post Number: 1321
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 11:45 am:

"Not really a peeve, but my wife occasionally will criticize how I have my room set up with gear, treatments, isolation, etc. etc."

my wife is just as into it as I am fortunatly. She mentioned to me last week that I should move the couch back a bit, and move the speakers a little further out in the room like I had before because it sounded better.

She goes with me to pick out / audition gear. The last time we did the salesman seemed to get a kick out of it.

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13881
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 05:26 pm:

She got a sister?

Very dateable here.

Gold Member

Username: Gavdawg

Albany, New York

Post Number: 1327
Registered: Nov-06

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 07:44 pm:

yup, but she is married nuck!

Stu Pitt

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3548
Registered: May-05

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:55 pm:

As great as that sounds, its gotta be a bit difficult too...

Mac or Bryston? Panels or box speakers? Full range or monitors?

Its hard enough to decide for ourselves sometimes. Now imagine two people who have different system ideas.

In a way, I'm glad my wife doesn't care. No arguements about what sounds better.

Stu Pitt

Gold Member

Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York
USA

Post Number: 3549
Registered: May-05

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:57 pm:

Just like David, my pet peeve is recording quality.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2624
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 11:01 pm:

My real pet peeve is not being able to set up our system as I would like - not a wife issue, a house design issue.

And maybe a financial one also.

Michael Wodek

Gold Member

Username: Mike3

Wylie, Tx
USA

Post Number: 2218
Registered: May-06

Posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 12:00 am:

I think in situations where you have an audiophile and anyone else there are always compromises.

Many here, myself included have espoused WAF.

Not everyone has a dedicated listening or media room, not everyone here has mutliple systems, nobody here has unlimited resources.

We all deal with the compromises in our own ways, each of us has something different to deal with when it come to our kits.

Bottom line is it is our hobby and we take it as far as we reasonably can. No doubt there is something every one of us would love to do with our kits except for limitations, boundaries not crossed, or .......................compromises.

This hobby is not really different than anything else in life other than it being a priority of sorts for us.

Being a priority it captures our attention and money for that matter. At what point do we say enough?

A dear friend made a good point with me today, you know once you find that you just want to accept your kit as it is then it is just about the music.

I am not there yet, someday maybe, but I find that it is almost addicting to keep pushing my kit further. I am running out of things to push, so that someday is looking like it may be sooner than later.

Is this a peeve?

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2626
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 12:34 am:

Yeah, it peeved me!

You mean with all your great stuff, you're not there yet Mike? Kidding though I know what you mean. I'm about as 'there' as I'm going to be for a long, long, time. So it really is about the music right now and I'm loving it. Just remember, when you get it just right, there will always be something else better and unless you have a few thousand oil wells you are on a futile quest lol!