Women and Naim

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the sexist drivel that finds its way into so many threads

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I don't think that's stopping them - consider the amount of sexist comments about women drivers... doesn't stop them from purchasing cars.

Of course I could make suggestions to remedy the situation, like "why don't Naim make their boxes in different colour schemes?" - but that WOULD be sexist wouldn't it?

Women do purchase hi-fi, though that tends to be the enlightened few who are single women. With married women, I have rarely heard of them buying Naim for the household - it's usually the husbands.

A major part of this is that quality Hi-Fi is not featured in mainstream marketing and media. Yes, when you get to the stage of Carol Smilie from BBC's "Changing Rooms" adding the finishing touches to a room with a Naim system then we will see some progress.

It would be a great day when women's media (including magazines) include articles on hi-fi on a regular basis. This would mean that one only needs to find a woman, rather than spend our hard earned cash on the kit. Then we'll start seeing lonely heart adverts specifying the kind of hi-fi we want our ideal partners to have.

Oh dear, am I being sexist again - or just plain practical?...

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

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Originally posted by bam: Perhaps they just have better things to do!

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Bruno

Maybe someone with direct experience in such fora could clarify.

What I would like to explore is whether it is sexist comments or whether the media is responsible in guiding women away from buying quality audio.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

My impression of purchasing HiFi is that the process of choosing and using gets very technical and would leave my wife absolutely cold. Women salespeople would possibly alter that.

When it comes to choosing kit on home dem I trust my wifes ears immensely, and she is interested to be involved in choosing too. I wonder how many women are even aware that quality audio kit can often be tried at home? If dealers advertised this they might attract women purchasers.

Bruce

[QUOTE Given the relatively small proportion of hi-fi enthusiasts who are female and the sexist drivel that finds its way into so many threads [/QUOTE]

How do you know how many female hi-fi enthusiasts there are or what proportion they are of the general hi-fi population?

And is your post not an example of sexist drivel?

cheers

Nigel

Buying Naim is often cheaper.

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...lonely heart adverts specifying the kind of hi-fi we want our ideal partners to have.

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SM, NS, SD w/ CDX/82/Hi-cap/250/SBL's seeks SYF, NS, SD w/ XPS/Hi-Cap/135s or better, friendship first, possible romance. No tatoo arsed, ganja worshiping Mana freaks please.

They just don't seem to feel the need to talk endlessly about it on internet forums. Perhaps they prefer listening to their systems

Scott

I am looking for females, aged 18-25, are professional models and own a CDS2/52/500/DBLs... if you match this demographic profile then please contact me.

Please....

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

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I am looking for females, aged 18-25, are professional models and own a CDS2/52/500/DBLs... if you match this demographic profile then please contact me.

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....That the first two requirements are enough. You supply the Naim.

Regards

Stephen

Regarding the ownership and appreciation of stereos, I've noticed that men really listen (I mean actively "LISTEN") to music, and like to focus all of their attention on its various aspects. They need a system that can grab their attention, thrash them about with musical bliss, and give them no option to waver. In contrast, women like to hear it, but it seems they don't want it to dominate their attention/environment.

Of course nothing's always true, but the above phenomena seem pretty consistent.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

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Originally posted by Stephen Bennett:
Quote: " I am looking for females, aged 18-25, are professional models and own a CDS2/52/500/DBLs... if you match this demographic profile then please contact me.

"

....That the first two requirements are enough. You supply the Naim.

Regards

Stephen

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Personnaly, I'd prefer the first THREE requirements.

Bruno

BTW, Shonia doesn't have your old Nait by any chance does she?

Craig

I have to agree with your observation of where music fits in wrt gender.

My wife is quite content to have music playing in the background while she does other things. She does appreciate the differences in sound quality that different bits of equipment make, however, she can't understand my habit of sitting in front of the speakers and just listening to the music without 'doing' something else. For her, music is a back drop to the daily events in life, whereas for me, music is the canvas of life. I envy her perspective sometimes.

On the other hand, get her out onto a dance floor, and she will groove with the best of them. So my guess is that it isn't a perfect theory.

Unfortunatly, her hearing has become quite accustomed to the sound of the system, and, unlike -=> some people <=-, I have long since lost the ability to slip a new component in without her noticing. I guess that I should have increased my upgrade interval to once per month like -=> some people <=- do.

Thankfully, she doesn't bother to stand in the way of 'progress'.

Craig

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unlike -=> some people <=-, I have long since lost the ability to slip a new component in without her noticing.

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My wife has finally come to grips with my upgrade habit, just as I've come to the end of my upgrades.

I installed the 135s one evening when she was working (she knew they were going in). She commented to me the next evening that she thought the system sounded better. That's the only time she's ever bothered to mention that she's "noticed" an improvement.

She said that she could tell the difference between the CDS2 and the CDX, but that was with extreme prompting from me. Pretty much none of the other upgrades have been noteworthy to her.

Ultimately, she just doesn't care, and if anything views the stereo/music as an intrusion on her life: something that she must tolerate versus enjoy. It's sad really.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

I have gotten into the habit of doing the serious listening while she is away a work or school, or when she is in a coma exhausted from work and school. It is easy for me to find these opportunities as, like you, I am in the computer business, and my office is now at home.

Like some other activities that involve us and our mates, it's all in the timing, me thinks.

Craig

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Like some other activities that involve us and our mates, it's all in the timing, me thinks.

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If it were only that simple. I do spend most of my time listening when she's not around. The bigger problem, though is that I listen to "good" music, and she prefers the "bad" stuff. Volume is a bit of an issue, that that has become less of an issue, with the recent upgrades.

Jill is one of the clan that believes that Naim sounds too "forward" and "harsh". Well the CDS2 sounds much less agressive than the CDX; the 52 is not as bold and brash as the 82; and the 135s are much more natural than the 250. Put them all together, and you have a much more "comfortable" and less fatiguing system.

She would kill me if I decided I liked SBLs.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Andy, I think you're on to something there. How 'bout it, Doug?

It would be a great day when women's media (including magazines) include articles on hi-fi on a regular basis.
This is unlikely, as most of these mags (as in others) are biased toward actively pushing their advertisers wares. Aside from that it is fairly likely that the readership would have little interest in reading about it - there are usually at least five titles devoted to the subject. If you want to know about trains, would you pick up National Gepgraphic or Trainspotters Gazette Monthly?

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Good on yer!

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but unfortunatly since women on average still earn 20% less then men (in the UK), Naim is not cheap...

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That's a point. Take a listen to the song "Beautiful Red Dress" by Laurie Anderson:

OK! OK! Hold it!
I just want to say something.
You know, for every dollar a man makes
a woman makes 63 cents.
Now, fifty years ago that was 62 cents.
So, with that kind of luck, it'll be the year 3,888
before we make a buck. But hey, girls?

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Did you buy the CDX and the HICAP?

Brian