Open Day for Hifi enthusiasts

Posted by: TOBYJUG on 13 June 2017

It's that time of year to pick up those guides that give local green fingered enthusiasts the possibility to show off their gardens on specified days and times to any one interested.  As well as local artists having their studios open.

Is there such a thing for hifi enthusiasts ?

imagine being in a guide with your stated system and music preferences.  The thought of just popping up the road to experience someone else's idea of how it all should sound fills me with more inspiration than looking at someone's raised alpine collection.

Having strangers or friends come in and being interested in those cables, room acoustic treatments, proper mains providing system, the network storage solutions, record cleaning devices and that drawer filled with accessories. Then having a good listen. Then imagine doing that with someone else's system and listening  room/house.

looking through the internet I haven't found anything like this,  other than a few shows in which some have taken their complete systems to.   Does anyone know of such a thing ?

Posted on: 13 June 2017 by ChrisSU

It's bad enough being told your system should sound crap by someone who sees a photo of it in System Pic's. Being told it does sound crap by someone who is actually listening to it might be too much for some to contemplate.

The nearest I can think of to what you're suggesting would be the Scalford show - which I have never been to!

 

Posted on: 13 June 2017 by Romi

I would love to pop into somebody elses house just see and hear their HIFi System.  I keep on reading about other brands eg Audio Research, Ayre Acoustics, Pass, Devialet, etc.. It would be interesting to discover the different presentations in the sound.  I often wondered what the Ayre pre & power amps would sound in regard to a wide genres of music in comparison to an equivalent Naim system; the different presentations, different qualities.  If someone is nervous and anxious about their own system that it may be regarded a crap by a third party, then they might as well enter a beauty contest inorder to out do the next person.

However I am not into obsession brigade who contemplate the position the way the inter connectors lie to speakers and between components...!

Posted on: 14 June 2017 by Tabby cat

Toby,

Where I live we have an open house for artists in May which is nice for the community.

It's a nice idea but not sure I would want strangers coming in my house.I suppose I am a more private person.Also thief's could make a note of where you live and maybe visit to listen and size your place up.Maybe I am being to negative.

I suppose our hobby is very low key.For instance very few of my friends and none of my work colleagues know how much my systems cost.They do know I am passionate about music though.

On the Wam there always organising bake offs and the big get together is Scalford.Always worth a visit to broaden your horizons and chat to fellow enthusiast's.

Posted on: 14 June 2017 by hungryhalibut

If you go to an open garden or an art trail you are either in the garden or, in the case of the art trail, the shed, studio or a single room that has been cleared of stuff. To listen to the stereo one would need to go into the heart of the home and it would be a thieves' paradise. 

I've visited a few Forum members and a few have visited me, and it's always been very pleasant listening to some music and having a chat. The music has always been the focus. But the idea of geeky blokes pulling off my speaker grilles, poking the drive units and looking at my cable dressing fills me with horror. I've sold various bits of equipment over the years and a few people have come round just to be nosey and waste my time and have been unbelievably geeky and boring I couldn't wait to get them out of the door. A good number of Hifi open day people would doubtless be like that. 

Posted on: 14 June 2017 by Innocent Bystander

Its one thing for people to see what plants you have and how you have landscaped a garden, but I for one would not like to openly advertise the existence of expensive hifi gear in an identifiable house, let alone allow all and sundry to come and see it, and see whatever else I have worth nicking, and while at it also assess my security arrangements....

Posted on: 14 June 2017 by Eloise
Tabby cat posted:

Also thief's could make a note of where you live and maybe visit to listen and size your place up.Maybe I am being to negative.

The thieves will come and check out your Samsung TV and Panasonic BluRay ... they'll leave the Naim kit behind because they won't be able to shift it easily  :-)